Social Cohesion Expert

Post Title: Social Cohesion Expert.

Duty station: Homebased.

Duration of assignment: Maximum of 30 combined working days over a Six-month period.

Contract type: Service Contract.

Starting date: ASAP.

INTRODUCTION:

About Expertise France:

Expertise France is a public agency part of the AFD Group, merging six agencies under the supervision of the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy and Finance with a strong inter-ministerial vocation. EF offers programme engineering and technical assistance by developing and implementing international cooperation actions worldwide. EF operates in various development and institutional cooperation fields, including safety and security reform, post-crisis/stability, public health, human rights, strengthening of institutions and NGOs, and governance.

Expertise France designs and implements projects which aim to contribute to the balanced development of partner countries, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the priorities of France’s external action.

CONTEXT

1. million people inside the country and more than 5.6 million refugees plus their overstretched host communities in neighboring countries, are of an unprecedented scale. In 2013, the Syria crisis transformed itself from a humanitarian emergency to a multidimensional and protracted crisis directly affecting several countries in the region – mainly Lebanon and Jordan, but also Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt – whose social and economic capacity to deal with the ever-growing influx of refugees is all but exhausted. All actors involved in the crisis response agree that this massive challenge requires a comprehensive regional response, not only humanitarian aid but also longer-term structural support to host countries and communities, especially as no political solution to the crisis is in sight in the short term.

Syrian conflict

The Syrian conflict is having a devastating and lasting impact on Syria and across the region. With the conflict almost entering its eleven-year, the needs of the affected populations for assistance, including.

Many communities inside Syria face disrupted humanitarian support and quickly deteriorating public services and infrastructure, including the communities of northeast Syria.

EXPERTISE FRANCE IN SYRIA:

Since 2013, Expertise France has been implementing direct non-humanitarian assistance programmes in non-regime-held areas across Syria.

EF developed and implemented several stabilization projects targeting conflict-affected communities in Syria through local Syrian NGOs and CSOs with whom EF built strong partnerships. Expertise France’s fields of intervention cover the following sectors: health, livelihoods, early recovery, and capacity development.

Expertise France in Northeast Syria:

Expertise France has been engaged in northeast Syria since the defeat of ISIS with an aim to support the transition to stability. EF stabilization efforts pursue backing the third pillar of France’s stabilization approach that involves improving access to essential services and stimulating economic recovery and livelihoods.

Expertise France implemented the first and second phase of the Syria Area Based Integrated Recovery project between 2020 and 2022 involving multi-sectors, including improving (I) access to essential services through public infrastructures rehabilitation (II) promoting access to livelihoods and income generation through agriculture, livestock, technical and vocational education and training, entrepreneurship supports and finally (III) foster social capital by delivering tailored capacity building activities to local partners.

Expertise France has implemented SABIR I, SABIR II and SABIR III following the successful implementation of the Initiative Northeast Syria project in its phases in 2019, 2022, 2023 respectively.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expertise France will launch the third phase of SABIR in order to respond to the protracted crisis in NES following the same integrated area-based approach, targeting a cluster of communities in specific geographic areas in the south of Al Hasskah and Ar-rqqa provinces, and taking into account the links and exchanges between sectors, local regions and stakeholders to maximize impact.

The SABIR III project was built on lessons learned from SABIR II, maintaining and expanding good practices, especially the successful area-based and holistic approach to respond to the inter-related and multi-sectoral needs as a mean for stabilization, while adopting a more active community engagement and localized approach under SABIR II through forming community-based committees who would represent the targeted communities and their interests. Particular attention will be devoted to mitigating climate change, prevailing environmental degradation, and water scarcity in the NES.

SABIR project’s overall intended impact is to contribute to addressing the post-crisis recovery challenges to pave the path towards sustainable development. The sub-objective of SABIR 4 is to build more resilient local communities towards greater stabilization in the northeast of Syria.

