Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 11 Nov 2016
Duty station: Yangon and various field sites, Myanmar
Assignment title: Consortium consultancy / Civil Society Mapping
Reporting to: Peace Support Fund
Duration: 80 days (start date tbc)
The Peace Support Fund (PSF) was established in March 2014 as a flexible, responsive and demand-driven fund which aims to increase the likelihood of sustainable peace in Myanmar. Funded by the UK (DFID), Australia (DFAT) and Sweden (SIDA), the PSF is a multi-donor fund, providing financial and technical support to nationally-led initiatives that increase trust, dialogue and effective participation in the peace process, as well as initiatives aimed at building inter-communal harmony.
1. Objectives
The PSF wishes to commission a team of national and international consultants to conduct a comprehensive analysis of civil society organisations (CSOs) that are supporting the peace process and peacebuilding in Myanmar. Research produced by the consortium will be a contribution to the PSF’s broader Contributions to Sustainable Peace Series.
This analysis seeks to understand two key elements: (1) the current status of civil society contributions to Myanmar’s peace process, and (2) the opportunities for broadening and diversifying support to civil society in the future. To understand these two elements, the PSF is seeking to explore the relational dynamics and linkages of civil society groups to other stakeholders – including government, political parties, religion, non-state, international – in their contributions to the peace process and peacebuilding more broadly.
The assignment objectives are to:
- Identify and analyse the nature, role and impact of civil society contributions to the peace process and peacebuilding in Myanmar at the national and sub-national level (including analysis of roles and barriers to participation)
- Assess opportunities to deepen and diversify support to civil society actors across Myanmar that are involved in the peace process and peacebuilding at the national and sub-national level
- Identify and evaluate the relational dynamics between CSOs and other actors (including the national, sub-national and local government, EAOs, political parties, religious groups, the private sector, other NGOs, border-based organisations, international community etc.)
- Outline international evidence and best practice related to the inclusion of civil society in peace processes and peacebuilding relevant to the Myanmar context by creating a framework of engagement for deepening civil society involvement in the peace process and peacebuilding
Analysis will integrate both gender and youth perspectives to provide a more nuanced analysis of the shape of civil society’s contribution to the peace process and peacebuilding.
2. Background and Aim
Over sixty years of peacebuilding evidence shows that inclusive peace processes increase the likelihood of sustainable peace, yet in Myanmar, the participation of civil society in the formal peace process has been limited. Formal negotiations have, thus far, largely been a space reserved for the government, military, EAOs and political parties.
Despite the limited involvement of civil society, Myanmar’s civil society has continuously contributed to both the peace process and peace building over the past 70 years. The exact size and nature of civil society’s contribution to peace is unknown. The Civil Society Forum for Peace (CSFoP), coordinated by Shalom (Nyein) Foundation, has a database of 97 local organisations working directly on peace issues. Of these organisations, 58 are based out of Yangon. The Local Resource Centre now lists 129 local NGOs operating in Myanmar – though this figure is not disaggregated by sector or state/region. Other sources, such as the International Centre for Non-Profit Law estimates that 10,000 (mostly non-registered) local NGOs operate in Myanmar. Conflicting numbers of organisations are indicative of broader issues facing civil society such as registration, lack of comprehensive data collection systems and the legacy of authoritarian rule that limited the ability of civil society to gather in public spaces.
The role of civil society in Myanmar’s peace process – and peacebuilding more broadly – continues to evolve. At the second Union Peace Conference, for example, groups such as the Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process and the Ethnic Youth Alliance were granted observer status, representing an important shift in the inclusion of civil society in the peace process. Furthermore, the announcement of the Civil Society Forum that will run parallel to the peace process marks another shift and opportunity to deepen inclusion of civil society in the formal peace process.
