Mines Advisory Group
SINJAR/TELAFAR HUMANITARIAN MINE ACTION (HMA) IMPACT EVALUATION CONSULTANT required, REMOTE WORKING
About Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
Founded in 1989, MAG is a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for our work towards banning landmines under the Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. We remove mines and unexploded ordnance to help communities recover from recent and long-past conflicts, and work to reduce and prevent armed conflict by supporting government and communities to safely manage weapons and ammunition. We have helped more than 20 million people in 70 countries rebuild their lives and livelihoods after war.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Focusing on Sinjar and Telafar districts, MAG is looking for a consultant to conduct a study which will focus on risk reduction via EO risk education and clearance (both land release and EOD) and assessing the impact this has had for the local population and for local authorities to rebuild the two districts.
MAG proposes to conduct an assessment of the following:
- Impact of Mine Action post ISIS: assess the impact of EO clearance on reconstruction efforts and durable solutions in NW Iraq, assess the impact of EORE and how it contributes to safer behaviour and to enabling; include assessing any potential unintended consequences of mine action;
- Completion of EO clearance: Assess the needs required to complete EO clearance in NW Iraq (Sinjar and Telafar districts), discuss challenges and constraints;
- Urban mine action: Identify challenges and constraints, document lessons learned and provide recommendations on conducting MA including survey and prioritising mine action operations in urban areas compared to rural areas. Assess the resources required to conduct clearance in urban areas compared to rural areas;
This study will assess communities cleared from all known explosive ordnance and specific urban sites cleared by MAG and by other mine action organizations in NW Iraq, Sinjar and Telafar districts to document the impact after clearance. While the NW Iraq context presents a significant level of complexity due to the improvised contamination laid by Daesh which overlaps with conventional ordnance, the study should highlight common challenges and provide useful lessons learned that can be applied in the mine action response in other conflict-affected areas with a focus on towns and cities.
Iraq being a State party to the APMBC and the CCM, has obligations towards clearing all known contaminated areas. Given the significant amount of clearance work that has been done to date, this study aims to assess what remains to be done, applying all-reasonable effort.
The study will also provide useful lessons that can be reflected on in the implementation of the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA).
Methodology:
- Desktop research
- Impact assessment study on a sample of tasks cleared by MAG and other operators in Sinjar and Telafar to determine changes in land/property use and benefits for the community following clearance.
- Comparative analysis of clearance costs for urban and rural areas/tasks based on data from MAG [potentially including other HMA operatrors] in Iraq.
- Conduct qualitative interviews with mine action stakeholders engaged in Sinjar and Telafar between 2015-23 to identify best practices and lessons learned on prioritising and adjusting mine action activities – including to urban context.
This work is expected to take place over a 6 month period, from February to July 2024/ 40 days, including days working in programme, and working from home.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Lead consultant:
- Experience in conducting research, evaluations, writing reports – preferably in Iraq
- Excellent English skills, Arabic skills are desirable
- Leading field research, experience in data analysis
- Experience in workshop facilitation and provision of training
Second consultant:
- Iraqi national or Arab speaker living in Iraq with local knowledge
- Proficient English skills
- Experience in conducting field research, experience in data analysis
- Experience in organising workshops, co-facilitation
Experience in the provision of training is a plus
How to apply
For further details about this opportunity you can find the Terms of Reference here.
Application is by expression of interest which needs to include a covering letter, CVs for each consultant, and a proposal on how you would undertake this research/evaluation. This should be no more than 5 pages long and must include a budget with daily rates for both the lead and second consultant, cost for visa, international travel, hotel accommodation. MAG will support with local travel and cover the cost for convening the two seminars.
Closing date for applications will be 7th January 2024. Please send your details to [email protected]. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are not able to respond to every application. If you have not heard back from us within 3 weeks of applying, it means that your application has not been successful.
Please note that as part of MAG’s commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of consultancy is confirmed. For more information on MAG’s approach to background checks, please click here.
MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential.