Consultant - Development of a Toolkit of Community-Based Methodologies on Conflict Transformation

Impunity Watch (Burundi) is looking for an

Expert Consultant
Development of a Toolkit of Community-Based Methodologies
on Conflict Transformation

Location:Home-based, one visit to Bujumbura (Burundi)
Length: 40 days
Salary: IW offers a competitive salary, relative to the local market, that is justifiable to our donors

Impunity Watch is a Netherlands-based, international non-profit organisation seeking to promote accountability for atrocities in countries emerging from a violent past. IW conducts research into the root causes of impunity and obstacles to its reduction that includes the voices of affected communities to produce research-based policy advice on processes intended to encourage truth, justice, reparations and the non-recurrence of violence. We work closely with civil society organisations to increase their influence on the creation and implementation of related policies.

1. Background:

Since 2013 IW has been working on the ‘Peace Beyond Borders’ Programme initiated by Oxfam and implemented by a consortium of national and international partners in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (Burundi, DRC and Rwanda). The Programme is being implemented according to a conflict transformation approach to address the key driving factors of conflict at the local community level.

The Programme is based on extensive research undertaken among affected communities to understand their perceptions of conflict in the region and their expectations of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Specific research has also been conducted to understand in more detail the major preoccupations of women and youth in region.

The Programme is now entering its third phase, during which a Regional Roadmap to Peace will be rolled out alongside Agendas for Peace for women and youth. As part of this process, complementary actions will be initiated at the local, national, regional and international levels, broadly comprising an advocacy strategy and community-based projects.

A key component of IW’s intervention strategy will be the development and implementation of community-based initiatives that aim to enhance comprehension among children and youth of different forms of identity manipulation – uncovered as a major driver of conflict at all levels. An important element of this strategy will be to translate the research findings into tools that are more accessible for children and youth in the target communities. By increasing the capacities of children and youth to resist forms of manipulation, the Programme aims to prevent the outbreak of identity-based conflicts in the future.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy:

The purpose of the Consultancy is to design the content for a toolkit of community-based methodologies that can be used during community sessions and workshops to equip children and youth in the Great Lakes Region with the knowledge and skills needed to resist identity manipulation.

The toolkit must be based on the research findings from a large-scale research into the perceptions of citizens of conflict transformation and a qualitative research into the preoccupations of women and youth. The toolkit will ‘translate’ the findings of these studies into methodologies that effectively act as tools for the dissemination of the findings among children and youth, with a specific focus on identity manipulation.

At least one of the methodologies to be designed must be interactive theatre and at least one must incorporate outreach films (currently being finalised).

The principal beneficiaries for the toolkits are envisaged to be: (i) Youth former combatants; (ii) Youth living in border areas of the Great Lakes Region; and (iii) Children / Youth aged between 10 and 15.


Key Task 1: Conduct a desk review of existing toolkits and methodologies
The Consultant will conduct a desk review of existing toolkits and methodologies used for similar purposes. S/he will analyse the effectiveness of these toolkits and methodologies in light of the intended purposes of the toolkit to be designed for this Programme, including the research findings.

Key Task 2: Design a toolkit of community-based methodologies to equip children and youth in the Great Lakes Region with the knowledge and skills needed to resist identity manipulation
The Consultant will design the content for the toolkit that will guide IW’s community-based activities with children and vulnerable youth and the activities of our partners. The toolkit will be based on the research findings, and so must design methodologies that are pedagogical, aimed at introducing children and youth to the major findings of the research through creative and accessible means. Since the toolkit will also be used by our partners, it must provide a guide for facilitators on how to create a custom community-session or workshop at the local community level.

Key Task 3: Develop a range of tools and methodologies to be used in the Programme
The Consultant will develop a rage of tools, methodologies and modules that will enable facilitators to design workshops according to their needs. As well as pedagogical methodologies that are targeted at equipping children and youth with the knowledge and skills needed to resist identity manipulation, the tools and methodologies must also include warm-up activities, energizers, etc. At least one of the methodologies to be designed must include interactive theatre. At least one of the methodologies must incorporate outreach films (currently being finalised). The interactive theatre methodologies will be designed with input from a Burundian youth theatre group.

Key Task 4: Train IW staff and partners on the toolkit; Finalise toolkit after input
The Consultant will conduct a training with IW staff and partners on the toolkit in Bujumbura. Should the financial means allow, s/he will participate in a first piloting of the toolkit. The Consultant will finalise the toolkit after receiving input from IW and partners.

3. Outputs:
• Desk review and analysis of existing toolkits and methodologies (maximum 10 A4 pages);
• Design a comprehensive toolkit of community-based tools and methodologies, based on the research findings of the Programme, targeting IW and our partners as the users of the toolkit, and with children and vulnerable youth in the region as the beneficiaries;
• Design and conduct a training workshop in Bujumbura for IW staff and partners on the toolkit; and
• Finalise the toolkit after input from IW and partners from a first pilot session.

4. Timeframe:
40 days; flexible starting date

[10 days]Key Task 1: Conduct a desk review of existing toolkits and methodologies
[10 days]Key Task 2: Design a toolkit of community-based methodologies
[10 days]Key Task 3: Develop a range of tools and methodologies
[5 days]Key Task 4: Train IW staff and partners on the toolkit
[5 days]Finalise toolkit after input

5. Location:

The Consultancy is home-based. One work visit to Bujumbura (Burundi) will be covered by IW for the Consultant to conduct the training and possible pilot session.

6. Skills & Experience:
The following skills and experience are essential for the Consultancy:

• Proven track-record and experience in the design of pedagogical and/community toolkits;
• Demonstrable experience with designing creative methodologies for community outreach and community-based workshops, specifically for children and youth;
• Demonstrable knowledge of peace and conflict issues, preferably in the Great Lakes Region;
• Excellent skills as a trainer / facilitator, with experience conducting training workshops;
• The ability to self-manage with limited or no supervision;
• Flexibility, enthusiasm and a sense of humour;

The following skills and experience would be considered an advantage:

• Experience working in Burundi, Rwanda, or the DRC;
• Experience working with national and international NGOs;
• Knowledge of the issues facing youth in post-conflict environments;
• Professional working knowledge of both French and English.

7. What we offer:
A competitive salary, relative to the local market in Burundi, that is justifiable to our donors. The chance to work on an innovative Programme that will directly impact the lives of children and youth in the Great Lakes Region.

8. How to apply:

If you are interested in the Consultancy, please submit your CV (max. 3 pages) and a letter of motivation detailing your ideas for how you envisage completing the abovementioned key tasks (max. 2 pages) with Application: Consultancy in the subject of the email to vacancy@impunitywatch.org. The deadline for applications is rolling.

Unfortunately do not have the capacity to acknowledge receipt of all applications, nor to give individual feedback. Only shortlisted persons will be contacted.