1. Background

The MENA region has experienced prolonged conflicts that require comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable peace processes. To support these efforts, there is a need for a guide that can be used by women peacebuilders to develop feminist peace roadmaps within their existing contexts and countries. The guide should have the flexibility to adapt to different, local, national, regional, and international contexts. The guide should also provide thematic guiding questions that can be further developed in a participatory manner and are used to facilitate a track II consultations process. This guide will provide structured steps and best practices based on the Peace Track Initiative experience in Yemen and other civil society partners in the MENA region in Track II diplomacy for achieving lasting peace through multi-stakeholder engagement.

2. Objective

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a guiding framework to develop a contextualised feminist peace roadmap that can be adapted to any local community, national, regional, and international context. The guiding framework will help women peacebuilders develop a feminist peace roadmap through an inclusive approach and generate recommendations informed by right holders including affected communities and groups to influence the peace processes within their contexts. It is building on PTI’s and partners’ learning and is intended to be used within the MENA region.. This guiding framework will outline key thematic questions, steps, and strategies, for peace issues including on ceasefires,, political transitions, transitional justice, reconstruction and recovery efforts, climate change and other necessary elements to ensure sustainable peace.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant/team will be responsible for:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of existing women-led Track II peace consultations processes and frameworks in the MENA region including but not limited to Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Yemen.
• Conducting interviews with key informants identified by PTI team and partners, as well as, suggested by the consultant(s) and agreed upon by PTI team. The key informants will include but not limited to women led civil society, Track II organisations, governments representatives, peace delegats/ negotiations teams, mediators, international organizations, UN agencies, and right holders affected by conflicts and wars, ensuring intersectionality and gender-sensitivity.
• Define comprehensive themes/categories that need to be included in the Feminist Peace Roadmap,which may include but are not limited to:
  • Feminist principles in peace processes.
  • Legal frameworks and consensus principles to reach peace agreements.
  • Ceasefire and conflict de-escalation.
  • Peace inclusion and participation approaches.
  • Political peaceful transitions mechanisms.
  • Security Sector Reform and DDR.
  • Deradicalisation and Countering and Preventing Extreme Violence.
  • Human Rights based approach to peace.
  • Transitional justice and reconciliation mechanisms.
  • Rebuilding and economic recovery strategies.
  • Governance and institutional reforms.
  • Social cohesion and reintegration of affected communities.
  • Climate Justice as a result of conflict
  • Any other issues that could be added based on the desk review.
• Develop key questions to be asked in each theme in consultation with right holders and base on the results of the desk review.
• Develop mechanisms of holding inclusive and innovative Track II consultations that could make use of hybrid methods including in person and online interactions.
• Develop a code of conduct for engaging in Track II consultations and protection guides to ensure the safety of the right holders engaging in the consultations.
• Review PTI protection self-referral guide and other protection practices done by other Track II organisations.
• Develop a mechanism for validating the outcomes and recommendations generated through the track II consultations.
• Developing a part in the guideline to develop a communication, advocacy, and influencing strategy for the FPR developed including options for engagement(s) with local, national, regional, and international actors.
• Developing follow-up and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the roadmap’s impact on peace agreements, relevant resolutions, its implementation and adaptability.

4. Methodology

The development of the roadmap will be conducted through:

• In partnership with PTI, a steering committee of PTI and its partners from Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan will be created who will serve as peer review team as well.
• Desk review on track II process, peace agreements thematic areas, and case studies in the MENA region, incorporating best practices and lessons learned from local, national, regional, and global peacebuilding experiences. At least Five case studies will be developed on Syria, Libya, Sudan/South Sudan, and Yemen.
• Primary data collection identifying key collection methods such as key informant interviews or/and focus groups discussions with a draft list of possible target respondents.
• Drafting, validation, workshops to reach a final draft of the guiding framework.

5. Deliverables

• Inception report detailing the work plan and methodology and data collection tools and forms. Finalised lists of key respondents.
• Desk Review report and five case studies.
• Inception workshop with steering committee, Feedback workshop on first draft, and validation workshop on second draft.
• Final Draft of the guiding framework for developing a contextualised feminist peace roadmap.

6. Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 25 days to be implemented within three months, with key milestones as follows:

• Week 1 and 2: Desk research and inception workshop..
• Week 3-4: Inception report and data collection.
• Week 5: Drafting the guiding framework of the feminist peace roadmap.
• Week 6: Presentation of first draft in feedback workshop and revision of draft.
• Week 7: Presentation of second draft and validation workshop
• Week 8: Finalization and submission.

7. Required Expertise

The consultant/team should have:

• Proven experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, or related fields.
• Knowledge of the MENA region’s political, social, and economic dynamics and strong understanding of women, peace and security agenda.
• Experience in conducting stakeholder consultations and research.
• Strong writing and analytical skills in policy and framework development.

8. Reporting and Coordination

The consultant/team will report to Ms Linda Al-Obahi, Political Affairsand Mediation Senior Adviser. Regular check-ins and progress updates will be required throughout the consultancy timeline.

9. Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• A Technical proposal detailing the work plan, approach, and methodology, which includes the biographies of key team members.
• Examples of previous similar work.
• A financial proposal with a breakdown budget.
• The last date to accept the proposals is 15 June 2025.

How to Apply:

Please submit all required proposals, to ptihr@peacetrackinitiative.org.