Women, Youth, Peace and Security Program Consultant

About the Program

Search, in partnership with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), is implementing a four-year regional program called “Women, Youth, Peace and Security” (WYPS). The program’s overall goal is to strengthen women and youth’s meaningful, enduring participation in advancing inclusive peace and security in the Levant and Yemen. To do this, the program aims to: 1) consolidate women's rights organizations’ (WROs) and youth-focused/youth-led organizations’ (YFOs/YLOs) strategic engagement and influence in municipal and national peace and reconciliation processes; 2) motivate key sub-national and national institutions to strengthen inclusive policies and standards facilitating inclusive youth and women’s participation in peace and security; and 3) promote shifts in social norms around women and youth’s meaningful inclusion in peace and security at all levels, including stronger alliances with men and boys.

Consultancy Summary

Search is seeking to hire a full-time consultant who will advise and support in the planning, preparation, implementation, and monitoring of program activities. More specifically, the consultant will work closely alongside and support the coordination between Search and the NCLW’s project teams as both parties implement the activities of the program. S/he will be reporting to Search’s Senior Project Manager but will be working under the direct supervision of the NCLW’s representative, to support the latter in implementing activities under its scope of work (SoW) under the program, in alignment with the MoU signed between Search and the NCLW.

Goals and Objectives of the Consultancy

The role of the consultant is to support the implementation of the NCLW’s scope of work under the program. The consultant would maintain direct contact and close communication with and amongst the Search and NCLW’s project teams and ensure activity design, planning, preparation and implementation co-led by Search and the NCLW. The consultant would support in advancing and promoting different aspects of the Women, Youth, Peace and Security agendas.

The consultant in close coordination and collaboration with Search would support the NCLW in designing, planning, and implementing various activities including but not limited to the following:

• Coordinating the logistical arrangements related to program activities;
• The establishment and management of a civil society organizations’ (CSOs) national network and maintain communication, coordination and engagement with the CSOs in relation to network management, and all relevant activities under the NCLW’s scope of work;
• Support in the identification and selection of key institutional leaders (KILs) and support in maintaining communication, coordination and engagement with the KILs, as well as in relation to the activities involving KILs and which fall under the NCLW’s SoW. Such as coordination and follow-up meetings with KILs, consultations and validations, strategy/action plan development workshops and strategic engagement workshops;
• Contribute to the review and analysis of CSO capacity assessments, support in setting adequate thematic learning plan for each CSO to be able to meaningfully contribute to the program and support in the preparation, design and delivery of training topics for the network of CSOs;
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of a media campaign highlighting women and youth-led peace initiatives in Lebanon.

Timeline

This consultancy should start between  May 1, 2023 to February 15, 2024. However the consultancy may be extended based on available funds and  program needs as seen by Search and in agreement with the NCLW.

Required Profile

Search is looking for an independent consultant to apply for this opportunity with the following profiles:

                                                                              
Essential     

• A Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender, Political Science, International Affairs, Social Sciences or another relevant field (Master’s Degree preferred);
• Additional education or training in women, youth, peace and security, conflict transformation, media for peacebuilding, communication for social change would be a strong asset;

• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic;
• More than 2 years of experience in program management; and
• Knowledge on Women, Peace and Security; Youth, Peace and Security; inclusive peace and security, inclusive and representative policy making is a must

Desirable:

• Experience of partnership building, with experience of influencing stakeholders and establishing and maintaining strong partnerships;
• Experience working in a non-profit or similar environment;
• Experience working in a conflict transformation setting;

• Experience working with key institutional leaders and women, men, boys and girls and local communities in addressing peace and security issues;
• An excellent planner with some knowledge and experience of project management tools and processes (project planning, work plans, activity design, budget planning, etc.);
• Organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Excellent use of Excel, excellent writing and analytical skills;
• Well-organized, dynamic, and creative;
• Some comprehension of the principles of conflict, conflict transformation, and the role of media in peacebuilding; and
• Willingness to travel to the field for monitoring purposes.

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Strong written and verbal communications skills;
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and strong interpersonal skills;
• Commitment to Search and the NCLW’s aims and a clear understanding of the links between policy, lobbying, campaigning, and social cohesion and peacebuilding work and of how policy change can be achieved through effective advocacy;
• Ability to responding flexibly to opportunities and requests sometimes with little notice;
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a rapidly changing environment;
• Demonstrate the capacity to adapt to a multi-cultural context, and tolerance and respect to issues related to gender, religion, race, and nationality; and
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism and solves problems in collaborative ways.
• Remain alert and responsive to any child/youth safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable promoting strong safeguarding practices, understanding the safeguarding policy and procedures.