SABIR 4 focus areas:

1. Access to basic services is enhanced through the rehabilitation of public infrastructure.

2. Local communities have improved access to inclusive and sustainable livelihoods opportunities.

3. Social Cohesion has increased in areas where a diversity of communities and sociodemographic live.

4. The capacities of local partners are strengthened to implement project activities and improve community engagement.

Overall objective:

More resilient local communities pave the way towards greater stabilization in the Northeast of Syria.

Living conditions and human security of people affected by the crisis in the northeast of Syria are improved through an integrated area-based and gender inclusive approach, focusing on access to basic services, livelihoods, and local actors’ empowerment. SABIR 4 project is designed to increase resilient communities and enable stabilization. The project should therefore respond to immediate food security and livelihood needs and to improve access to resources, services and knowledge. It will support community’s positive coping strategies and provide an enabling environment to mitigate negative ones, improve living conditions and access to basic services, and promote stabilization through a multisector-integrated approach. It is believed that the stabilization effort will support the target communities’ transition towards a more sustainable and equitable economic growth, will strengthen social cohesion at the local level, and hopefully would encourage displaced persons to return to their own communities. This would reflect positively on both IDPs and Host Communities, by reducing the pressure and improving social cohesion in NES.

Outputs:

Output 1: Access to basic services is enhanced through the rehabilitation of public infrastructure:

• Drinking and/or irrigation water availability and management are improved through rehabilitation of facilities:
• Rehabilitation of water treatment plants: improve access to water supply (for drinking and irrigation purposes) including provision of solar energy panels if feasible.
• Rehabilitation of water pumping facilities, including provision of solar energy panels if feasible.
• Maintenance and cleaning of irrigation canals. This activity will also provide cash-for-work income to local workers.
• Rehabilitation of irrigation networks for drinking and irrigation in both governorates
• Irrigation networks are improved to reduce the loss of water while irrigation provide on-farm irrigation networks such drip irrigation or sprinklers, and other climate smart irrigation techniques.
• Rehabilitation of small ground water wells for irrigation purposes.
• Drill and rehabilitate wells, equipping wells and pumps with solar energy.
• the rehabilitation of existing electrical networks and/or the additional new facilities improve electricity availability:
• Sabir will implement rehabilitation of electricity facilities/network and/or installation of new lines and transformers in areas suffering from excessive loads on the current transformers causing unstable current and successive blackouts and malfunctions.

Output 2: Local communities have improved access to inclusive and sustainable livelihoods opportunities:

• local farmers are provided with agricultural inputs such as high-value drought resistance seeds, in addition to small greenhouses and extension services in the two locations:
• The activity will include the provision of high-value drought resistance seeds, in addition to climate smart techniques, extension and training packages through the Farmer-to-Farmer approach and the demonstration plots to exchange knowledge and disseminate good practices.
• Establishing small greenhouses to women with all input materials such as seeds, drip irrigation and training to promote fresh vegetables production in this area and to empower women household.
• Supporting farmers with agricultural inputs and other materials to improve farmers’ livelihoods.
• Livestock heads and beehives, veterinary services, vaccines, and extension, as well as fodder seeds is provided to breeders:
• The project would provide vaccines for livestock heads of small ruminants. Farmers would also be supplied with Azolla and Panicum seeds to grow their own fodder and complemented by training.
• Technical and vocational training is implemented to increase the employability of local youth:
• Reinforcement of the population through specific and technical vocational trainings courses linked with the demands from the local enterprises.
• Small in-kind grants will be provided to selected beneficiaries aiming to start up their businesses. Local partners will ensure a strong follow-up on those small businesses, to ensure their sustainability, following lesson learned on exit strategy for this kind of project.

Output 3: Social Cohesion has increased in areas where a diversity of communities and sociodemographic live (inter-religious, tribal differences, IDPs and host communities)

• Activities, events, festival mobilizing members of different cultural groups (including IDPs and host communities) are organized:
• Conferences, workshops, and dialogue sessions are organized by local partners to discuss share of resources at the community level.
• Actions that foster the sense of belonging to the same culture, roots and emphasize spirt of common belonging are produced (focusing on promotions of heritage, history, traditions).
• Events are organized to promote and strengthen social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, such as music and sport festivals, cleaning days of public spaces, promotion of local heritage, etc.

