The project management team for the State Transformation and Resilience Organizations, Networks, and Groups (STRONG) States project is seeking consultant(s) to gather baseline monitoring and evaluation data and conduct a scoping mission in four target states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. This scoping mission will serve as an opportunity to build key connections and relationships in each state as well as deepen the project team’s understanding of state-level political and conflict dynamics, including stakeholders with the power and influence to mitigate conflict, and potential spoilers with the power and influence to stoke conflict. This scoping mission will also serve as a basis for identification and recruitment of a group of civil society groups and actors (i.e., nonprofits, community leaders, business sector actors, etc.), religious, and community leaders to participate in a state-based political violence prevention network.
1. Context
Common Ground USA and Over Zero
This consultancy supports the STRONG States Project, a collaborative venture between Common Ground USA and Over Zero. This study is managed by Common Ground USA, with input and advice from Over Zero.
Common Ground USA (CG-USA) is a new initiative of Search for Common Ground (Search), the world’s oldest and largest fully dedicated peacebuilding organization. CG-USA’s focus is on preventing political violence in the United States. CG-USA and Search bring 40 years of conflict prevention and transformation work in countries around the world, including on contentious and polarized elections.
Over Zero (OZ) was founded in response to the global need to counteract and prevent political and identity-based violence in all of its forms. Over Zero’s programming in the U.S. is focused primarily on 1.) activating and empowering a breadth of cross-sector leaders to build country-wide resilience and 2.) supporting organizational and institutional partners across with resilience-based frameworks and tools.
The Project
The goal of the overall project is to anticipate and prevent political violence before, during, and after the 2024 Presidential elections. This research consultancy is intended to provide a grounding framework of knowledge and relationships as a foundation for the remainder of the project. This project is a collaborative initiative between CG-USA and Over Zero to build community networks that can predict, pre-empt, and respond to political violence, with the goal of building states’ resilience towards political violence before, during, and after the 2024 Presidential election. Together, CG-USA and Over Zero will work in 4 states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas, and build state-level political violence prevention networks in areas with an elevated risk of political and electoral violence.
These state-level networks will be built and scaled through early 2025, spanning the 2022 midterms (early-stage work) and the 2024 election cycle, its aftermath, and any additional flashpoints throughout this period. These networks will empower diverse community stakeholders with strengthened relationships, skills, and tools to collaboratively prevent and mitigate conflict dynamics and conflict flashpoints.
CG-USA and OZ will coordinate the program on a national level. Collectively, CG-USA and OZ will draw from each organization’s extensive training and research materials to co-develop the full program methodology as well as program-specific curricula, resources, tools, and additional resources (e.g., crisis communications) for state networks. CG-USA and OZ will each directly manage the formation and operation of state-level networks and will collectively manage platforms for communication and collaboration between state networks as well as overall monitoring, evaluation, and learning. These state-level networks will be composed of diverse actors who have influence within key stakeholder groups (such as journalists, faith leaders, business leaders, veterans, school administrators, etc.). The networks will engage both grassroots leaders and institutional leaders (for instance, in the case of journalists, this might mean a local political reporter, an editor for the state’s major publication, and a journalism training organization). They will likely not include but be “one phone call away from influencing” elected government officials, the security sector, the official parties or candidates, those who may support or incite polarization or even violence.
This network composition will not only serve a unique role in terms of bringing different nodes of influence together outside of existing siloes but will strengthen the efforts of existing coalitions and networks by offering additional points of connection to different segments of society.
This study represents the STRONG States Project’s initial contact with targeted states and should build a framework of knowledge and relationships as a basis for the project’s activities moving forward.
2. Goal and Objectives of Study
3. Key Questions and Parameters of the Study
CG-USA and OZ are in the process of finalizing the project M&E plan, which will be shared at the start of this consultancy. As such, the project baseline indicators are not finalized; however, below is a list of illustrative indicators for data collection:
- % Increase of target civil society actors who believe they can make a positive difference in preventing election-related and political violence
- % Of target civil society actors who who report that state-to-state collaboration among and between each other is necessary to accomplish collective and respective goals around the elections
- % Of target state and national level actors who report having opportunities to effectively coordinate and engage with each other for electoral violence prevention and coordination
- % Of surveyed target population who report that violence is a viable option for achieving political or election-related goals
- % Of surveyed target population who report trust in and satisfaction with the electoral process
- % Of surveyed target population who report trust across the salient divides that are identified in each target area
In addition to baseline data for monitoring and evaluation, the study should address the following primary research questions:
- Which areas (counties, municipalities, cities) are the most likely sites for political or electoral violence and what are the significant root causes, drivers and triggers of conflict?
- Who are the key conflict actors, including actors or groups who are likely to initiate or condone acts of political or electoral violence as well as actors and groups (especially non-governmental actors such as community structures, civil society groups, leaders, etc.) who can or already act to prevent or respond to political and electoral violence?
- What opportunities exist to strengthen resilience to political or electoral violence?
4. Geographic Locations
Within each state (Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas), the study should focus on geographical areas that are potential hotspots for political or electoral violence. Identification of these areas of concern will be a necessary initial step of the study and should be done in collaboration with STRONG States staff.
5. Methodology and Data Collection Tools
This study will likely include both qualitative and quantitative data collection. Methodology development and data collection tools will ultimately be developed jointly between CG-USA, OZ, and the consultant(s) based on input from the full STRONG States team.
- The STRONG States team will work closely and collaboratively with the consultant(s) hired to conduct this baseline. As such, hired consultant(s) should anticipate working collaboratively with the STRONG States team as well with all hired consultants to develop a streamlined methodology so that data collection and analysis is comparable across all four states.
