Political Economy Analysis and CSO Mapping - Consultant

Elections & Governance

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Introduction

About IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC has operated in South Sudan for over 30 years now delivering humanitarian relief, post-conflict assistance, and development programs in refugees, internally displaced and host community settings. IRC operates in 9 field offices including in Juba with program portfolio covering health, nutrition, child protection, economic recovery and development (ERD)/livelihoods, women’s protection and empowerment and general protection. IRC continues to provide life-saving assistance and humanitarian aid to vulnerable South Sudanese, trying to rebuild their lives and restore peace. The IRC's new strategy in South Sudan prioritizes improving the voice of people to lead their own recovery and development, health, safety, and economic well-being, targeting women, children, and other vulnerable groups. The IRC has presence in five states – Upper Nile, Unity, Central Equatoria, Lakes, and Northen Bahr el Ghazel; Further, the IRC South Sudan works in Eastern Equatoria and Jonglei states through partners. Additionally, IRC provides emergency response through a network of three field offices and a range of institutional and community-based partnerships. CSOs has a role to play to contribute to the restoration of peace in the country.

A consortium of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in collaboration with a local partner, Initiative for Peace Communication Association (IPCA), is implementing the Civil Society Engagement for Sustainable Peace in South Sudan (CSESP) project in 4 states of Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile and Unity. CSESP strives, inter alia, to enhance and sustain the long-term impact of South Sudanese civil society in national and local peace processes. The project’s target locations are namely, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile and Unity state. South Sudan continues to suffer from widespread subnational conflict aggravated by multiple and interlocking political, leadership, and environmental problems. The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) ended formal hostilities between the two groups, but the implementation of the peace agreement faces a plethora of limitations including the lack of inclusion of civil actors. The situation demands nuanced analysis that can bring together the scattered insights of observers and South Sudanese people on CSO participation opportunities and risks on peace process. CSOs and NGOs are doing a lot, especially in delivering services across the nexus, but they are working within an increasingly limited space and face significant risks. Much as the country is facing many challenges, the opportunities for broad based dialogue involving participation of CSOs are immense.

It is against this background that IRC seeks to recruit a consultant(s) to undertake a political economy analysis (PEA) and civil society mapping to understand how political and economic dynamics at the national and subnational levels affect how national policies and strategies affect the participation of CSOs in key peace process over time, including during periods of increased conflict and during key national processes including during the anticipated national elections. The analysis will analyze power relations, distribution of resources, and the role of formal and informal CSOs and relevant stakeholders in relation to the project goal. The political economy (PEA) will include a literature review and key informant interviews with diverse stakeholder groups including policy makers, donors, research, implementing organizations, civil society, and more. The CSO mapping will help to build IRC’s understanding of civil society actors engaged within the peacebuilding and civic engagement space at national and sub-national levels. PEA will also be important to understand the political landscape and what is standing in the way of CSO engagement and advocacy work. The combined analysis will examine power relations, distribution of resources, and the role of formal and informal CSOs and relevant stakeholders in relation to the project goal.

The PEA findings will guide the deployment of the right strategies for the CSO to engage in the peace process, careful management of risks within South Sudan's civil society, and opportunities for spaces of action.

This PEA will be led by an external consultant, supported by the IRC South Governance and Rights Coordinator and its field team as well the IRC HQ’s Governance Technical Unit.

PEA and CSO Mapping Scope and Objectives

IRC South Sudan Country Program, through the PEA exercise, seeks to understand the political, social, and economic incentives that drive the functioning and behavior of the civil society and local institutions in the peace process spaces and related reforms in South Sudan. And through the CSO mapping, the IRC seeks to have a deeper analysis of the power relations, distribution of resources, and the role of formal and informal CSOs and relevant stakeholders in relation to the project goal.

The PEA seeks to achieve the following specific objectives.

- Gain a better understanding of the political economy in relation to civic engagement in the peace process, in the target locations in South Sudan. - To assess and understand legislation processes, key actors, power relations dynamics and trends, and rules governing CSO spaces in the peace process, and the challenges of CSOs in a country experiencing fragility. “What the current situation is,” “why things are the way they are,” and “what are the openings?”. - To assess the national and subnational systems and structures with a view to identifying capacity gaps, strengths, and systems strengthening gaps, that if addressed, will result in opportunities for effective, transparent, accountable, and inclusive participation of the civil society in the peace process. Also unpacking “What the current situation is,” “why things are the way they are,” and “what are the openings?”. - To provide recommendations on approaches/strategies for civil society to effectively influence and participate in key reforms including the peace process. Identify strategies to adapt existing program intervention when the change we are seeking does not occur. - Identify practical and realistic entry points for step changes and programmatic interventions or policy hooks that IRC can leverage on civil society systems strengthening in governance and peace building/ processes.

