Conflict Early Warning Early Response System (CEWERS) Consultant

Name of the Project

Restoration of Peace, Livelihoods and Economic Cycles in Anbar (RePLECA) – Organisational Development and Capacity Development for Peace Infrastructures in Anbar Governorate, Iraq

Category of Expert

1 International Short-Term Expert (STE)

Dates & Duration

From January 20, 2024, to March 30, 2024.

Number of working days

Up to 42 working days

Location

Home-based with missions in Iraq (Baghdad and Anbar)

INTRODUCTION

The “Restoration of Peace, Livelihoods and Economic Cycles in Anbar, Iraq (RePLECA)” is a Transitional Development Assistance Programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ.

RePLECA seeks to stabilise and improve the living conditions of the Anbari population by:

1. Increasing the productivity in the agricultural sector
2. Improving the access to vocational training and income generation activities
3. Improving social cohesion

Within the framework of social cohesion strand, the projects aims to strengthen local peace actors through organisational development and capacity building with a focus on conflict analysis, conflict management and resolution as well as the designing and implementation of community activities promoting peace and strengthening social cohesion As one outcome of the organisational development and capacity building measures, the local peace actors have formed local conflict early warning early response working groups in the three Anbari Districts Ramadi, Fallujah and Heet. Since last year they have met regularly to jointly identify local conflicts and possible conflict drivers and developed and implemented small initiatives to address those.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Within the framework of the Organizational Development and Capacity Development for Local Peace Infrastructures in Anbar Governorate, Iraq project, GIZ and its implementing partners (IBF International Consulting and Peace Paradigms Organization) are seeking to develop the institutional and thematic capacities of Local Peace Structures in three targeted districts; Ramadi, Heet and Fallujah to, among other things, be able to highlight and address local drivers of tension and conflicts in an inclusive, participatory and conflict and gender sensitive manners. The targeted local peace structures in this project are one Local Peace Committee (LPC) in each of the three districts, four CSOs in the same districts as well as the Central Reconciliation Committee (CRC) at the Governorate level. As part of this scope, the need for the development of a tailored Conflict Early Warning, Early Response System (CEWERS) at the level of the three districts in Anbar has emerged, so that the local peace structures, relevant partners and peace actors at the local level can utilize a systemic and evidence-based approach to identifying, anticipating and addressing local drivers of tension and conflict before they escalate and expand. In tandem, the project team has worked closely with the members of the local peace structures to establish CEWERS working groups, whose anticipated task is to carry out the implementation of the CEWER System in the future. Hence, these working groups have received entry-level trainings on conflict analysis, conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation and mediation, among other relevant topics. The establishment of local CEWERS working groups in the three Anbarian Districts; Ramadi, Fallujah and Heet, have received positive feedback from local and regional authorities.

Since the application of the CEWERS is centered around a clear and precise identification of tensions and conflicts whether before they emerge or at an early stage of their emergence, number of local and international experts will also be hired to design and implement a solid conflict scanning methodological approach in the three targeted districts, in cooperation and coordination with the members of the local peace structures, PPO’s experts and project stakeholders.

Given the prominence of conflict early warning and early response systems in conflict affected settings worldwide and the lack of such a system in Anbar governorate we are seeking for a consultant that could

1. Developing a concept for a regional CEWER System in Anbar.
2. Provide the local working groups with advice on how to further professionalise their work.
3. Develop and implement capacity development measures for local peace actors and relevant stakeholders.
4. Liaise with the short-term expert on conflict scanning.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The tasks include:

TASK 1 – Development of a comprehensive CEWER system for Anbar

• Conduct a desk review to identify, review and analyze existing relevant studies, assessments, research, reports to understand, among other things; the set-up of the local peace structures in Anbar, more particularly in the three targeted districts, as well as to understand the political, economic and social make up in Anbar, the peace and conflict trends, historical, structural and approximate drivers of tension and conflict in the three targeted districts.
• Conduct consultations and include inputs from the relevant stakeholders such as the Governor’s Office, Mayors, CRC, representatives from the security sector, local authorities, relevant local institutions and CSOs, Local Peace Actors, international agencies active in the region, Research institutions (regional/national/local)
• Develop options for a CEWER system that can be taken up with partners in Anbar, such as the governor’s Office, mayors, etc. The system must take into account international state of the art when it comes to CEWERS and propose applicable options/recommendations for Anbar.
• Set up conditions for the partners to be able to maintain by the CEWERS in the future.
• Ensure that the CEWERS will take into account the experiences of the CEWERS working groups, but it should not be limited to it.

TASK 2 – Advisory work for CEWER working group

• Provide ongoing advice on the concept and work of the CEWER working groups.
• Develop and provide capacity building/mentoring for the CEWER working groups and relevant partners, including the development, customization and adjustment of content/materials and agendas.
• Provide technical advice to the PPO key experts on the matter on CEWER.
• Provide technical advice to the conflict scanning experts, when needed.=

TASK 3 – Presentation of the CEWER System and its application

• Present the draft CEWER System to GIZ and incorporate their comments into the final version.
• Provide a presentation to the stakeholders (CRC, Mayors, Governor’s office), in close cooperation with the project team.
• Present the future CEWERS at a formal event to be determined later by the project team.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

The expert will deliver:

1. A comprehensive presentation on CEWERS options for Anbar, taking into consideration international best practices and consultations with relevant regional/national and local stakeholders, that includes tools, SOPs and conditions to maintain the CEWERS in the future. The presentation must contain, in addition to the text, visual aids and infographics for better illustration of the presentation content.
2. Guidance to the CEWERS working groups and tailored working sessions if requested.
3. Advising on and validation of the Conflict Scanning exercise
4. Capacity building training on CEWERS
5. Present the future CEWERS to stakeholders during a formal event.

TASK 1

Desk Review : 4 days

Conduct stakeholders’ consultation: 8 days

Development of CEWERS options, including follow on consultations if needed at any stage prior to the issuance of the final version: 12 days

TASK 2

Provide technical advice/guidance to the CEWERS working groups via tailored working sessions, when needed: 3 (1 day per district)

Provide input on data analysis and data management and advise on updating conflict scanning for the conflict scanning experts, via tailored working sessions: 3 (1 day per district)

Provide technical advice to PPO experts via tailored sessions: 2 days

TASK 3

Presentation of CEWER System and its application to GIZ and to project stakeholders (CRC, Mayors, Governor’s office)for validation: 3 days

Final CEWERS Report (description of the system and its application, including tools, SoPs, etc.): 5 days

Presentation of the future CEWERS in a formal event: 2 days

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Education

Advanced University degree in a relevant field such as peace and conflict studies, political science, social sciences, international relations, human rights, preferably with a focus in conflict analysis, prevention or peacebuilding.

Experience

• A minimum of 8 years of experience working in the area of peace, conflict and social cohesion.
• Proven experience in developing and working with conflict early warning, early response systems and conflict data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in providing technical support/advisory role with political actors as well as with peacebuilding experts and practitioners.
• Experience in designing and delivering training workshops is an asset.
• Experience working on peacebuilding activities in the MENA region as an asset.
• Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting.
• Strong understanding of gender issues and sensitivity

Language

• Excellent command of English
• A good command of Arabic is a strong asset.

DURATION AND TIMELINE

The duration of the consultation will be conceded from January 20, 2023, to March 30, 2024.

LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT

Home-based with up to 3 missions to Iraq, Baghdad and Anbar, based on a mutual agreement with GIZ following the selection of the expert.