Job: Consultancy to measure perceptions of social cohesion and peace in South Sudan and Uganda

Background
Since achieving independence in July 2011, much of South Sudan’s short history as a nation has been characterized by political instability and violent conflict. Since civil war broke out in December 2013, South Sudan has spiraled into a deeper state of emergency. The protracted conflict continues to cause significant forced displacement (both internally and in refugee movements to neighbouring countries), while curtailing the delivery of social services, agricultural production and destroying basic infrastructure. According to UNHCR, almost two million South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighbouring countries since December 2013, representing one of the largest refugee crises in the world. The conflict has had significant consequences for South Sudanese civilians, with women and youth particularly affected. The volatile situation is accompanied by an increase in rights abuses, with gender based violence and child recruitment by armed groups both widespread phenomena.

Efforts to achieve a political resolution to the conflict are currently channeled through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) led peace process, called the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF). This is the key platform bringing together warring parties to seek agreement on a long-term solution to ending the violence. Though representatives from civil society, women, youth, academia and faith-based leaders have participated in the HLRF talks, there has been little broad-based engagement of South Sudanese, outreach or awareness-raising about the process. There has also been no significant or sustained effort to assess perspectives and priorities of South Sudanese citizens—including women, youth, and refugees who bear some of the worst impacts of the conflict—and to ensure their perspectives inform the HLRF process as well as other peace-building and reconciliation initiatives.

Oxfam seeks to contribute to a more inclusive peace process by supporting regular surveys to assess perceptions among South Sudanese within and outside of the country related to social cohesion and peace. The outcomes of the perception surveys will increase understanding of and attention to the priorities and views of South Sudanese themselves. Such an assessment will  complement the participation of civil society representatives in the peace process and contribute to other initiatives. The assessments could also inform the governance and humanitarian programming of Oxfam and other organizations. 

Scope of Work
The selected partner will design and administer perception surveys covering issues such as governance, social cohesion and peace among South Sudanese in select locations in South Sudan and in Uganda. The assignment will take place over the course of 6 months. It is considered a pilot, with the intention that the survey will be undertaken on an annual basis over a four-year period.
The perception survey should address issues pertaining to governance and human security; civic behavior; inter and intra group relations; exposure to violence and psychological functioning; knowledge of peace process; and/or displacement. Where relevant, the survey could build on or be informed by previous perception surveys undertaken in South Sudan. The survey could include a combination of questions asked across all respondent groups, in addition to specific questions adapted to certain target groups. For example, issues related to refugee/host community relations and prospects for return could be integrated into the survey for refugees and host communities.
The partner selected will develop a detailed survey instrument and methodology, in consultation with relevant Oxfam staff. The survey methodology should recognize the challenges in undertaking quantitative surveys in dynamic, conflict-affected environments. To the extent possible, the survey should seek to achieve 50 percent gender parity in terms of respondents.

Locations
The pilot survey should be conducted in two or three locations in South Sudan and in two or three locations in Uganda. In South Sudan, the possible locations include: Juba, Nyal, and Ganyiel, where Oxfam is currently implementing a range of development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian activities. In Uganda, possible locations for research include: Palabek settlement (Lamwo district), Bidibidi settlement (Yumbe district), Imvepi and Rhino settlements (Arua district), where Oxfam implements humanitarian activities. Applicants can propose different locations besides those listed above, with reasonable justifications.
Where possible, the survey locations should be maintained in each annual round, to allow for comparison of data across time. Given the dynamic nature of the conflict, however, locations for the survey may need to change.  

Key Tasks and Deliverables

• Design an appropriate research methodology and survey instrument;
• Develop tailored questionnaires for each survey location to assess relevant indicators agreed together with the Oxfam, and to reflect the different contexts;
• Conduct the perception survey in selected locations in South Sudan and Uganda;
• Draft a report describing key findings, their relevance to peace-building and humanitarian efforts, challenges experienced during the survey, and lessons learned to inform subsequent iterations;
• Draft public communications material (short report/ briefing note that can be published).Validation workshop and presentations of survey findings in all research locations, to key stakeholders and advocacy targets
• Design and implement an advocacy and communication strategy for the report.

DeliverablesTimeline
Methodology and inception report (including proposed timeline) : Two weeks after contract signature.
Approved Questionnaires for all selected locations:
Three weeks after contract signature
Conducting survey in the field location and  submission of progress Report:
Two months after contract signature
Validation workshop in the field location and submission of the draft perception survey report:
Four and half months after contract signature
Draft report outlining the findings, challenges, lessons learned, and public report:
Five months after contract signature
Final report submitted, integrated feedback received from Oxfam:
Five and half months after contract signature
 
Timeline
To be completed within six months, including: i) the design of the survey; ii) conducting of the survey; and iii) completion of data analysis and narrative report.

Reporting
The assignment will be managed by Oxfam IBIS, directly overseen by the Peace building Advisor, in close collaboration with colleagues in Oxfam South Sudan, namely Governance Program Manager, South Sudan Advocacy team, as well as Oxfam Uganda, namely South Sudan Regional Advocacy Coordinator.

Proposal Selection Criteria
Oxfam will assess proposals based on the demonstrated technical competence of the applicant and the feasibility and appropriateness of the financial proposal. The following list of criteria will be used to inform this assessment:
i) Technical Proposal (70 percent):

• Expertise of the applicant, including level of familiarity and experience working in South Sudan and Uganda and implementing comparable activities (30 percent);
• Research methodology, including appropriateness of plan for conducting survey (40 percent);
• Management structure and proposed division of labour among key personnel (30 percent).
• Advocacy and communications strategy. ii) Financial proposal (30 percent):

• To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal’s offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by Oxfam.
• Appropriateness, accuracy, feasibility of the financial proposal? 

Submission and Review Process

• In submitting applications, applicants should include the following: 
• Draft research methodology and work process (including proposed survey methodology (sampling, timeline, analysis, etc);
• Draft advocacy and communications strategy for final report;
• Research team composition;
• Tentative work plan and budget, including timeframe with list of activities required and resources needed;
• A relevant sample of previous research published. 
   

Application
Please submit your application via the ‘send application’ button and include your motivation letter and CV.
Application deadline: May 22nd 2018 at 12.00 AM. Interviews will take place either on Monday 29 or Tuesday 30 May 2018.
 
Please note that only applications received using the link provided can be taken into consideration.
 
For further information about the position, please contact Alex Shoebridge, [email protected].
 
Oxfam IBIS is committed to equal employment opportunity we therefore encourage everybody – irrespective of age, gender and of religious, sexual, national or ethnic affiliation – to apply for this position.