ABOUT SEARCH

Search for Common Ground (Search) is a non-governmental organization working to transform the way societies deal with conflicts. We have over 30 years of experience in peacebuilding and are based in 53 local offices worldwide. We strive to build sustainable peace for generations to come by working with all sides of a conflict, providing the tools needed to work together, and finding constructive solutions. While conflict is inevitable, violence is not. Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Instead of tearing down an existing world, we focus on constructing a new one. We shift the everyday interactions between hostile groups of people, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violent means. We rely on local staff as well as local partner organizations in order to ensure our work is culturally sensitive, sustainable and well-grounded in the context.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Community of Practice in Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance is a community of 37 organizations operating throughout Iraq, with funding provided by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). The primary objective of this project is to strengthen a Community of Practice (CoP) in Iraq’s fields of democracy, human rights, and governance, with the goal of enhancing the collaborative and inclusive impact of the Iraqi community of practice as a leading civil society space within the democracy, human rights, and governance sector. Additionally, this initiative seeks to foster increased coordination and collaboration among diverse Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and strategic partners operating within the democracy, human rights, and governance sector in Iraq.

The CoP aims to coordinate and facilitate a four-day Annual Stakeholders Workshop (ASW), providing member organizations within the CoP with opportunities for exchange, learning, and coordination. The areas of focus for CoP members encompass gender-based violence (GBV), human rights, minorities, and vulnerable groups, democracy, governance, peacebuilding, reconciliation, as well as psychosocial, legal, and economic support.

KEY DELIVERABLES

EXPERT PROFILE

As a part of the CoP project, Search organizes an ‘Annual Stakeholders Workshop’ (ASW) event. This event serves as a platform for CoP members and their subgrantees to deliberate on their ongoing projects in Iraq, funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). The objective is to better inform programming in these critical fields. This year, the ASW will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Search will cover the expenses for transportation, visas, and accommodations for the selected facilitator.

Search is seeking for an individual with substantial in-person facilitation experience to oversee the 2023 ASW event. We anticipate an attendance of approximately 50 participants representing diverse program backgrounds from across Iraq over the course of four days, during which multiple sessions are planned. The sessions will be hosted by Search and DRL colleagues, with the facilitator providing support. The facilitator is expected to present in English and will be provided with a comprehensive event agenda outlining workshop activities, as well as background information on facilitation approaches for this event.

Search expects the facilitator to fulfill the following responsibilities:

• Facilitate sessions and discussions in a timely manner

• Ensure the smooth running of sessions and discussions.
• Maintain the agenda and keep sessions on schedule.
• Foster an environment conducive to productive discussions.

• Introduce ice-breakers and succinctly summarize key discussion topics and themes

• Commence sessions with engaging ice-breakers to promote interaction.
• Summarize and highlight the main points and themes for clarity.
• Use creative approaches to initiate and conclude discussions.

• Encourage participants to reflect upon and share their thoughts and experiences throughout the sessions

• Promote active participation and engagement.
• Create opportunities for attendees to share their insights and experiences.
• Foster an atmosphere where participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.

• Promote meaningful discussions among participants

• Encourage open dialogue and exchange of ideas.
• Facilitate constructive debates and problem-solving.
• Inspire participants to delve deeply into the topics and explore various perspectives.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required (e.g., politics, human rights, governance, development, democracy, administration, etc.).
• Possess at least 6 years of experience in facilitating conferences and workshops in Iraq, as well as in international events.
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend the socio-political contexts within the programming areas, as well as a broad understanding of the Iraqi landscape.
• Exhibit excellent public speaking skills and proficiency in managing the expectations of participants.
• Capable of working effectively with individuals from diverse political, religious, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Display flexibility in adapting to unforeseen or last-minute changes in the process.
• Proficiency in using computer software, including MS Word and PowerPoint.
• Fluent in both spoken and written English and Arabic; knowledge of Kurdish is an additional asset.
• Possess a valid passport with no travel restrictions.

To apply, interested candidates should submit the following documents to [email protected] with the email subject: ASW Facilitator by November 12, 2023:

• Resume/CV.
• A cover letter including your daily rate in USD and your availability dates.
• Writing samples in English of previous reports, training manuals, and presentations. Samples that are relevant to facilitation work (e.g., detailed facilitation plans, agendas, and reports) are strongly preferred