Job Title: Conflict sensitivity and conservation training consultant

Location: Juba, South Sudan

Reporting to: CSRF Director

Contract Consultant – Short term

Guidance on conflict sensitivity and conservation in South Sudan – Training

1. Introduction:

The Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility (CSRF) supports the aid community in South Sudan, with support from the British, Swiss and Dutch donor missions alongside the EU, through provision of technical analysis, services and advice in integrating conflict-sensitive principles and practices into donor strategies and donor-funded programming in South Sudan. Conflict sensitivity is a programming approach that emphasises strong contextual analysis and programmatic flexibility to minimise aid’s negative consequences and maximise positive impacts. Conflict sensitivity is particularly important in volatile, conflict-affected contexts where inadequate understanding of conflict dynamics can lead to donors and implementing partners inadvertently exacerbating the conflict.

2. Background:

A recent aerial survey in South Sudan revealed that approximately six million antelope migrate across the country.1 This makes South Sudan host to the largest land mammal migration on the planet, far outnumbering the wildebeest of the much better-known Serengeti migration in Tanzania and Kenya. The survival of these animals presents a huge opportunity and a rare piece of good news from South Sudan.

Despite the huge potential in wildlife conservation and the associated economic benefits that come from it, such as tourism, there has been limited investment in wildlife conservation and protected area management in South Sudan thus far. This growth of the conservation and tourism sectors have been significantly slowed by the persistent cycle of violent conflict, which disrupted the nation’s development trajectory, with outbreaks of full-blown civil war in 2013, and again in 2016. Two peace agreements signed in 2015 and 2018 have resulted in reduced confrontations at the national level, but communal violence persists in some locations including locations that host game parks and reserves. With less diversification of the South Sudanese economy, institutions such as the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (MWCT) have had meagre financing. This has meant that the ministry has been unable to adequately resource a tourism and conservation infrastructure and personnel.

A number of international conservation organisations have worked in South Sudan for decades, including before independence. In the last ten years, Fauna & Flora has continued to develop its work in Western Equatoria in partnership with the MWCT and local communities, in and around two game reserves and part of Southern National Park.2 In 2022, African Parks negotiated a Public Private Partnership with the government to manage the “Boma-Badingilo Landscape”.3 Meanwhile, Enjojo Foundation signed an agreement with the government to support Lantoto National Park and Kidepo Game Reserve. If and when a general improvement is experienced in the political and peace environment, conservation in South Sudan could become increasingly suitable for investment, and

more sector players, including government, NGOs and private companies will increase in the sector, as opportunities open.

Wildlife, conservation and land management knowledge and practices are deeply enshrined in the socio-cultural and economic life of South Sudanese communities that live around wildlife areas. Even where wildlife has become the only source of food and livelihoods due to crises and climatic hazards, and where trade in game meat fuels more hunting by increased use of small arms,4 communities still have strong values, cultures and practices to conserve wildlife and manage land.5

The complexity of South Sudan’s context presents challenges for actors engaged in wildlife conservation. The CSRF seeks to support such actors to be better equipped to navigate this by providing guidance and training on conflict sensitivity, as part wider engagement in the sector.

3. Objectives:

The objectives of the consultancy are to:

1) Lead the implementation of the process outlined below, working closely with the CSRF

2) Deliver a curriculum for training on conflict sensitivity for conservation actors in South Sudan

3) Support the delivery of potential accompanying components as tailored to the audience, to be defined during the consultation.

– NOTE: This is included to allow flexibility to propose approaches which may be particularly relevant to the audience, for example online components, audio visual media and hand outs.

4) Support testing of the curriculum to be presented through two convenings

Outputs:

– A training curriculum on conflict sensitivity tailored for conservation actors working in South Sudan

– Accompanying guidance components, to be defined during the consultation

4. Intended Audience:

The CSRF seeks to produce contentthat is relevant for the donor community, national and international organisations, and private sector actors investing in humanitarian, development and peace programming and environmental engagement (including biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation) in South Sudan alongside the relevant government institutions and relevant community structures with guidance on practical recommendations for policy and practice.

