Location : Freetown and 12 Chiefdoms in the North Eastern Parts Kono Kailahun Kenema and Koinadugu Districts, SIERRA LEONE
Application Deadline : 17-Sep-15
Languages Required :English
Duration of Initial Contract : 25 working days
Expected Duration of Assignment : 25 working days
Background
The effective control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is one of the major global prerequisites for peace, sustainable development and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Peace and security challenges in West Africa are primarily about responding to the threat of violent conflicts and/or actual violent conflicts, as well as building a sustainable human security for all within and across national boundaries. A major lesson learned over the years is that where small arms and armed violence dominate, development suffers, and negative consequences spill over to neighbouring countries.
Although the primary responsibility for peace and security rests with the Member States, there is the collective responsibility by diverse actors who are often called upon to complement national efforts.
In peace and security specifically, a firm legal basis underpins the relationship between ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations. ECOWAS therefore draws its mandate and legitimacy in
'Peace and Security' from diverse but related regional and international legal agreements. These included amongst others, the 1993 ECOWAS revised Treaty, the 'Declaration of ECOWAS Political Principles' (A/DCL.1/7/91) and the 1999 “Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-Keeping and Security”. More particularly, ECOWAS adopted the Convention on SALW, their ammunition and other related materials in 2006 as legally binding regional framework for effective fight against the scourge of SALW. The ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (EPCF) also further places very high premium on strengthening the capacity of ECOWAS to develop and implement conflict preventive programmes. ECOWAS has subsequently undertaken a number of very important interventions to ensuring that its mandates and obligations to member countries have been addressed.
The need for ECOWAS is more important now than ever to provide assistance to its Member States in support of the Action Plan for the implementation of ECOWAS Convention on SALW. This is partly due to the proliferation of SALW which has increased within the past three years across the West African Conflict System (WACS), following the civil wars in Libya, Cote d’Ivoire and the instability in Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Nigeria. Furthermore, the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and its devastating impact on particularly Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea has exposed the border communities in these countries to exceptionally high levels of livelihood vulnerabilities, with the tendency of exposing them to illicit activities along these borders. Assessments carried out by the National Commission of Small Arms in Liberia indicates the need to provide a twin strategy of EVD and Small Arms awareness along these borders.
Consequently, and in order to further strengthen the ECOWAS Commission to effectively address the factors of instability and develop a pro-active approach to conflict prevention and resolution, the European Union (EU) support to ECOWAS Regional Peace, Security and Stability Mandate project has been formulated. The project is an intervention under the 2nd Focal Sector “Consolidation of Good Governance and Regional Stability” of the 10th EDF EC-West Africa Regional Indicative Programme, and aims to contribute to building and maintaining peace, security and stability in West Africa to ensure conditions of development. This pilot project is focused on two clusters covering six (6) countries, namely Northern Niger - Mali; (Sahel) and (Mano River Union) - (West of Cote d’Ivoire; Guinée Forestière; East of Liberia; North-East of Sierra Leone) is an integral component of the EU-ECOWAS PSS 2013-2018.
Drawing on UNDP’s capacity in the area of SALW, the ECOWAS and the EU identified UNDP as a partner to provide project implementation support. The project aims at drawing on UNDP’s focal points in the respective Country Offices (COs) to coordinate implementation in close collaboration with National Commission of Small Arms NATCOMS of the pilot countries and selected communities under the programme. The project will also be coherent with the European Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel, more particularly in strengthening ECOWAS capacities under the European Civil Protection Force (EU) ECPF components Preventive Diplomacy (mediation facilitation), Early Warning, Practical Disarmament (fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons) and Democracy and Political Governance (consolidation of democracy, electoral processes). The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) has a disproportionate impact on women & girls, both domestically and in conflict settings, therefore curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a complex undertaking which involves three distinct tasks: reducing demand, controlling supply, and recovering stocks.
The "Pilot Weapons Collection Programmes" within the broader context of "Disarmament and Community Development" the project aims to strengthen community security through:
Voluntary arms collection of SALW in exchange for development projects;
Raising awareness of the dangers associated with illicit proliferation of small arms and
Strengthening the operational capacity of relevant institutions, including National Small Arms Commissions (NATCOMs), to effectively manage and prevent the illicit spread of small arms including training of community leaders and security sector practitioners.
The negative effects of leftover weapons are felt not only in the immediate conflict area, but in neighbouring countries and regions as well. Small arms can easily spread across porous borders, igniting violence in adjacent areas. In some societies, these surplus weapons may create a "culture of violence" that traps whole populations in an endless cycle of war.
In Sierra Leone, the project aims at targeting specific border communities in the North-Eastern Regions of namely; Kono District - Lei, Soa & Mafindor Chiefdoms; Kailahun District - Malema, Luawa, Kissi Teng & Kissi Tongi Chiefdoms, Kenema District - Tunkia & Nomo Chiefdoms (Eastern Region) and Koinadugu District - Mongo, Neya & Sulima Chiefdoms (Northern Region).
Justification
The excessive and uncontrolled accumulation of small arms has led to the emergence of groups of armed individuals operating across and beyond borders: rebel movements, private militias, terrorists, drug traffickers, arms dealers, etc. In some cases, this proliferation of armed groups undermines the authority of the state and its ability to guarantee the safety of its citizens. Everyday experience in West Africa shows that the proliferation of small arms is a catalyst for crises and armed violence and helps to destabilize governments and states, in particular as a result of the activities of subversive movements, terrorism, drug trafficking, civil wars and other attacks on fundamental rights and human dignity. Consequently, it has become vital for all West African states to curb the proliferation of small arms. With the aim of combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared a moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons on 31 October 1998. In enforcing the West African moratorium on small arms, the armed forces and security forces will be the key to any campaign aimed at halting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The way in which the armed forces and security forces organize, cooperate and conduct themselves will prompt the local people to comply with the law in general, and in particular the law on the monitoring and regulation of small arms.
