Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Development of Policy Briefs for the PAVE Network

Background 

System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE III) project is a three-year project funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to establish and consolidate existing structures and practices within the context of prevention and response framework in project communities, among youth and women groups to tackle violent extremism and foster peaceful co-existence. The project is being implemented with Global Peace Development (GPD) in Kaduna and Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI-DAG) in Kano State supporting youths, women to engage actively with social and economic activities while also working with state and local government, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies to create linkages and opportunities for young men and women. The three (January 2022 – December 2024) year project currently being implemented in Kaduna and Kano States with a budget of $1.5 million entails effective engagement with the community and formal institutions and processes to influence practices that address youth and women issues and supporting them to becoming active change advocates/agents. Last year, there was grant amendment ($ 1 million) to support PAVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hubs (KIRHs) to scale - up and mainstream Preventing Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) by empowering Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) network accross GCERF intervention states (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto).

The PAVE Network, through its comprehensive approach to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), has identified four key thematic areas that play a crucial role in tackling violent extremism in Nigeria. To further explore and provide policy recommendations in these areas, the PAVE Network seeks to develop policy briefs that will address emerging issues and propose strategic interventions for key stakeholders, including state actors, civil society organizations, international development partners, and communities.

Each Policy Brief will address one of the four thematic areas of the PAVE Network, focusing on emerging issues, policy gaps, and actionable recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of PCVE interventions.

1. Objective of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop four separate policy briefs, each addressing one of the four thematic areas of the PAVE Network. These briefs will:

1. Identify emerging issues in the respective thematic area relative to PCVE.
2. Analyse the current policy environment and intervention landscape.
3. Provide recommendations to improve policy responses, interventions, and community engagement.

1. Scope of Work

The Consultant(s) will be responsible for the development of four policy briefs that adhere to the following structure:

1. Identifying Emerging Issues:

• Analyze emerging issues within the thematic area as they relate to PCVE.
• Investigate the factors driving these emerging issues, including political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions.

1. Existing Policy Status:

• Discuss the current status of policies related to the emerging issues.
• Examine how existing policies have addressed or failed to address these issues and the effectiveness of policy implementation.

1. Current Interventions

• Review the interventions currently being implemented by government, civil society organizations, international partners, and other stakeholders.
• Assess the success and limitations of these interventions in addressing the emerging issues.

1. Community Engagement

• Analyze the role of community engagement in addressing the emerging issues.
• Examine how communities are involved in current interventions and the extent of their participation in policy discussions and implementation.

1. Gaps and Challenges

• Identify gaps in the policy environment that limit the effectiveness of current interventions.
• Highlight challenges faced by key actors, including state and non-state actors, in addressing the emerging issues.

1. Recommendations:

• Propose actionable recommendations aimed at improving the response to the identified emerging issues.
• Provide specific strategies for making interventions more effective, impactful, and sustainable, with a focus on
  • Strengthening policy frameworks.
  • Enhancing community agency and participation.
  • Encouraging collaboration among state actors, civil society, international partners, and communities.

1. Implementation Plan:

The conclusion of each policy brief should present a practical implementation plan for the recommendations made.

• Discuss how coordination and synergy between key actors can be enhanced.
• Provide recommendations on how to enable the active agency of communities in implementing interventions and policies.

1. Thematic Areas

Each policy brief will focus on one of the four thematic areas of the PAVE Network:

1. Peace Building and Conflict Resolution.
2. Prevention and Mitigation of Radicalisation to Violent Extremism.
3. Women and Youth in PCVE.
4. Community Safety, Peace, and Security.
5. Deliverables

The Consultant(s) are expected to deliver the following:

1. Draft Policy Briefs:

• Four draft policy briefs addressing each thematic area.

1. Final Policy Briefs:

• Four final, validated policy briefs incorporating feedback from stakeholders.

1. Duration of the Consultancy

The consultancy is expected to last for a period of 6 weeks from the start date, with the following tentative timeline:

1. Reporting and Supervision

The Consultant(s) will report to the PAVE Secretariat and work closely with the ActionAid Nigeria PCVE team. Regular updates will be required to ensure the consultancy is on track, and feedback from the PAVE Secretariat and other stakeholders will be incorporated at each stage of the consultancy.

Applications should be submitted in a Microsoft Word file electronically to: procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org with the subject line Development of Policy Briefs for the PAVE Network Not later than 14th November, 2024.