CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT TO SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS INTO LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL PEACE ARCHITECTURES FOR PEACEBUILDING KATSINA AND KADUNA STATES OF NORTHWEST NIGERIA – FCT, ABUJA

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the project include:

1. Improve the effectiveness of the security response in the context of conflict and peacebuilding through strengthened human rights monitoring and accountability.
2. Promote a gender-sensitive Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS) and community-based platforms for dialogue and consensus building.
3. Provide through a systematic monitoring and reporting, an impartial and evidence-based narrative to help mobilize a broader response.
4. Catalyze key partnerships within the states and revive local peace processes, widen representations, and increase the participation of young men and women in peace processes,
5. Strengthen prevention capacities including the protection of women and girls from violence and initiate a roadmap towards a gender-sensitive peace and security infrastructure for resilience and sustainable peace in Kaduna and Katsina states.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultancy assignment will be undertaken at the state level and will be coordinated by OHCHR Nigeria with inputs from Project Coordination Committee (PCC) and the Project Steering Committee (PSC) at the federal and state level. During the assignment, the consultants will work very closely with other implementing UN entities (UNDP, IOM and UN Women) in capacity building initiatives of key stakeholders and community members, joint advocacy and awareness campaigns on peace building and prevention responses to conflict risks in the focal states.

The consultants will undertake monthly monitoring visits to affected communities in the focal states and report identified human rights violations as well as strengthen referral pathways. The consultants shall work with the Local Governance Peace Committees, CSOs, women led organizations and youth representatives, and other Project partners to address the human rights impacts of conflict and its consequences on livelihoods and social cohesion, and also promote gender considerations, and sustainable mitigation strategies to enhance protection.

The consultants will draft reports, reviews and other types of communications in compliance with established standards and in particular with respect to the human rights situation in communities in the focal states. The consultants will further work with INGOs, LNGOs, CSOs, Academic Experts and other relevant stakeholders focused on human rights architectures, conflict resolution and peacebuilding to build off experience and achieve tangible peace dividends for affected states and communities.    

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANTS

The following are the key activities and deliverables expected from the consultants for the period of the assignment:

• Assists in monitoring and reporting of abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the context of conflict and peacebuilding.
• Assists in research, collection, verification and analyses of information relevant to the observance of international human rights and humanitarian law in the mission area.
• Integrating human rights in joint-capacity building initiatives of key stakeholders and community members, joint advocacy and awareness campaigns on peace building and prevention responses to conflict risks.
• Strengthening linkages between early warning and early response.
• Assists in supporting UN and humanitarian actors in mission area on protection activities and compliance with human rights, and where appropriate, relevant authorities, including on the implementation of outcomes of UN human rights mechanisms.
• Assists in drafting reports, reviews and other types of communications in compliance with established standards and in particular with respect to reporting on human rights situation.
• Liaises with other UN actors present in the mission area for the collection and verification of information on the human rights situation and informs on human rights considerations that should be taken into account by other actors, including those delivering humanitarian response or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities, as well as by the UN mission in respect of future operations.
• Assists in advocating with relevant authorities and other influential actors to stop or prevent human rights violations and provide redress to victims.
• Assists in integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities.

DURATION OF THE WORK

The expected duration of this assignment is 12 Months

EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The following expected deliverables applies though the project duration: 

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The selected consultants shall work under the over all leadership/over sight of OHCHR, also in a close working relationship with the other UN entities including UNDP, IOM and UN Women in Nigeria and other project partners. The point of contact is the Senior Human Rights Advisor/RCO Nigeria

DUTY STATION

The selected consultants will be located at the two project focal states in the North-West (Kaduna and Katsina) with travel to Abuja, FCT as appropriate

Language

• Excellent written and spoken English.

Payment Schedule:

Monthly payments will be made throughout the duration of the project.