1.0 Salama HUB Description and Background
1.1 Salama HUB Project Description
The program, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia targets East and the Horn of Africa countries Djibouti Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Salama HUB is a Consortium between the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). Salama HUB was established in 2021 and aims to ensure that African civil societies interact efficiently with institutional stakeholders in Africa, Europe, and America for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region. It exists to make a significant contribution by equipping Civil Society Organizations and Faith Based Organizations in the Horn of Africa region with evidence through research and skills to positively influence conflict situations as well as policy development, thereby contributing to peace.
1.2 The Consortium Background
1.2.1 About AFSC and AACC
AFSC is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, AFSC nurtures the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems. To that end, AFSC works with constituencies that have suffered exclusion and marginalization. Through its Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, AFSC promotes projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, and Zimbabwe, with evidence-based advocacy component for policy change in the Horn of Africa. AFSC has decades of experience in leading advocacy, evidence-based research and civil society strengthening programs around the world. Every year, AFSC brings thousands of Global South leaders and Civil Society Organizations, together to learn and exchange ideas. Due to the challenging situation in the Horn of Africa, AFSC took the strategic decision to focus more strongly on this region, to link up with existent civil society networks and contribute with its specific expertise.
The AACC is a continental ecumenical body that accounts for over 200 million Christians across the continent. AACC is the largest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Indigenous churches in Africa and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network. AACC is a fellowship of 204 members comprising of Churches, National Councils of Churches (NCCs), theological and lay training institutions and other Christian organizations in 43 African countries. The AACC through its AU Liaison Office, follows the ambition of its strategic plan 2019-2023 for a strong political engagement at AU level.
1.2.1 Project Name: Transforming Lives in the East and Horn of Africa Region through Evidence-based Advocacy and Campaigning for Peaceful Change
2.0 Context of the Program
Africa, specifically the Horn of Africa (HoA) is a region heavily impacted by wars and conflicts. It has witnessed destructive cross-border communal conflicts often triggered by environmental factors, facilitated by porous borders, which are not always respected or recognized by pastoral communities, especially those who belong to ethnic groups split across national boundaries. Conflicts that unfold are closely interconnected and feed into each other by assuming community, national, sub-regional and regional dimensions. Hence, violent conflicts between different communities, disaffected groups, and the state on one hand, continue with impunity. Women and girls are bearing the brunt of these concurrent crises due to prevailing gender inequalities, cultural factors, which hinder their participation in peacebuilding efforts, decision making mechanisms, undermining the integration and inclusivity of women in conflict resolution actions.
The HoA has had its own share of challenge in as far as governance, as challenges of peace and security are concerned. States such as Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia continue to face myriad challenges particularly those to do with the difficult terrain of state formation. It is against this background that different theatres of intra-state conflict (civil war, rebellions, and insurgencies; thereby producing hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons) persist in these countries. While Sudan has been plunged into conflict between the Sudanese army and Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the midst of delicate political transition from an authoritarian past, towards a more liberal democratic present, Ethiopia has lately been struggling with several waves of internal political instability and civil war especially over the Tigray question as well as a number of major belligerent groups and/or movements elsewhere in the country in addition to and the problems it has had with its neighbours (especially Egypt) over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam. Other governance issues have revolved around issues of corruption, human rights abuses, and failure to observe the rule of law in countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia and even in Kenya and Uganda (Transparency International, 2022).
The importance and the role women and young boys and girls play in peacebuilding cannot be overstated. UN[1] states that women and girls should not only be seen as victims of conflict and instability. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325[2] further highlights women’s role in peace and stability, calling on them to take a central stage in combating Gender-Based Violence and all forms of conflicts in the societies. Further stating they historically have had, and continue to have a role as combatants, as part of organized civil society, community members, human rights defenders, members of resistance movements and as active agents in both formal and informal peacebuilding and recovery processes. Various reports indicate the best resources for peacebuilding are the community within which conflict arises, which includes women and men. The assumption here is that most of the active players in any conflict are grassroots populations regardless of their gender, hence it is important to involve them in the process of peacebuilding. Additionally, for peace to be sustainable, gender and cultural elements must inform the peacebuilding process since disputes are not solved in the same way in different societies (IGAD 2005). However, peacebuilding has always been seen as a male preserve thus rendering women’s contributions in reducing conflict invisible. A major challenge of women involvement in mediation processes, is that they are often not perceived to have the skills, knowledge or social status needed to bring about change in post-conflict environments. The UN reports that only 9% of negotiators during peace talks are women. Women are seen as victims of conflict – as opposed to agents of change in conflict. Socio-cultural restraints make women participate less in mediation. Changing this requires a mind-shift by negotiators and mediators on how they view the role of women. Conflict is experienced at various levels, hence inclusivity of all players in resolution. It is important to invest in women’s role in peacebuilding due to its impact within communities. Additionally, women’s traditional approaches that worked in the past should be revisited and integrated into current approaches for building sustainable peace. Regrettably, women, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographical, and educational background are continuously marginalized and excluded from official peace negotiations. Women constitute majority of countries and continent’s population and excluding them, is denying the right of the majority to be heard.
