Research on Implications and Effects of Lethal Drones in Somalia

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to shift the mindsets that prioritize militarized approaches over peaceful and people-cantered solutions, promotes sustainable economic systems that benefit everyone, rather than those that favour the wealthy and exacerbate inequality and environmental crises and challenges forced displacement and champions the dignity and rights of all people on the move. With a vision of A just, peaceful, and sustainable world free of violence, inequality, and oppression and a mission Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, AFSC works with communities and partners worldwide to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace. As such AFSC respects the equality, worth, and dignity of all people and regard no one as her enemy, seek right relationship with all life on a sustainable Earth, accepts that AFSC’s understanding of truth is incomplete and seek ever deeper insights from lived experiences, AFSC trusts the Spirit to guide discernment of her collective actions. AFSC asserts the transforming power of love and active nonviolence as a force for justice and reconciliation.

Somali Program

AFSC believe that young people can positively transform the prevailing context of violent conflicts in Somalia into a more secure, productive, and just places. Consequently, AFSC is implementing a Peace-building program in Somalia targeting the youth, with the approach of empowering them with peacebuilding, leadership, advocacy, and livelihood skills. The livelihood skills are meant to empower them to earn sustainable incomes and avoid the vulnerability of recruitment by violent militia groups. The peacebuilding and leadership skills are to empower them to take leading roles in peace-building activities in their localities.

The use of lethal drones to target militants in Somalia has killed innocent people, women, and children as well as displaced countless others. Rather than win the war on terror, attacks with drones undermine United States (US) efforts to stabilize countries in conflict, win the minds of youth in these countries, promote sustainable development, restore viable economies and peace. If left unchecked, the use of lethal drones enables the US to commit arbitrary assassinations on untried and not convicted individuals and commit human rights violations in Somalia. Based on the above background, AFSC seeks to engage a consultant to undertake a desk research and conduct key informant interviews on the implications and effects of the use of lethal drones by the USG to inform AFSC’s advocacy against use of lethal drones in Somalia.

The objectives of the consultancy are as follows:

i) To identify and map out areas mostly affected by the airstrikes.

ii) Outline Effects of airstrikes on civilian casualties, the numbers, actors, and the reasons.

iii) Highlight the impact of the use of US lethal drones among communities in Somalia.

iv) Highlight how the use of lethal drones in Somalia provides a recruiting platform for militia.

v) Document in short stories of communities impacted.

vi) Document international organizations working in Somalia struggles to provide services in areas where the US is using lethal drones.

The consultant is expected to come up with the following:

i) Respond to the ToR with a technical and financial proposal describing how he / she will undertake the research.

The independent consultant is expected to be guided by the following phases

• Preparation Phase – 2 days

• Review phase – 10 days

• Interview Phase – 5 days

• Reporting Phase – 3 days

Applicant Requirements

The consultant or team should have.

a) A degree in Peace, conflict Management, Development Studies or any other relevant Social Science.

b) Minimum seven years of hands-on experiences in conducting research aimed at guiding policy formulation in Somalia.

c) Excellent understanding of Somalia’s conflict, context, and Peacebuilding work in Somalia.

d) Experience in incorporating evidence in research i.e. data/statistics.

e) Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds to deliver quality assignments within a short time frame.

f) Be flexible, responsive to changes and demands and open to feedback

g) Knowledge of the US military activities in Somalia.

h) Ability to engage local communities and humanitarian organizations.

i) Ability to translate research and interviews into a working document that can be shared with the US government and can also be publishable.