It is with this backdrop that this research project aims to establish a clear understanding of the roles of civil society in Myanmar’s peace process and peacebuilding to date and to identify and analyse the national and sub-national relational elements of civil society. The outcomes of the research will seek to inform decisions around a growing number of initiatives and investments designed to support the inclusion of civil society in Myanmar’s evolving peace process. The research produced will feed into the PSF’s broader Contributions to Sustainable Peace Series.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
To inform the preparation of the report, the consortium will be responsible for and conduct the following tasks:
- Prepare as necessary by reviewing current documentation relating to civil society’s contribution to Myanmar’s peace process and peacebuilding, reviewing existing civil society literature and assessments to avoid duplication
- Create a methodological approach and research plan with timelines to guide this civil society mapping analysis, including development of an interview list
- Conduct primary research to gather data as per plan developed
- Create a draft report based on findings
- Conduct a validation workshop and peer review with key civil society actors to discuss the draft report
- Finalise the report for public dissemination
- Disseminate the report using creative, non-traditional methods (audio, visual, video etc.)
- Summarise report into a one page of recommendations and provide data for creation of an infographic
The research plan, interview list, validation workshop etc., will be developed in consultation with, and be preapproved by, the PSF.
4. Methodology
The analysis is expected to use a range of qualitative data collection and dissemination tools. To capture all available information, it is envisaged both a desktop analysis of existing literature and reports will be undertaken. Desk review will be augmented by in-country interviews with key national, sub-national and international actors. The PSF will require the consortium to integrate gender power analysis and youth perspectives across all elements of the research project. The research team will hold a validation workshop to refine and improve analysis/key findings and ensure that it reflects the views of gender and youth organisations.
5. Deliverables
The consultancy team will deliver:
- Research plan that will include methodology, plan, overview of civil society and Myanmar assessments to date and proposed methodological approach/plan (to be approved by the PSF)
- Draft report (for review by PSF and peer review/validation workshop)
- Peer review / validation workshop
- Final report (fully formatted following PSF style guide)
- One page summary of report (that includes data for infographic creation)
These deliverables are to be:
- Prepared in English
- Submitted to the Peace Support Fund electronically via e-mail
6. Timetable of Activities
The consultancy is approximately eighty (80) working days. The actual number of working days will be determined in negotiations between the PSF and the consortium. It is expected that the report preparations will take place over November and December 2016 with the final report publication ready by February 2017.
The following is a tentative timeframe, to be discussed and finalised in consultation with PSF:
Research Plan: by end November 2016
Field Work: December 2016
Report Preparation (including peer review/validation workshop): January 2017
Report and summary submission: end January 2017
Launch: February 2017
7. Reporting
The consultancy will be overseen by the Peace Support Fund. The consortium will give regular updates to the Director and International Programme Officer at the PSF, including sharing tentative timetable of meetings and interviews and report any changes on foreseen timeline for developing and delivering the report. A briefing will be given to relevant colleagues as necessary.
8. Consortium requirements
The consortium should have the following qualifications and experience:
- Minimum of 10 years professional experience (lead consultant), specifically with conducting assessments of civil society in conflict or transitional contexts
- Extensive knowledge of the Myanmar context and conflict
- Profound understanding of conflict sensitive approaches
- Comprehensive knowledge of civil society involvement in peace processes and peacebuilding
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and interview skills
- Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within deadlines
- Excellent written and spoken English and Burmese (across team)
How to apply:
The PSF invites interested applicants to submit an application no later than 11 November 2016 to recruitment.psf@nis-foundation.org. All applications should include ‘Consortium consultancy / Civil Society Mapping’ in the subject line.
Both teams and individuals are invited to submit an application. Teams comprised of both national and international consultants are invited to apply. Individuals are welcome to put forward an application, though individuals should be comfortable with being placed on a team / consortium to undertake the research.
All applicants should submit:
- CVs of relevant team members (maximum 2 pages each)
- Breakdown of daily rates for each team member
- Two unedited writing samples (preference on topics related to Myanmar’s peace process and/or civil society)
- Overview of how the team intends to execute the above ToR, including how the team (or individual) will integrate gender and youth perspectives into research (maximum 5 pages).
- Minimum 2 professional references (for each team member)
Only those applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.