The project management team for the Resilient States Project is seeking a consultant to support our programming in Pennsylvania and Texas. Consultants will focus on tailoring and delivering the Resilient States Project’s violence mitigation curriculum to different audiences (including sectors, geographies, roles), i.e. state- and national-level partners across the political violence prevention fields and related spaces.
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
The Resilient States Project is 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. These networks work to transform division and conflict within their states, including tailored, strategic actions such as public statements, creative messaging, and public events that unify communities.
Goal and Objectives
- The consultancy should consider the following goals and objectives:
- Designing overall agenda and adapt curricula for a training, including goal setting and activation assignments;
- Developing engaging and informative presentation materials that bring together best practices of international peacebuilding and the Resilient States Project violence mitigation curriculum;
- Delivering virtual and in-person training with relevant handouts, template materials (email and agendas).
- Geographic Locations
- This role will require significant travel across Texas and Pennsylvania for training and other convenings. This may include multiple, multi-day trips within a month and weekend travel is possible.
- Logistical Support
- Consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics, and these costs must be reasonably budgeted into the proposal. A CG-USA staff member will be the point of contact and manager of this assessment.
- In addition, the Resilient States Project team will share background materials including related project curriculum and existing training material, etc.
- Deliverables
- The Resilient States Project team expects the following deliverables from the external consultant as they correspond to the proposed timeline and budget:
- Build and adapt training modules using CG-USA’s violence mitigation curriculum;
- Develop and adapt resource documents including but not limited to; training materials, template materials (emails and agendas), etc;
- Deliver training to CG-USA’s state- and national-level partners.
- 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 Resilient States Project’s relationships and legitimacy with partners and actors in the geographical area of study. Nothing in the study design or execution should suggest, or give the appearance of suggesting, that the Resilient States Project team, its partners, Common Ground USA, or Search for Common Ground as a whole are participating in political activity or lobbying that would violate the requirements of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The Resilient States Project team also requires consultants to maintain a balanced, unbiased, and respectful relationship with all parties involved in the research.
- Timeline
- The contract will span August-December 2024, with an expected level of effort equal to 10- 15 working days, with a possibility of expansion
- 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 5 years of experience in a combination of the following areas are required:
- Deep understanding of political violence, conflict resolution, and related socio-political issues.
- Strong research and analytical skills to develop evidence-based curricula.
- Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in using educational technology and multimedia tools.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Desirable qualifications:
- Strong candidates will also have the following qualities:
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in curriculum development, specifically within the field of political violence prevention and the non-profit sector.
- Proven track record of developing and implementing successful educational programs and training materials.
- 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 goal, objectives, and research questions for the assessment;
- Qualifications; and
- Proposed budget in relation to proposed methodology and 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 research and analysis experience; (2) relevant networks, community connections, and other key relationships in target state(s) that can be leveraged for this process; (3) a budget and/or proposed pay rate; and (4) any other relevant experience as applicable to these terms of reference.
As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
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