Terms of Reference for Negotiation and Mediation Training for Women Peace Builders at Community and National Levels – AFSC

1.0 American Friends Service Committee Brief Background

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. AFSC promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution. As such, we seek to promote the transformation of cultural and societal norms, values, and behaviors to reject violence, with Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship as our values. AFSC promotes non-violent approaches to conflict resolution. As such, we seek to promote the transformation of cultural and societal norms, values, and behaviors to reject violence.

1.1 Background

UNSCR 1325 calls for meaningful inclusion of women 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. Women’s 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 are absent. These efforts are seen as recognition and acceptance of preventive diplomacy and mediation for conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in Africa.

AFSC’s new global ten-year strategy includes three goals; namely; Just and sustainable peace; Just approaches to migration and forced displacement and Just economies. The strategy makes clear that AFSC is committed to building societies that divest from harmful systems of violence and invest in alternatives that enable sustainable peace – among them mediation at different levels. As such, AFSC works to elevate youth, women, and persons who face overlapping forms of discrimination to positions of greater power and influence within communities.

2.0 Dialogue and Exchange Program

AFSC is planning a Dialogue and Exchange Program (DEP) training, to build skills of women (from Burundi, Ethiopia, DRC, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan Uganda and Zimbabwe) in negotiations and mediation for capacity enhancement, and structure their role as peace builders at community, national and regional levels. The main goal is to enhance capability and capacity of women in negotiation and mediation, so that they are able to support conflict resolution and peacebuilding at community and national levels in Africa. It is expected that:

• Women Mediators will have enhanced skills in mediation and take part in mediation processes in their communities.
• Women at the community levels are linked with seasoned women mediators and eminent persons peacebuilders for sustainable peacebuilding initiatives in the continent.
• A network of community based women mediators in the region is established and operational.
• Op eds, Blogs, among other communication information developed addressing importance of inclusion of women mediators and all level.

2.1 The Expected Outputs are that:

• Women from different countries in Africa trained in negotiation and mediation.
• Women mediators from the different countries are empowered and take part in peacebuilding interventions at community and national levels.
• Local peacebuilding initiatives are enhanced by women mediators.
• A vibrant interactive networking platform of community based women mediators
• Women respected as competent mediators at community levels.

3.0 Methodology

The training will be mostly discussions, group work, short videos, case studies, simulations and role plays, presentations by consultant, participants sharing their experiences in mediation and a panel of discussion with question and answers.

3.1 Deliverables

• A detailed inception report with detailed methodology and approach of the training, including the ones stated above and program to be agreed upon with AFSC.
• Final report inputs of the training in close collaboration with the rapporteur for quality.

3.2 Logistical support during the assignment

AFSC will provide all the necessary background documents prior to the commencement of the consultancy. This will include:

• Relevant documents
• Prompt feedback on all deliverables, generally providing written feedback within one week of receipt of inception report and program.
• Accommodation ONLY in Nairobi during the training days if necessary.

3.3 Location and Period of Training

The assignment is in Nairobi, Kenya. The month of training is Mid-June 2023

4.0. Applicant Requirements

• The consultant should have qualifications at PHD, Master level education or a minimum of 10 years of hands-on experiences in training in negotiation and mediation at different platforms (community, national, regional and international).
• Extensive facilitation experience of not less than 5 years in community and Civil Society Setting.
• Experience in peace building, conflict resolution, research and policy-based advocacy in the African region.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds to deliver the task.
• Experiences and/or know-how of conflict and mediation and negotiations.
• Be flexible, responsive to changes and demands and open to feedback from the participants.