UNSCR 1325 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 calls for meaningful inclusion of women and youth respectively in peacebuilding processes, as they are disproportionately affected by conflict. While Africa has made significant progress towards gender equality and protection of women’s rights at the policy level, commitment to implementation of the processes which subverts UNSCR 1325 implementation. Notably, women are often actively engaged in mediation processes at community levels, but their expertise is often overlooked in formal, local, and high-level peace initiatives. The same position can be said of youth involvement in peacebuilding processes where they are completely absent. Women’s and youth significant contribution to and strong role in conflict prevention initiatives continues to be largely unrecognized and weakly supported. There have been several mediation, negotiation, reconciliation, and dialogue efforts realized at different level in the region, though women and youth are absent. These efforts are seen as recognition and acceptance of preventive diplomacy and mediation for conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in Africa. Although peacebuilding is the foundation for creating sustainable human security and equitable development in countries emerging from conflict, women have been largely absent in peacebuilding processes. The late Kofi Anan once stated, “there is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole – women and men alike – than the one which involves women as central players”. As such, inclusion of youth and women in peacebuilding cannot be a mere box-ticking exercise. Deliberate effort must be made to include skilled youth and women in peace processes. Additionally, men and women are affected by and respond to conflict differently, hence all should take an integral part in decision-making during peace processes. Inclusion of women in every phase of peacebuilding has long-term revolutionary goal of interrogating patriarchal norms and other structural fault lines that are usually at the heart of conflict. Consequently, to increase women’s participation in peacebuilding, women’s capacity in negotiations and mediation skills need to be improved and extended to those at the grassroots[1].
3.0 Purpose of the Assignment
The AFSC Salama HUB Project is seeking the services of a consultant to undertake a scoping study on youth and women inclusion in negotiation and mediation peace building processes in Africa, specifically the HoA. The assignment should answer but not limited to the following questions:
- To what extent are women and youth involved in negotiations and mediation including other peacebuilding initiatives and process in the region?
- At what level are women and youth present in peacebuilding processes micro, macro meso and macro levels?
- Challenges and constraints facing women and youth participation in negotiations and mediation including other peacebuilding initiatives and process in the region?
- Recommendations for policies and laws that ensure women and youth are included at all levels of peacebuilding and decision-making processes.
3.1 Objectives of the study are but not limited to:
- To find out the levels of involvement of women and youth in negotiations, mediation, and other peacebuilding processes in the region.
- To investigate the gaps in women and youth involvement in negotiations, mediation, and other peacebuilding processes in the region.
- To find out the constraints and challenges that women and youth face in negotiations, mediation, and other peacebuilding processes in the region.
- To suggest recommendations for policy advocacy for the involvement of youth and women in negotiations, mediation, and other peacebuilding processes in the region.
3.2 Expected Outcomes and deliverables
- A draft report with executive summary, findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations. This report should also address all the objectives and citing relevant statistics where possible, references to enable policy advocacy work in the region for their involvement.
- A final report addressing any comments from AFSC Salama HUB office and regional office.
3.3 Logistical support during the assignment
AFSC will provide any necessary background documents prior to the commencement of the consultancy and any other required support for the assignment.
3.4 Period of Assignment
The work starts from 17th May – 13th June 2023 (20 working days)
4.0 Qualifications and skills
- The qualified candidate should have at the minimum, Masters or PHD level of University in Peace Studies, International Studies, Political Science, gender and peace studies or other related disciplines.
- At least 5-10 years’ experience in the field of peacebuilding with a special focus on negotiations, mediation peacebuilding process.
- Extensive experience working with women and youth in peacebuilding.
- Good comparative knowledge and understanding of conflicts, peace processes, peace agreements and political developments especially in the IGAD Region.
- The consultant must also have knowledge and good understanding of negotiations, mediation, other peacebuilding process specifically at UN and Africa region, as well as relevant international and regional legal instruments, guidelines, that relate to inclusion of youth and women.
- Good writing skills
- Willingness to perform the consultancy for the stated period on the said date.
[1] UN Report on “Office of the Human Rights Commissioner”. Women’s human rights and gender related concerns in situations of conflict and instability – retrieved 8th April 2023
[1] https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/cdrom/documents/Background_Paper_Africa.pdf
How to apply
5.0 Application procedure
Send your updated profile; CV with references of similar work done; a technical proposal that shows the consultant’s understanding of the assignment; and a financial proposal for the assignment that indicates the professional fees and any logistical expectations of the assignment; all submitted by close of business on 10th May 2023 to the Director Salama HUB Moses Chasieh – Mchasieh@afsc.org: (preferable in Adobe PDF file).
African researchers are encouraged to apply.