Consultant for Policy Brief Development at ActionAid Nigeria

Background

• Violent extremism poses significant challenges to communities across Nigeria and the Sahel, undermining social cohesion, security, and development. Strengthening community resilience is essential in countering and preventing violent extremism (PVE) by enhancing the capacity of communities to resist radicalization, recover from attacks, and prevent future violence.
• This Policy Brief aims to explore the strategies and approaches that can effectively strengthen community resilience in the face of violent extremism.

Objective of the Consultancy:

• The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a Policy Brief that provides evidence-based insights and recommendations on strengthening community resilience in the context of violent extremism.
• The Policy Brief should highlight successful strategies, identify gaps, and propose actionable policy recommendations for stakeholders at the local, national, and regional levels.

Scope of Work
The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature, policy documents, and case studies on community resilience and violent extremism.
• Identify key factors that contribute to community resilience in different contexts, including social, economic, cultural, and institutional aspects.

Case Study Analysis:

• Analyze specific case studies from Nigeria, the Sahel, and other relevant regions that highlight successful community resilience strategies in the face of violent extremism.
• Identify best practices and lessons learned that can be applied to other contexts.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with relevant stakeholders, including community leaders, local government officials, civil society organizations, and experts in PVE, to gather insights and validate findings.
• Conduct interviews, focus group discussions, or surveys where necessary to capture diverse perspectives on community resilience.

Analysis of Gaps and Challenges:

• Identify gaps and challenges in current approaches to strengthening community resilience in the context of violent extremism.
• Explore the impact of external factors such as governance, socio-economic conditions, and external interventions on community resilience.

Policy Recommendations:

• Develop practical and actionable policy recommendations for strengthening community resilience at different levels (local, national, regional).
• Propose strategies for enhancing community engagement, building social cohesion, and supporting local governance structures in PVE efforts.

Drafting and Presentation of the Policy Brief:

• Prepare a concise and well-structured Policy Brief (10-15 pages) that summarizes the key findings and recommendations.
• Present the draft Policy Brief to the commissioning organization for feedback and incorporate necessary revisions.
• Provide a final version of the Policy Brief for dissemination.

Deliverables:
The Consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• A draft Policy Brief (10-15 pages) with a comprehensive analysis of strategies for strengthening community resilience in the context of violent extremism.
• A final Policy Brief incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
• A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings and recommendations.

Duration of the Consultancy
The consultancy is expected to last for a period of 4 weeks from the start date, with the following tentative timeline:

• Weeks 1-2: Submission of the draft Policy Brief.
• Week 3: Review by stakeholders.
• Week 4: Finalization of Policy Brief.

Qualifications and Experience
The Consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Conflict Studies, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in research and analysis related to community resilience, violent extremism, or peacebuilding in Nigeria and/or the Sahel.
• Proven track record of producing high-quality policy briefs or reports.
• Strong understanding of the socio-political context of Nigeria and the Sahel region, particularly in relation to community dynamics.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and incorporate their perspectives.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The Consultant will report to the Project Coordinator SARVE III.
• Regular updates will be required to ensure the consultancy is on track, and feedback from the Project Coordinator will be incorporated at each stage of the consultancy.