Output 4: The capacities of local partners are strengthened to implement project activities and improve community engagement:

• CSOs/CBOs are trained and provided by organizational capacity building activities.
• CSOs/CBOs are trained and provided by technical capacity building activities.
• The Community Based Committees have been formed and trained to ensure good coordination of the activities and enhance sustainability.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY / ASSIGNMENT:

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with the Program Director and other project members at HQ, the incumbent will be responsible for providing advisory and technical support, proposal development, and consultancy for the SABIR project on the social cohesion activities in the NES. He/she will carry out the following activities:

• Providing technical and advisory support for promoting and integrating social cohesion concepts and good practices in partner projects
• Assist in documenting knowledge and best practices related to climate-related topics, based on existing studies and relevant needs assesment
• Advising on project design to SABIR 4 partners in a way that fosters social inclusion and promotes community cohesion.
• Developing a comprehensive approach to promote social cohesion and Advising on how to integrate and activate social cohesion aspects at various stages of project implementation.
• Developing and implementing tailored training programs for partners’ staff to understand and apply social cohesion concepts.
• Guiding in data and information analysis to identify social cohesion-related needs and gaps. Supporting the implementation of tools and metrics to measure projects’ impact on social cohesion.
• Developing strategies to enhance community participation and representation in partner projects, fostering social cohesion.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and training sessions on social cohesion to partners’ staff upon EF’s request, based on evaluation results.
• Assist in designing new proposals and interventions in Syria upon request.
• Develop a plan to involve Community-Based Committees in designing and implementing SABIR4 activities.
• Draft a brief capitalization and lessons learned paper based on project implementation reports.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• A plan to better involve the Community-Based Committees in designing and implementing SABIR4 activities.
• Coaching and training report,
• Capitalization and lessons learned paper based on project implementation reports.

TECHNICAL SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• University degree or master’s degree in social sciences, International Development, Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding, or related fields.
• At least 7 to 10 years of experience in fields related to social cohesion, community development, conflict resolution, or peacebuilding.
• Specialization or coursework in social cohesion, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or community development.
• Proven experience in conducting trainings and providing coaching. Experience in building capacity of local organizations is a plus
• Excellent writing skills with high proficiency in English and Arabic.
• Experience working in roles related to social cohesion within humanitarian or development sectors.
• Familiarity with international frameworks and policies related to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community cohesion.
• Strong understanding of social dynamics, community-based approaches, and conflict-sensitive programming.
• Ability to conduct social cohesion analyses and assessments to inform program design and implementation.
• Experience in developing strategies, tools, and training materials to promote social cohesion and community resilience.
• Proficiency in monitoring and evaluating social cohesion initiatives and their impact on communities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate community engagement and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of relevant languages spoken in the project area may be advantageous for effective communication and engagement with local communities.
• Ability to prepare publications, reports, and presentations on social cohesion initiatives and community resilience.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and innovation in promoting social cohesion and community resilience.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multiethnic environments, fostering collaboration and cooperation among diverse groups.
• High level of flexibility and adaptability to work in challenging and dynamic contexts, responding to the evolving needs of communities and stakeholders.

DUTY STATION:

Home based. Potential travels to Erbil or Northeast Syria, and/or Iraq

Application procedure

Only applicants who apply as per the below details will be shortlisted.

• This position is only for applicants can work as home based with potential travels to Erbil or Northeast Syria, and/or Iraq.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply. We particularly encourage women to apply and contribute to our diverse and inclusive work environment
• Deadline of submission: April 1 2024 23:59
• All applications must include the following (In English and in PDF format only) :
  • Detailed CV
  • Cover Letter/motivation letter (explaining suitability for the position)
• Applications should be sent to [email protected] , using the following subject: “Social Cohesion Expert“
• Expertise France reserves the right to close the announcement prior to the stated deadline as applications are screened on a rolling basis and only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
• Incomplete applications and wrong title formats will not be considered