Primary audience:

– Staff of international and national NGOs with a conservation mandate in South Sudan

– Donors funding conservation work

– Relevant local stakeholders, including wildlife services and community leaders

– Other stakeholders whose mandate overlaps directly with conservation work in South Sudan

Secondary audience:

– Humanitarian, development, peacebuilding organisations and UN agencies

– Organisations and institutions engaged in natural resource management, livelihoods, climate adaptation and other or overlapping relevant areas

– Private sector

5. Methodology and location of work:

– The majority of the work will be remote-based

– Travel is not required, though if travel is identified as a key benefit in the consultation it may be considered beneficial.

6. Process and output:

The consultant and the CSRF will further define the process, which is anticipated to be approximately as followed:

– Consultation with representatives of primary audience and relevant CSRF staff to further refine approach.

– Consultation with other key stakeholders to ensure alignment with global expertise and processes. (Training material on conflict sensitive conservation for a global audience is currently being developed in a process led by the Peace Nexus foundation. The process and content outlined in this TOR should seek to ensure relevant alignment with this to ensure complementarity/connectivity while being tailored for the South Sudan context and specific audience.)

– Outline of training curriculum to be presented to relevant CSRF staff. CSRF to share comments through discussion and written feedback.

– Drafting of training curriculum with regular engagement with CSRF staff.

– First draft of training curriculum (and accompanying components, if any) to be presented to a small group of CSRF staff and select representatives of primary audience and subject to initial feedback.

– Second draft (and accompanying components, if any) to be presented/tested at two closed convening events with specific audience organised by CSRF.

– Final draft (and accompanying components, if any) completed based on final feedback.

7. Indicative timeline

– Work to commence ASAP

– May: Consultations to further refine approach; outline of training curriculum. Begin drafting of training curriculum.

– June: First draft of training curriculum to be within the first half of June. Second draft to be completed to be tested during presentation at two convenings which will take place in the second half of June.

– Early July: Final draft of training curriculum and any additional components

8. Requirements

The CSRF is looking to contract consultants with the following profile:

· Excellent applied understanding of integrating conflict sensitivity, including demonstrated experience of relevant accompaniment, mentoring and training support.

· Excellent understanding of the context of South Sudan, especially in relation to international engagement through aid or environmental programming.

· Excellent understanding of conflict and gender sensitivity principles and practice in South Sudan.

· A track record of working in conservation or similar relevant sectoral experience and/or facilitating relevant processes with the target audience.

· Research and/or practitioner experience relevant to the subject matter.

· Demonstrated ability to handle and communicate sensitive information

· Demonstrated ability to produce clear, quality written content in English

· Self-driven ability of problem-solving, in order to complete the work within the expected timeframe.

9. To apply

· The CSRF welcomes expressions of interest from individuals and small teams.

· Applicants should submit a cover letter that explains their interest, skills, proposed approach, relevant expertise and availability in doing the work described, as well as a daily rate.

· Include your CV which should include at least two references and at least two examples of previous relevant work (ideally where the applicant is the lead author/implementer).

Please send your expression of interest to info@csrf-southsudan.org or hand delivery to Saferworld main Office in Hai Jerusalem (next to Plan International).

Deadline for applications is 6th May 2025, 10:00am CAT info@csrf-southsudan.org.

How to Apply:

To apply

· The CSRF welcomes expressions of interest from individuals and small teams.

· Applicants should submit a cover letter that explains their interest, skills, proposed approach, relevant expertise and availability in doing the work described, as well as a daily rate.

· Include your CV which should include at least two references and at least two examples of previous relevant work (ideally where the applicant is the lead author/implementer).

Please send your expression of interest to info@csrf-southsudan.org or hand delivery to Saferworld main Office in Hai Jerusalem (next to Plan International).

Deadline for applications is 6th May 2025, 10:00am CAT info@csrf-southsudan.org