Position Summary

DRC is Search’s largest country program in terms of revenue, portfolio, staffing, and geographical reach, with an annual budget of approximately $4 million and 120 staff working in 8 provinces using community dialogue, media and research tools to address community violence reduction, security sector reform, conflict-sensitive value chains, intercommunal reconciliation, Ebola response, and stabilisation with a diverse range of donors and partners.

Search is full of committed, enthusiastic and talented individuals. It is a fun place to work and an exciting place to learn, offering a rich range of opportunities.

Directly supervised by the DRC Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist and working under the technical supervision of the Regional Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for East, Central and Southern Africa, the Conflict Research Advisor for the DRC, will support Search’s Conflict Research work in the DRC, including its conflict analysis team.

The Conflict Research Advisor for the DRC will be based in one of the Search for Common Ground Country office in DRC (Goma, Bukavu or Kalemie) with frequent travels within the country. S/he should be ready to begin work, on site in January 2020 and to commit to working for Search full-time on the basis of a two year-long contract.

Key Responsibilities

The DRC Conflict Research Advisor will be responsible for providing leadership and technical support on conflict research for the DRC-based Conflict Analysis teams, consisting of 6 Conflict Analysts (two based in Bukavu, three in Goma and one in Tanganyika). The Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist will ensure high-quality conflict research support for the DRC Country Program.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Key Area 1: Ensure quality, sustainable and effective conflict research

• Overall responsible for the quality and timeliness of conflict research efforts in the DRC program, as well as the program’s contribution to regional conflict research;
• Ensuring conflict sensitivity is enhanced throughout the DRC program;
• Support Conflict Analysis teams in the design of quality conflict research, included conflict assessment , conflict scans and conflict monitoring;
• Manage the implementation of conflict studies, conflict monitoring missions, and systems, ensuring quality methodology and analysis as well as timely delivery;
• Supervise and provide technical support to all conflict research done in the country;
• Foster learning within the organization around conflict research, including reflection processes and dissemination of results;
• Support teams in analyzing data collected and share findings with key internal and external stakeholders;
• Develop Terms of Reference (ToR) and manage consultants as needed for conflict research;
• Review ToRs for conflict research;
• Provide leadership in the development of conflict monitoring systems, assessments and scans (e.g. the development of common indicators, data collection tools, evidence-based processes, and knowledge management plans);

Key area 2: Create a culture where Conflict Research and sensitivity are valued, supported and recognized

• Develop the capacity of the country program to improve conflict research and conflict sensitivity;
• Provide orientation, technical support, and training to Conflict Analysis teams and Program staff members, in areas of conflict research and sensitivity;
• Provide regular coaching and support to Conflict Analysis and Program staff;
• Contribute to the development of project proposals;
• Contribute to cross-organizational learning, including providing information, guidelines, lessons learned, and tested tools to the HQ-based Institutional Learning Team;
• Be directly engaged in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, particularly contributing to its Institutional Learning efforts.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Qualifications

You meet the following qualifications:

Education

• M.A/S or equivalent in Peacebuilding, International Relations, Conflict Management, Statistics, Sociology, or a related field required;

Experience

• At least 4 years of relevant work experience in research design, conflict assessment, conflict sensitivity and conflict monitoring methods in international development;
• Knowledge of the conflict scans methodology is a comparative advantage;

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity, and experience living and working in developing countries
• Experience living and working in unstable environments
• Experience of donor representation, proposal development, logical framework development and donor reporting
• Excellent coordination, communication and networking skills
• Knowledge of Search for Common Ground and the Common Ground Approach an advantage.
• Willingness to regularly travel on short notice around the country