Deadline: 17 October 2016
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking proposals for a project entitled “Conflict Prevention & Peacebuilding in Lebanon” that lays out global recognition and imperative to address violent extremism as, and when, it may relate or lead to terrorism.
UNDP and the UN has been working for the past two years to develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of violent extremism.
Challenges
- PVE is a relatively new area of intervention. Further, violent extremism is not defined even in global frameworks such as the S-Gs Plan of Action, nor does it have clearly or specifically defined areas for programming compared to the broader agendas of governance, peacebuilding and socio-economic work (livelihoods) that UNDP is undertaking.
- The interventions are preventive in nature; consequently, the challenges of measuring “what is not happening” as for conflict prevention remains.
- The lack of a specified definition can lead to inconsistencies and/or overgeneralization in inclusion or exclusion of certain thematic areas.
- PVE is a complex and multi-sectoral endeavor which makes measuring specifically challenging.
- The need for cumulative understanding in program implementation of the relative importance of the different drivers and push factors for violent extremism which underpin the project specific theory of change and project interventions and which may call for more adaptive programming and measurement frameworks.
- In countries where “violence” is not (yet?) a prominent phenomenon, what programmes would shield the society from taking this unfortunate track.
- While implementing projects and measuring impact, how to ensure that they focus on the immediate causes/enablers of violent extremism, compared to the underlying causes.
Activities
While developing the methodology, the organization should consider the following:
- It is expected that the methodology will be developed in such a way that it can be tailored to different country context, yet at the same time, provide some standardized and systematic overview of impact that can produce comparative analysis across the region.
- UNDP requires the methodology to highlight proposed adaptation of the OECD/DAC evaluation methodology for evaluating a PVE program.
- UNDP intends to also use the evaluation of its projects to assess whether projects aimed at preventing radicalization through addressing root cases are more effective (given UNDPs specific comparative advantage) or projects aimed at preventing individual radicalization and recruitment of the radicalized or de-radicalization.
- The methodology should offer clear guidance offering experience-based indicators and targets.
- This guidance should also suggest early warning indicators for violent extremism to aid understanding of what it is that PVE programs intend to prevent and should set out commonly used example indicators from existing PVE programs and research.
Eligibility Criteria
Firms Criteria:
- Economic and financial standing: total annual turnover must exceed twice the maximum budget of the contract.
- Professional capacity: at least 20% of all permanent staff working for the Consultant currently work in fields related to the contract.
- Technical capacity: The Consultant has extensive experience in fields related to the contract in the past 10 years, and in particular in the following fields:
- Social Cohesion, Conflict Prevention, Violent Extremism
- Research, design of programmes, monitoring and evaluation
Project Lead / Senior Consultant Criteria:
- Advanced university degree (Masters) in international development, social science, political science, conflict studies or other relevant thematic area.
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience.
- Extensive technical knowledge of social cohesion, inclusive development, conflict prevention etc.
- Experience of working on research, activities or projects related to ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ is desirable.
- Proven track record of leading projects related to monitoring and evaluation of social projects, conflict impact assessment, surveying, etc.
- Proven intellectual and practical capacity to understand and interpret regional, national and local development issues, particularly in recovery situations / crisis settings.
- Excellent drafting and formulation skills in English.
Junior Consultant Criteria:
- Advanced university degree (Master) in international development, quantitative analysis, social science, political science, conflict studies or other relevant thematic area.
- At least 4-5 years of relevant professional experience.
- Extensive technical knowledge of social cohesion, inclusive development, conflict prevention etc.
- Proven track record in monitoring of project implementation, surveying, quantitative research, etc. for social projects.
- Proven intellectual and practical capacity to understand and interpret regional, national and local development issues, particularly in recovery situations / crisis settings.
- Excellent drafting and formulation skills.
- Fluent knowledge of English is mandatory.
- Working knowledge of Arabic.
- Experience from the Arab States region.
- Experience of working on research or activities relating to prevention of violent extremism.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via post or email.
For more information, please visit UNDP.