Conflict Assessment Consultant

 

Position title: Conflict Assessment Consultant

Contract type: independent/local consultant

 

Berghof Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization supporting people in conflict in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace through conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Headquartered in Berlin, the organization is run by a diverse team and works with local partners around the world. Berghof Foundation is seeking a highly skilled Conflict assessment consultants in Lebanon for our project “Rapid Response - host community engagement initiative”.

The Conflict Assessment Researcher / Local Conflict Analyst will be responsible for designing and conducting localised conflict assessments in selected regions including Beirut, Saida, Bekaa, North Lebanon, South Lebanon and Mount Lebanon, in close coordination with the project team and insider mediators.

The assessments should be practical, field-oriented, and directly useful for programming. They should not be purely academic. The main objective is to generate timely and actionable assessments that helps the project team decide where, how, and with whom to intervene.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Assessment Design and Desk Review

The researcher will:

• Develop a simple and practical desk review-based conflict assessment approach in coordination with the project team.
• Review existing information, secondary sources, media reporting, and local insights relevant to target areas.
• Coordinate with insider mediators and the project team to identify priority locations, local dynamics, sensitivities, and key stakeholders.
• Ensure the assessment approach remains conflict-sensitive, ethical, and appropriate for displacement-affected communities.

 

2. Conflict Assessment and Stakeholder Mapping

The researcher will analyse and identify:

• Key sources of tension linked to displacement and the broader conflict context.
• Community concerns, grievances, rumours, misinformation, and narratives that may contribute to escalation.
• Challenges related to shelter, services, aid, employment, public spaces, or perceived unequal treatment.
• Existing coping mechanisms, local response capacities, and community de-escalation efforts.
• Key stakeholders including municipalities, community leaders, insider mediators, volunteers, humanitarian actors, and civil society groups.
• Trusted actors who may support dialogue, mediation, awareness, or community engagement efforts.
• Risks, sensitivities, or stakeholder dynamics that may affect project implementation or community cohesion.

3. Context Validation and Risk IdentificationThe researcher will:

• Conduct consultations with selected insider mediators, local actors, or community representatives where needed to validate findings.
• Ensure consultations remain voluntary, respectful, confidential, and conflict-sensitive.
• Avoid raising expectations regarding assistance or services.
• Identify early warning signs, emerging tensions, and areas requiring attention.
• Provide practical guidance on conflict-sensitive engagement approaches and immediately alert the project team of serious safety, protection, or reputational risks if identified.

4. Recommendations and ReportingThe researcher will:

• Provide practical recommendations on priority areas, groups, and stakeholders for engagement.
• Suggest suitable topics and entry points for dialogue, mediation, awareness, or community engagement initiatives.
• Highlight risks and sensitivities to consider during implementation, including appropriate language and messaging approaches.
• Produce concise, practical, and non-academic assessment summaries or reports in Arabic and English.
• Present findings, key risks, stakeholder insights, and recommendations to the project team and incorporate relevant feedback into final outputs.

 Qualifications & Preferred Skills 

Education:   

• BA in social sciences, law, political science, international affairs or a related field. 

Experience:   

The Conflict Assessment Researcher / Local Conflict Analyst should have:

• Proven experience in conflict analysis, peacebuilding research, social cohesion, mediation support, humanitarian analysis, protection, or community-based research.
• Strong understanding of Lebanese local dynamics, displacement-related tensions, and community-level conflict drivers.
• Experience conducting rapid conflict assessments.
• Ability to analyse sensitive social, political, sectarian, economic, and humanitarian dynamics in a balanced and conflict-sensitive manner.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Ability to produce concise, practical, and actionable reports.
• Strong communication skills in Arabic; English writing skills are strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with a project team.
• Familiarity with the target areas is a strong asset.
• Previous experience working with local authorities, municipalities, humanitarian actors, community responders, or insider mediators is an advantage.

Further Qualifications and Skills:   

• Strong knowledge of the local context in one or more of the target areas.
• Existing trust, credibility, or access within local communities.
• Experience in mediation, dialogue facilitation, community engagement, peacebuilding, social cohesion, humanitarian response, or related fields.
• Ability to engage respectfully with diverse groups, including host communities, displaced populations, youth, women, local leaders, and community responders.
• Strong communication, listening, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to identify tensions and analyse community dynamics in a balanced and conflict-sensitive manner.
• Ability to work under pressure and in sensitive environments.
• Neutrality, impartiality, and respect for diversity.
• Good judgment, discretion, and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.