Deliverables
The STRONG States team tentatively expects the following deliverables from the external consultant(s) as they correspond to the timeline and budget. However, these deliverables may be adjusted in the course of methodology development:
- An inception report that reflects jointly developed methodology, data collection tools, timeline, and in-state areas of concern.
- Initial drafts of the following documents, for review by the STRONG States team:
- Baseline monitoring and evaluation data;
- A detailed conflict analysis of dynamics of political and electoral violence and other relevant dynamics, including a mapping of conflict actors.
- A stakeholder mapping to identify potential network members, partners and other key stakeholders to engage throughout the project.
- Recommendations for civil society partnerships.
- A final report consistent with STRONG States branding and standards for evaluation, that includes final drafts of the documents referenced above. In addition, the final report:
- Fully explains the objectives and research questions of the study, limitations and methods chosen for analysis.
- Ensures that findings respect the evaluation standards of the STRONG States team, are structured around the main objectives of the study, and are presented in relation to the intended target groups.
- Includes appendices including detailed research instruments, anonymized information on interviewee demographics (including gender, race, ideology, etc.), terms of references and evaluator(s) brief biography.
- All original data should be submitted to the STRONG States project team.
Logistical Support
Consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics for data collection (vehicles, fuel, and drivers), and these costs must be reasonably budgeted into the study. CG-USA can provide some support in arranging logistics as agreed upon based on the consultant’s proposal. At least one CG-USA staff member will be the point of contact and manager of this research.
In addition, the STRONG States team will share the following elements with the external consultant(s): background materials including the project proposal, detailed M&E plan including the project logframe, related desk research, etc.
6. Ethical Considerations
Data collection should conform to Do No Harm and inclusion principles (i.e. age, gender/gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, ideology, etc.). The research methodology should include guidelines to ensure informed consent of all interviewees. The consultant will also be asked to sign Search for Common Ground’s Code of Conduct.
In addition, the study should be conducted in such a way that it builds and maintains STRONG States’ 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 STRONG States team or its partners are participating in political activity or lobbying that would violate the requirements of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The STRONG States team also requires consultants to maintain a balanced, unbiased, and respectful relationship with all parties involved in the research.
7. Data Quality Assurance and Management
The evaluator will be responsible for developing a detailed data quality assurance and management plan in conformity with Search’s Accountability to Affected Population Operational Framework. All documents including reports and raw data will be reviewed and approved by the global Institutional Learning Team prior to acceptance of the final product.
Initial data should be submitted in a draft evaluation report. That report will be reviewed by STRONG States staff and partners for relevance and accuracy. All studies will be reviewed and approved by the STRONG States team and by Search’s global Institutional Learning Team prior to acceptance of the final product.
8. Timeline
Deliverable: Detailed inception report
Expected Deadline: Jan 19th, 2023
Deliverable: Submission of collected data
Expected Deadline: Jan 30, 2023
Deliverable: Monitoring and evaluation baseline (draft)
Expected Deadline: Feb 10th, 2023
Deliverable: Conflict analysis (draft)
Expected Deadline: Feb 15, 2023
Deliverable: Stakeholder mapping (draft)
Expected Deadline: Feb 20, 2023
Deliverable: Recommendations for partnerships (draft)
Expected Deadline: Feb 25, 2023
Deliverable: Final consolidated report, including updated/finalized versions of all draft submissions above
Expected Deadline: March 1, 2023
9. Budget
The overall envelope for this baseline is $60,000, which will be split across all four states. A detailed budget, keeping the overall envelope in mind and in line with the number of target states, should be provided. The budget should include rates for personnel, and costs related to data collection (per total number of people sampled, sites for collection, etc.), analysis, and production of deliverables.
10. Requirements of Consultant
The following skills and experience are required:
- More than 5 years of experience in a combination of the following areas:
- Qualitative research, including collecting data in interviews, surveys, and focus groups;
- Conflict analysis and working with civil society sectors;
- Experience conducting quantitative surveys and analysis;
- Knowledge of evaluation methods and data collection skills;
- Experience working or doing research on peacebuilding, political violence, elections, polarization in the USA;
- Good writing and editing skills;
- Familiarity with civil society and community leaders in the geographic location(s) where the study will take place.
Other desirable profile details:
- Ideally, resident of the state in which the study will be conducted or with strong ties to the states part of the research;
- Experience working with American CSOs and/or community leaders;
- Already part of existing local networks of NGOs and activists working on political violence;
- Background in political science, community organizing, community work, or related fields.
We welcome applications from researchers with strong community connections and/or community mobilizers with research experience. Applicants are welcome to submit applications for at least one or more states, including up to all four states.
- 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. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she 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 his or her 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 for people: Consultant 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
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 baseline.
Qualifications of the candidate(s).
Proposed budget in relation to proposed methodology, deliverables and team.
Applications
To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following two documents:
Curriculum vitae.
Expression of intent outlining the following: (1) any relevant research and analysis experience; (2) relevant networks, community connections, and other key relationship in target state(s) that can be leveraged for this baseline process; and (3) 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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Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of our work. All Search Employees must adhere to the values: Collaboration- Audacity - Tenacity - Empathy - Results. In accordance with these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest, and Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Search for Common Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. View our code of conduct here and our privacy policy here.
Les descriptifs de pouvant ne pouvant être exhaustifs, le titulaire du poste pourra être amené à entreprendre d’autres tâches qui correspondent globalement aux responsabilités clés ci-dessus.
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