Interpeace

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. Interpeace also assists the international community (and in particular the UN) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world. For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Background

Interpeace is seeking researchers or a suitable institution or organization to conduct a series of interviews, focus groups and research on the nexus between human rights and peacebuilding at the local community/national level in multiple countries.  The work will involve designing and conducting a series of interviews and interaction with focus groups representing peacebuilding practitioners and human rights defenders working at the country level. The project deliverables will include:  (1) a report documenting the findings of the interviews highlighting particularly the areas of intersecting practice, innovation and problem solving from peacebuilding and human rights perspectives; (2) draft written guidance for closer and more effective collaboration at local and national levels between peacebuilding and human rights policy makers and practitioners; and (3) a recommended agenda for effective collaboration and related funding at the nexus of peacebuilding and human rights.

Objectives

This work will have several objectives in support of Interpeace’s work at the intersection of peacebuilding and human rights:

• To deepen understanding of how local peacebuilding and human rights practitioners innovate and navigate in their practical local work at the nexus of these sectors, specifically at the local and national levels;
• To identify proposed ways in which to strengthen country-level programming and broader peacebuilding practice of Interpeace and other relevant organisations, on the intersection of peacebuilding and human rights;
• To propose ways in which Interpeace’s engagement with the human rights sector through peace-responsive and prevention-based approaches can be advanced at the international policy level, including potentially with the OHCHR; and,
• To identify options for strengthening the quality and positive impact of policy discourse between the peacebuilding and human rights sectors, including through engaging with governments.

This initiative is expected to form the basis for developing a follow-on array of activities at the peacebuilding and human rights nexus, including, but not limited to: further multi-country consultations; the development of training and capacity development tools; and policy, advocacy and programmatic guidance on peacebuilding and human rights, based on peace responsive and resilience-building approaches.

The initiative is also expected to support Interpeace’s mandate to assist the international community (and in particular the UN) to play a more effective peacebuilding role, including the organization’s relationship with OHCHR.

The initiative also aims in due course to identify options for supporting and incentivising better integration of donor investment across peacebuilding and human rights funding and programming arenas.

Description of the Assignment

Develop research through a series of participatory consultations and interviews with local peacebuilding practitioners and human rights defenders on the ground (many of whom may not self-identify by reference to these sectoral labels), across multiple countries and conflict-affected or post-conflict contexts.

Through a limited number of focus group discussions and approximately 30-40 loosely structured individual interviews – which can be undertaken remotely – the primary objective will be to elicit illustrations and examples of innovative practice, collaborations, or the navigation of hurdles and barriers, across this disciplinary/sectoral divide. One of the goals of the assignment will be to identify options for providing practical  support at the politically delicate interface of human rights and peacebuilding practice and policy. It is intended to document and write this up in a report or separate reports (contingent on further discussion) which will:

• Feed into Interpeace’s own programming approach at the country level, as well that of other peacebuilding organizations, helping Interpeace articulate and embrace human rights approaches within its peacebuilding practice;
• Be utilised in the development of peace responsive approaches in the human rights sector;
• Provide foundational information that has the potential to be used to facilitate constructive dialogue and reflective learning between peacebuilding and human rights organizations;
• Provide options for policy engagement at the international level including potentially with OHCHR and with various potential non-government and governmental stakeholders.

In addition to the consultations, interviews and report, it is expected that this work will also provide a strong set of illustrative, context-specific narratives of those working at the interface between the lived experiences of (in)justice and peacebuilding.

Scope of the Assignment

The consultant organisation, research team or individual(s), will carry out a series of interviews with programme staff, local practitioners, human rights defenders, activists and others working at the intersection of human rights and peacebuilding in both peacebuilding organisations and human rights organisations. The final output will be a report or series of separate reports dependent on discussions with Interpeace. The work will be carried out over the course of four months during 2021.

Key interviewees could include but are not limited to:

• Members of various UN agencies working on human rights or at the nexus of peacebuilding and human rights.
• Local Civil Society representatives in various parts of society working on peacebuilding and human rights.
• Expert practitioners and academics with in-depth knowledge of both conceptual and operational issues at the heart of the peacebuilding-human rights nexus

Timeframe

1. Commence Mid-April
2. Research design and set up by Mid-May
3. 30-40 Interviews by mid-July
4. Drafting and revisions by Mid-August
5. Completed report/s end August

Reporting and feedback

This study is to be developed in an interactive process with direct supervision from Interpeace. The researcher or institution/organization will report to Graeme Simpson, Principal Representative of Interpeace NY & Senior Peacebuilding Adviser.

Qualifications

Candidates with the following qualifications are invited to apply:

• Tertiary qualification in international law, human rights, political science, development, security studies, peace and conflict studies, international relations or related field.
• Relevant networks with various peacebuilding, human rights organisations and practitioners and ability to build trust with such relevant actors.
• Experience working at the nexus of peacebuilding and human rights/justice, or at the intersection of policy work, practice and scholarship is a must.
• At least 3 years of research or practical experience on peacebuilding, human rights and/or related fields.

Institutions or organizations with a demonstrable track record of research projects on the peacebuilding and human rights nexus are also invited to apply.

Submission of expression of interest

Interpeace invites qualified persons to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to provide the services described above. The call is open to individuals as well as to institutions and companies which wish to propose achieving the objectives and deliverables of this consultancy in alternative ways.

Applicants shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposal, and Interpeace shall not be responsible or liable for those costs, whether direct or indirect, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the EOI, nor if the vacancy is cancelled, altered or postponed for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to, any and all costs incurred for pre-proposal clarifications, oral presentations, site visits, and subsequent meetings and negotiations.

All Expressions of Interest shall be prepared in English and comprise the following documents:

1. Motivational Letter, explaining why this topic is of interest to the candidate.
2. Track Record, including past professional experience within the areas of expertise described above, examples of work, and contact details of three references.
3. Financial Proposal, containing a proposed all-inclusive, daily consultancy rate in USD. The cost of preparing an application and negotiating a contract, including any related travel, is not reimbursable nor can it be included as a direct cost of the assignment.

All offers to provide the services described in this Expression of Interest must be submitted by e-mail to Graeme Simpson by 20 April 2021 at simpson@interpeace.org

All submissions must indicate “Human Rights and Peacebuilding Research” in the subject line.

Only applications under consideration will be notified. Participation in this EOI indicates acceptance of the terms and conditions provided.