It is against this backdrop that the ECOWAS-EU Small Arms project in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme will be conducting trainings for traditional leaders, security officers, civil society organisations, hunters, community leaders and religious leaders in Lei, Soa, Mafindor, Malema, Luawa, Kissi Teng, Kissi Tongi, Tunkia, Nomo, Mongo, Neya and Sulima Chiefdoms to be trained on the dangers associated with small arms. The trainings will cover record keeping, border controls; physical security, stockpile management, advocacy and sensitization; resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation processes.
Duties and Responsibilities
The ECOWAS-EU Small Arms Project seeks a consultant to conduct trainings on marking, record keeping, tracing; border controls; physical security, stockpile management, advocacy and sensitization; resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation processes. Local consultant is required to develop training materials designed to inform traditional leaders, security forces, civil society organisations on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The materials will be drafted in a format accessible to literate and semi-literate populations, providing straightforward explanations through examples and exercises that resonate with local realities in the programme targeted chiefdoms.
The work under this consultancy will particularly focus on increasing the awareness level of community members on the dangers associated with small arms and light weapons.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop training materials in a format accessible to literate and semi-literate populations, providing straightforward explanations through examples and exercises that resonate with local realities in the programme targeted districts on marking, recordkeeping & tracing; Border controls; physical security and stockpile management, advocacy and sensitization; resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation processes;
Stockpile management should provide participants guidance on the safe, secure, effective and efficient management of stockpiles of small arms and light weapons;
Border controls should provide guidance on the implementation of effective border controls to prevent illicit cross-border movements of small arms and light weapons;
Marking record keeping and tracing should provide participants guidance on adequate marking and recordkeeping of small arms, light weapons, their parts, components and ammunition;
Resource mobilization, participants should have increased knowledge in programme planning, design development and management;
Advocacy and sensitisation, participants should have increased knowledge as to how trusted authorities and community members could be engaged to disseminate information and counteract rumours.
Key Results Expected:
Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Project Coordinator, ECOWAS-EU Small Arms Project, the consultant will be expected to work in close collaboration with the community members. At the end of the training, participants should be able to demonstrate:
General understanding on the issues related to small arms and light weapons control;
Knowledge of organising community sensitisation programmes;
In-depth understanding and competence on resource mobilisation;
Basic competence on how to monitor and evaluate programmes.
Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for the following:
Present training manual- The materials will be drafted in a format accessible to literate and semi-literate populations, providing straightforward explanations through examples and exercises that resonate with local realities in the programme targeted districts;
Train community members on the dangers associated with small arms and light weapons;
Work with Project Coordinator and other partners to implement trainings at different locations;
Present training report at the end of the training period.
Reporting Mechanisms:
It is expected that the completion of the deliverables will take 25 working days. The consultant will be expected to start work within 5 working days upon of signing contract.
Intellectual Property Rights:
All information gathered, photos taken remains property of EU-ECOWAS Project.
Payment Modalities
Payment to the consultant will be made in three instalments upon satisfactory completion of the following deliverables:
1st Instalment 40% upon signing of contract;
2nd instalment 20% upon covering ½ of the targeted chiefdom;
3rd instalment 40% upon completion of training and presentation of training report.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly;
Local realities in the programme targeted districts.
Familiarity with the UN system and UNDP.
Functional Competencies:
Building Strategic Partnerships;
Ability to identify needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.
Results Orientation:
Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Ability to take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved;
Identifies opportunities to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.
Team Work and Communication skills
Ability to work in teams;
Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation to work independently, as well as, cooperative and collaborative spirit to work in a team;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Master’s degree or equivalent academic qualification in environmental, international development field, Small Arms and Light Weapons (social, political, economic sciences), or other closely related field.
Experience:
Minimum of 5 years professional experience in Small Arms and Light Weapons;
Minimum 5 years progressive experience working in community based approach/conflict management or related experience in local development, particularly in crisis and post conflict countries;
Sound background and knowledge about Small Arms & Light Weapons;
Local knowledge of the chiefdoms where the trainings will be implemented will be an advantage; Excellent technical capacity to ensure high quality training to communities on physical security and stockpile management (PSSM), advocacy and sensitization, boarder security, record keeping, partnership, resource mobilization and monitoring and evaluation processes;
Proven experience of conducting trainings on the dangers associated with small arms.
Language:
Sierra Leone Indigenous Languages will be an added advantage;
Excellent English writing skills.
Evaluation of Criteria and Weighting:
The consultant will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria maximum score is 100%:
70% for technical criteria and 30% for financial criteria.
The technical evaluation will include the following:
Background & minimum educational qualification as defined above – 10%;
Practical previous experience relevant to the ToR – 30%;
Methodology of approach to the ToR – 50%;
English Language proficiency – 10%.
Application Procedure:
Qualified and interested persons are hereby requested to apply. The application must contain the following:
Cover letter;
Completed P11 form http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_personal_history_form.doc
Detailed achievement based CV;
Financial and technical proposal.
NB: Kindly upload ALL of the above as ONE single PDF file
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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