ALG seeks a Regional management expert, as part of the firm’s bid for an opportunity with GIZ. The assignment concerns: “Strengthening Civil Society in the Localisation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Great Lakes Region”. It is conditional on obtaining the award.

Context

The Great Lakes Region in Africa has been dominated by ongoing armed violence, war and political instability since the early 1990s. Politically motivated acts of violence committed by regular armed forces and non-state armed groups are fueled by regional and national power struggles, local ethnic tensions and competition for natural resources. Specifically, as response to the violent conflicts around DRC, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) was formed as an inter-governmental organization of the countries in the African Great Lakes Region. Its establishment was based on the recognition that political instability and conflicts in these countries have a considerable regional dimension and thus require a concerted effort in order to promote sustainable peace and development. ICGLR comprises 12 Member States (Angola, Burundi, CAR, DRC, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia). According to the 2021 Global Peace Index, five ICGLR Member States have a low (Burundi) or very low (CAR, DRC, South Sudan and Sudan) state of peace.

The 2023 Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) by the OECD Development Centre reveals a very high level of gender-specific discrimination in many ICGLR Member States. Women and girls as well as men and boys in all their diversity are affected by unequal power dynamics and the resulting violence in the region. Although it is recognised that boys and men are also affected by (conflict-related) sexual violence, it particularly affects women and girls. Patriarchal socio-cultural norms and role attributions, structurally embedded gender-specific discrimination and a culture of impunity reinforce the phenomenon of violence. In addition to sexual violence, domestic violence and violent relationships, women, girls and people with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations experience psychological and emotional violence and, in some member countries, (sometimes systematic) exclusion from sociopolitical and economic participation and education. Moreover, in view of the conflict dynamics in the region, they are also excluded from key decision-making processes on peace and security – even though it is known that the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution increases their security during a conflict and the higher probability of a long-lasting peace agreement.

Against this backdrop, implementing the UN Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Africa’s Great Lakes Region is particularly important. With its holistic approach, the four pillars of the WPS agenda – (1) Participation, (2) Prevention, (3) Protection and (4) Relief and Recovery – have considerable potential to promote and implement women’s human rights and gender equality to support the establishment of peaceful and stable societies. With the exception of Tanzania and Zambia, 10 out of 12 ICGLR Member States have adopted NAPs for the implementation of the WPS agenda. ICGLR has developed a Regional Action Plan (RAP) containing measures to increase the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and measures for gender mainstreaming in regional strategies. The implementation of the NAP and RAP at regional, national and local level remains challenging.

The project’s objective is: Civil society and governmental stakeholders have incorporated local perspectives into the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

The role

Qualifications of expert 4

• Education/training (section 2.4.1 of the assessment grid): University degree (master’s or equivalent diploma) in social or political sciences, law, gender studies, human rights studies or peace and conflict studies
• Language (section 2.4.2 of the assessment grid): English language skills, level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (5 points) French language skills, level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (5 points).
• General professional experience (section 2.4.3 of the assessment grid): 7 years of professional experience in managing grants awarded to civil society in the areas of peacebuilding and, gender equality.
• Specific professional experience (section 2.4.4 of the assessment grid): 5 years of professional experience in financial management and monitoring of grants
• Professional experience in the country/ region of assignment (2.4.7 of the assessment grid): 4 years of professional experience in Africa (5 points) 3 years of professional experience in Eastern and/or Central Africa (5 points)