Conflict sensitivity advisor

Review board: Siren is establishing a review board of subject-matter experts to provide regular, external oversight on a complex, multi-year, systems change project in the Lebanese public sector. Siren has a comprehensive in-house Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) team that oversees project quality, progress and effect on a daily basis. Siren will establish this external review board to provide regular, expert advice and feedback, which will add a further layer of transparency and accountability to project activity, as well as provide invaluable information to inform decision-making.  

The conflict sensitivity advisor will fulfil a technical role on the board, and will review and support quality, human-rights mainstreamed project, research and M&E activities.  

On a quarterly basis, Siren expects the board to review key project (including research and M&E) documentation from the previous quarter, as well as items for the coming quarter where relevant, and then convene a workshop with project stakeholders to collaboratively discuss challenges, opportunities, innovations and adaptations for the next quarter.  

Conflict sensitivity is already integrated into project activity through multiple workstreams. The RMEL department provides information and up to date analysis at key points during the project to allow for informed decision making. The RMEL department also carries out quarterly monitoring of key conflict indicators. All research and reporting products are written through a conflict sensitive perspective, and include relevant analysis/stakeholder information as necessary. 

Scope of role The conflict sensitivity advisor will be expected to do the following – or similar – tasks, which will be agreed at contracting stage: 

• Provide technical leadership on mainstreaming conflict sensitive approaches across project design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning  
• Provide period reviews of key project documentation related to conflict sensitivity, including the results framework and theory of change 
• Review conflict monitoring tools and templates, and propose relevant updates as and when necessary. 
• Deliver targeted trainings or mentoring sessions on conflict sensitivity for key project stakeholders (including the RMEL team) 
• Facilitate informed discussions about key issues arising from conflict monitoring and/or project research, and discuss obstacles to delivering project in a conflict sensitive manner and propose mitigations  
• Facilitate targeted learning sessions with key project stakeholders and guide feedback and learning based on these sessions. Write debriefs to be shared with the wider project team. 
• Ensure that all strategic and technical aspects of the project conflict sensitivity approach remain in line with current thinking in the sector/related academia.  
• Propose and advise on key research topics or pieces that are integral to informing on-going conflict sensitive delivery. 
• Collaborate with other board members to provide conflict sensitive input on crosscutting themes or activities.  
• Any other activity as reasonably requested.  

Profile description 

Essential 

• 15 + years’  in the development field, related to conflict or peacebuilding, including direct experience with conflict sensitivity and implementing ‘do not harm’ approaches. 
• Previous experience working in transitional, fragile or conflict environments. 
• Direct experience in the design and/or implementation of conflict sensitive development programmes, including excellent understanding of different roles within a project or programme team (e.g. M&E, research, project directors, officers etc., procurement) 
• Previous experience advising on conflict sensitivity on large scale, complex projects or programmes  
• Past experience working with major international and bilateral donors  
• Extensive, up to date knowledge of Lebanese and wider regional geopolitical and socioeconomic context 
• Fluent written and spoken English 

Desirable 

• Experience working on security sector or public sector reform projects a plus 
• Spoken and written Arabic highly desirable  
• Experience working with CSSF