Call for Consultant/Senior Advisor for non-violence principles

Common Ground USA is seeking a Consultant/Senior Advisor to support our programming to mitigate risks of political violence in the USA, especially in higher risk states. The Consultant/Senior Advisor will lead outreach to key state- and national-level leaders to build support for and consensus around non-violence principles.

Context

Common Ground USA

Informed by lessons learned as the world’s largest and oldest peacebuilding organization, Common Ground-USA (CG-USA) represents Search for Common Ground’s most significant investment in fostering a peaceful America, where collective problem-solving and inclusive belonging are prioritized for everyone. We envision an America where we engage in collaboration across differences to address our greatest challenges, and where we can all belong and thrive. At CG-USA, we believe that most Americans want to overcome the divisions we face in our society. We see disagreement as an opportunity to transform conflict into cooperation on our daily and most pernicious problems. All of our work is rooted in an evidence base where we strengthen the five vital signs of peace: safety, social cohesion, institutional legitimacy, personal agency, and resourcing peace.

The Project

This consultancy effort complements the Resilient States Project – a collaboration between CG-USA and Over Zero – that convenes and empowers broad-based networks of diverse leaders to build resilience and mitigate risks for division and political violence in Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Our networks unite diverse leaders across various sectors, ideologies, and locations in the aim of reducing risks for political violence.

Objectives

• The consultancy should consider the following objectives:
• Broaden diversity of leaders publicly demonstrating commitment to non-violence
• Build opportunities for authentic dialogue and engagement around non-violence principles within ideological movements 

Geographic Locations

• Although most of this work is anticipated to be remote, this role may require travel for targeted outreach and other convenings in Washington DC and other locations within the US. All travel to be pre-approved by CG-USA.

Logistical Support

• A CG-USA staff member will be the point of contact and manager of this assessment. Consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics, and these costs must be reasonably budgeted into the proposal.

Deliverables

• The Consultant/Senior Advisor should propose a timeline and budget for for the following deliverables:
• Map key leaders and stakeholders, especially those with influence in conservative spaces and communities; (Anticipated by October 2024)
• Draft and execute an outreach strategy to build support and consensus around anti-violence principles among key leaders; (Anticipated October 2024 – January 2025) 
• Develop and support formal structures for coordination and consensus building around nonviolence principles (possibly including convenings, sign-on letters or other coordinated actions (Anticipated November 2024-January 2025)

Ethical Considerations

• Consultancy activities should conform to Do No Harm and inclusion principles (i.e., age, gender/gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, ideology, etc.). The consultant will also be asked to sign Search for Common Ground’s Code of Conduct.
• In addition, the consultancy should be conducted in such a way that it builds and maintains the Common Ground USA’s relationships and legitimacy with partners and actors in the US. Nothing in the design or execution should suggest that the consultant, Common Ground USA, or Search for Common Ground as a whole is participating in political activity or lobbying that would violate the requirements of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Timeline

• The contract will span September 2024 – January 2025, with a possibility for extension. There is an estimated level of effort equal to 8-15 working days per month, or approximately half of monthly working hours, with a possibility of expansion based on project activities.

Budget

• Candidates are encouraged to submit a budget, or a proposed daily/hourly rate, as part of their application.

Requirements of Consultant

• Required qualifications:
• More than 10 years of experience in a combination of the following areas are required:
• Deep understanding of political violence, democracy, conflict resolution, and related socio-political issues.
• Strong political analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and coalitions.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

In addition, the consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. They should communicate their methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique their work. They should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of their professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect: Consultant should respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.

Selection Criteria:

• Consultants should include a proposal for review. Consultant proposals will be selected for:
• Relevance of their expression of interests as it relates to the applicant’s ability to meet the objectives, and deliverables;
• Qualifications; and
• Proposed budget in relation to proposed deliverables.

Applications

To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following two documents:

1. Curriculum vitae.

2. Expression of intent outlining the following: (1) any relevant experience; (2) relevant networks, community connections, and other key relationships in that can be leveraged for this process; and (3) a budget and/or proposed pay rate

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