CSO Mapping will include:

1. Overview of CSOs engaged in civic engagement or peacebuilding processes at national levels as well as the targeted regions. 2. A brief summary of each organization, their core area of expertise, geographic reach, as well as an analysis of their capacity. 3. An analysis of the power relations, distribution of resources, and the role of formal and informal CSOs and relevant stakeholders in relation to the project goal.

Methodology

IRC anticipates that the consultant(s) will utilize an appropriate mix of methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to gather and analyze data including a desk review of relevant secondary data, focus group discussions (FGDs), semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews (KIIs), among others. In addition, it is expected that the applicants demonstrate how they intend to incorporate conflict-sensitivity, gender, equality, diversity, and inclusion to ensure diverse perspectives and promote the participation of different individuals and groups in the PEA process.

Expected Outputs/ Deliverables

- An inception report outlining the methodology, detailed workplan, refined PEA and CSO mapping data collection tools, documents, and meetings required, work plans and timelines, an indicative item-focused budget, analytical framework, and the final PEA report format. - A draft soft copy of the PEA and CSO mapping report to be reviewed and refined jointly with IRC. - A preliminary presentation of the PEA and CSO mapping report outlining key processes, key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations to validate PEA findings and revisions made in accordance with discussions. Facilitate a workshop with project staff. - A final PEA and CSO Report, accompanied by a summary report of PEA, annexes (including CSO map) together with original data and any other underlying work. - List of stakeholder interviews including, where relevant, a summary matrix highlighting each stakeholder’s geographic coverage and areas of technical expertise. - Develop a comprehensive stakeholder analysis to document findings from the desk review and key informant interviews. - Conduct a policy dialogue to build consensus among high-level stakeholders on the proposed processes. - Facilitate a social network analysis workshop with relevant stakeholders, to both document mutual partnership priorities and build common understanding of the civil society network within the priority areas. That should add to the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) and CSO mapping report.

Consultancy Period

This consultancy assignment is anticipated to take thirty-five (35) working days covering pre-assignment preparatory activities, data collection, analysis, and reporting. The expected commencement date is 11 December 2023, and the final PEA output is 15 February 2024.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience

- An advanced university degree in development studies, international relations, political science, public administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, Statistics, Social Sciences, or a related field. - Extensive experience in conceptualizing and undertaking research and evaluations using a varied mix of methodologies. - Demonstrated they have undertaken 1-2 PAs, or proof that they really know what PEA is. - Demonstrable extensive experience in conducting political economy analyses in the region. Share evidence of PEA undertaken. - Excellent skills in conducting policy dialogues. - Fluency in written and spoken English. - Outstanding report writing and presentation skills.

Application Procedure and Requirements

- A brief outline of the consultant(s) profile(s). - A one-page cover letter expressing interest, availability commitment during the entire period of the consultancy, and suitability to undertake the assignment demonstrated by past performance conducting similar assignments with comparable organizations. - A detailed proposal (maximum 3 pages) summarizing the understanding of the ToR, describing the methodology, and an indicative work plan to be used for the PEA process, including the expected time required for each step. - A minimum of three references from reputable organizations/clients that the consultant or consultancy firm has provided similar services. - An item-focused financial proposal outlining the anticipated cost of services in US Dollars, inclusive of taxes and other withholdings, as well as other costs that may arise with the engagement plus the daily rate. - Examples of similar work completed in the past years. - All mandatory compliance and statutory requirements including tax payment. - Updated CV that clearly spells out his/her qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should submit their applications to IRC portal SS-HR@Rescue.org and copy nilawaty.bahar@rescue.org and Edmore.Mahlupeka@rescue.org no later than 5 December 2023.

Disclaimer:

Please take note that the International Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment processes. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Safeguarding policy: The IRC has a zero-tolerance policy for safeguarding violations by staff, incentive workers, visitors, sub-grantees, suppliers/sub-contractors, and implementing partners. Safeguarding at the IRC is an integral to the organizational values and ethics, and staff and associates are expected to take all reasonable steps to prevent the sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment of any person linked to the program by both its employees and any downstream partner. The successful candidate will be subject to a thorough background check and satisfactory references.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

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Added 5 months ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: rescue.org