Country: Ethiopia
Closing date: 25 Nov 2016
Background
The Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa is a platform for informal discussion that brings together African policy makers and key stakeholders to explore African-led solutions to African security challenges. Since its inception in 2012, the Forum has discussed five thematic issues: (i) managing diversity in Africa, (ii) illicit financial flows from Africa, (iii) organised crime in Africa, (iv) secularism and politicised faith; and (v) Africa in the global security agenda. These annual discussions have been instrumental in the exchange of ideas and insights that influence decision-making on African security matters by governments, AU institutions and international organisations. The 6th Tana Forum will take place on 22-23 April 2017 and focus on the theme of “Natural Resource Governance in Africa.” The Chairperson of the Forum customarily presents a report on the State of Peace and Security in Africa (SPSA), which sets the stage, guides the conversation, and ultimately helps in shaping the debate around the theme of the year. The report assesses factors of insecurity associated with the thematic area of the year; identifies flash points; and indicates the current trends and crosscutting issues causing insecurity for citizens across the continent. This Terms of Reference is prepared to contract a qualified consultant to produce the above report.
Objectives
The SPSA Report is expected to provide a succinct overview and analysis of the most salient conflict trends and offer a nuanced understanding of the efforts and responses that are designed to manage complex peace and security challenges on the continent. The Report will situate the selected theme of the year within the broader context of conflict trends on the continent, and offer an in-depth analysis of the issues surrounding it. Against this background, the primary objective of the SPSA Report is to review the nature and evolution of peace and security threats on the continent and how key institutions, including the AU and regional economic communities (RECs), are responding to these threats. The report should:
- Outline the major factors or drivers of insecurity and violence, as well as their consequences in African countries;
- Highlight the changing trends in the nature of conflicts, particularly in terms of national, continental and global dimensions;
- Examine the cross-cutting aspects of various security threats (such as terrorism, youth issues, post-election violence, climate change, energy insecurity, forced migration, trafficking in persons and drugs, small arms trade, money laundering, illicit funds, communicable diseases and sexual and gender-based violence) in different parts of the continent;
- Provide an overview of the responses by African continental and regional institutions to the security threats;
- Provide broad recommendations on the way forward.
Deliverables and tasks
The consultant should demonstrate familiarity with the unique features of the Tana Forum (www.tanaforum.org) in terms of its mission and format, including assessing the peculiarities of the Forum as a high-level “practitioners’ workshop”, in sharp contrast to being a platform for scholarly or expert discussion. The consultant should then develop a report that answers the following questions:
- What factors and drivers of conflicts have shaped or continue to influence insecurity and violence in Africa?
- To what extent did the “threat landscape” change or evolve in 2016? What are the major trends in violence and insecurity within countries and across international borders?
- What are the existing as well as emerging cross-cutting security threats that have dominated the African peace and security landscape, and their transnational and trans-regional dimensions?
- What are the trans-national, regional, continental and global dimensions of the major security threats facing Africa? What concrete examples can be provided to highlight the evolving trend of cross-cutting security issues in each sub-region of the continent?
- Where were the major flash points of violence on the continent? What were the causes, drivers and consequences of the violence in each flash point?
- What were the responses by governments, continental and regional institutions?
- What institutional mechanisms and approaches should Africa adopt to address its security challenges?
- What other considerations should guide conflict interventions to promote peace and security in Africa?
In addition to the SPSA Report, the consultant should provide a four-page executive summary suitable for consideration by the members of the Technical Committee and the Board. The report will be written in close coordination with the Head of the Tana Forum Secretariat and the Coordinators of the Reports Unit at IPSS. The consultant should be prepared to submit an early draft for feedback by 10 February 2017, and the final draft by 27 February 2017. 4. Time frame The contract will begin on 10 December 2016 and conclude on 3 March 2017.
How to apply:
Expressions of interest
Expressions of interest should be submitted to the Tana Forum Secretariat no later than 25 November 2016. Submissions should provide relevant information on the following:
- Brief background information that captures an understanding of the scope of the work;
- Aims and objectives of the study;
- A suggested approach that outlines the interpretation of the scope of work and articulates the approach to the study;
- A recent writing sample on a related subject;
- A sample bibliography;
- Recent relevant experience;
- Profile of the researcher or organisation;
- Financial offer;
- Detailed timeline;
- Contact details.
Place of assignment and travel
This contract is home based. No travel is envisaged.
How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their expressions of interest by 25 November 2016 to tanaforum@ipss-addis.org.