Terms of reference for a conflict and gender analysis consultant for Somalia

Background:

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity. We use media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. We partner with civil society, local media and others to produce creative programmes in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences around key development issues and strengthen the media sector through capacity building. Our work is built on insights from our research and engagement with communities and is focused on three key themes: governance and human rights, health and resilience.

In Somalia the combination of drought, floods and 30 years of conflict has resulted in 3.8 million displaced people and 8.3 million requiring humanitarian assistance. Climate change and extreme weather events impact peace and security in this fragile context, influence pastoralist mobility patterns/routes, intensify conflict over scarce resources, and fuel environmental degradation. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable due to gender disparities in access to services and opportunities. Somalia is ranked fourth globally for gender inequality. Gender roles mean women and girls have limited decision-making powers and control over resources within households and communities, hindering their ability to make the necessary adaptations to climate change, and contribute to conflict prevention. Despite this, women and girls exhibit remarkable resilience and potential to support their families, often shouldering responsibility for activities crucial to adapting to climate change. Women’s capacity to transcend intercommunal boundaries, bridge clan divisions, and adapt to changing gender roles and norms amid the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change offers a unique opportunity to foster inclusive peacebuilding, amplify their involvement in environmental decision making, political participation and contribute to broader development processes.

BBC Media Action is starting a project aiming to use the media to bring about social behavioural change at individual and collective level improving climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation, supporting peacebuilding, and addressing gender and social norms, while increasing women’s confidence to make decisions and ensuring men recognise their role. We will work with local media partners, based in each of the federal member states of Somalia and Somaliland, to co-produce media content targeting local communities and provide long-term mentoring to the local media partners, so they develop a stronger understanding and capacity to cover climate change, biodiversity loss, conflict and peacebuilding, and gender equality in a way that supports women, their families, and communities. BBC Media Action will engage religious/community leaders, women’s and men’s groups, and schools to promote discussion, action, and community driven delivery, with a strong emphasis on women’s active participation.

To inform the project we are looking to hire a consultant for a participatory gender and social inclusion-conflict analysis. This assessment will provide greater understanding of, and enhance sensitivity to, the Somali context by a) identifying current obstacles and opportunities for creating media content that positively challenges the discourse around women’s rights and gender equality, and b) gaining a deeper understanding of conflict drivers and power relations to minimise the risks of engagements that may inadvertently exacerbate conflicts and/or negatively affect project delivery. This will be used along with other research to inform the project design.

Objective:

To conduct a detailed a participatory gender-conflict-environmental analysis in Somalia.

Scope of Work:

The exact scope of work will be agreed through discussion with the BBC Media Action team.

It is likely to include:

1. Desk Review: Review existing literature, reports, and studies on the conflict situation in Somalia to establish a foundational understanding.

2. Stakeholder Mapping: Identify and map out key actors involved in or affected by the conflict, highlighting their interests, capacities, and influence.

3. Research: Work with BBC Media Action’s research team to design and gather first-hand data through interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observations. The BBC Media Action will undertake the fieldwork.

4. Conflict Dynamics: Analyze the root causes, triggers, and dynamics of the conflict, including socio-economic, political, and environmental factors.

5. Risk Analysis: Identify potential risks for escalation of conflict and potential opportunities for peace-building.

6. Recommendation Development Based on the findings, provide practical and actionable recommendations for BBC Media Action.

7. Report Writing: Compile and submit a comprehensive conflict analysis report detailing findings, analysis, and recommendations.

8. Presentation: Present the findings to BBC Media Action.and other stakeholders as required.

Expected Deliverables:

1. A detailed work plan outlining the consultant’s approach to the assignment.

2. A draft report (in word) detailing preliminary findings.

3. A final comprehensive conflict/GESI analysis report.

4. A presentation to key stakeholders.

Duration:

The assignment will be carried out over six weeks, starting from mid-October. We estimate this will be no more than 25 days work.

Qualifications:

1. A bachelor’s degree or higher in Conflict Studies, Gender, International Relations, Peace Studies, Political Science, or a related field.

2. Proven experience in conducting conflict analysis, in Somalia.

3. Strong understanding of the socio-political landscape in Somalia.

4. Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.

5. Fluency in English required and proficiency in Somali is highly desirable.