Vacancy For Consultant(Participatory Community Theatre) at Search for Common Ground

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Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role. We are recruiting to fill the position below:     Job Title: Consultant - Participatory Community Theatre Location: Maiduguri, Borno Purpose of Participatory Community Theater As part of programming under Objective 3: To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with CJTF and to ensure that target communities understand the effects that violence and involvement in conflict have in children lives, Search will leverage its media and community outreach experience. Our team will identify cultural activities rooted in the target communities and use them to bring different spectra of the community together. Project team will organize three Participatory Theatres or Locally-rooted Cultural Activities per target community or IDP camps to trigger discussions around children’s role in society and raise awareness on the deep trauma that comes with being involved in conflict. This kind of community outreach activities encourages the spectator to identify with characters in conflict and then asks audience members to step onto the stage and literally fill a character’s shoes. Our methodology allows us to tackle key issues using examples, fictional scenarios, and stories that treat the heart of an issue without ‘pointing the finger’ or creating adversarial situations. We will ensure proper security cautions in organizing such community outreach. Purpose and Objectives of the Consultancy

• Increase the understanding of the community members on religious and cultural contexts or underlying dynamics that influence societal and individual behaviour and attitudes decreasing kids’ engagement in violence in North East Nigeria vis-à-vis promoting and supporting the socio-economic reintegration of children as a result of performance.
• Increase the understanding of  children rights’ awareness, contributing to sensitizing vigilante/ militia groups on the effects that conflict has on children
• The purpose of the consultancy is to use theatre to depict, directly address and stimulate action around children’s role in society and raise awareness on the deep trauma that comes with involving children in conflict across MMC, JERE and MAFA LGAs of Borno state.
• To develop and perform emotionally powerful stories/content that engage listeners and heighten the awareness to promote a shift in listeners’ attitude towards individuals formerly associated with armed groups and increase children rights’ awareness, contributing to sensitizing vigilante/ militia groups on the effects that conflict has on children and decreasing kids’ engagement in violence in North East Nigeria vis-à-vis promoting and supporting the socio-economic reintegration of children.

About the Project

• The overall objective for the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in North East Nigeria” project is to support the long-term reintegration of children associated with vigilante groups (CJTF) in North East Nigeria. The 12 month project, funded by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), is being implemented in Borno State, Nigeria. It is supported by three objectives:
  • Objective 1: To strengthen the resilience of children associated with CJTF in North East Nigeria.
  • Objective 2: To empower and support children associated with CJTF for increased employability.
  • Objective 3: To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with CJTF.
• The project builds Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles into its wider approach. In addition, the project will also be carried out in an inclusive and gender-positive manner by prioritizing full and equal participation for girls and young women in the project activities, identifying gender dynamics of the conflict and the context of the communities, as well as adapting female participation strategies to ensure that girls are fully represented and substantively engaged.

Roles and Responsibilities Pre-production:

• Develop content and script based on issues affecting children or/and Communities in Maiduguri and Jere and producing a short drama containing the key messages from the information gathered.
• Express ideas and portray characters in the theatre.
• Producing contents in communities within MMC and Jere for Search for Common Ground.

Production:

• Auditioning and identification of actors and all relevant personnel (including community members)
• Provision of all required props
• Coordination of rehearsals and preparation for performance
• Management and coordination of group on performance day to ensure it is hitch free and delivered professionally and to high standard.
• Report to Search’s Senior Media Officer any issue(s) that may arise/emerge in the course of writing the script for each episode.

Post production:

• Support Debrief and reflection of each performance to identify lessons and recommendations for improving subsequent performances
• Review script in line with emerging issues from ongoing community scoping and post-performance reflection meeting and pitch to Search Management for agreement

Methodology

• The production should be research/evidence-based. The development of the production should mimic participatory theatre to the extent to which is realistic in this context; working with the real stories of individuals within CAAGI’s target areas.
• A rapid desk review using project documents in essential as the solutions being depicted should come from a total understanding of the project’s objectives and proposed methods.

Deliverables

• A concept and comprehensive script submitted to and approved by Search For Common Ground before use.
• A pre-performance presentation of the drama to Search For Common Ground staff two weeks ahead to demonstrate readiness.
• A high-quality and professionally presented theatre production to a wider audience in Borno state.

Requirements The ideal candidate and/ or team will have the following:

• Search is seeking a professional, experienced and already established theatrical group with expertise in popular theatre.
• The theatrical group must have an already existing pool of artists and personnel including costumier, make up, stage manager, script-writer and director.
• The group must have within their pool personnel with experience in script and concept development, stage performance and directing.
• In addition, knowledge of the context of Borno and these issues is desirable.

Project Location, Timing and Level of Effort:

• The theatre will take place in MMC, JERE and MAFA Local Government Areas of Borno State starting from 1st September, 2018.

Budget and Terms of Engagement:

• All production costs incurred will be covered from the consultancy fee.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee for a firm.
• 50% of the consultancy fee will be paid when the contract is signed, and the balance paid on final satisfactory performance.

    How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply   Application Deadline 3rd September, 2018.   Note

• The title of the application should be: "Consultant-Community Participatory Theatre: Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the CJTF in North East Nigeria” and the application should hold attachments as below:
  • A not more than 2-page overview of applicant’s relevant experience and expertise, showing evidence of being an already established theatrical group with key personnel who have relevant experience.
  • Proposed methodology, work plan and budget
  • If available, include links to previous work or reviews of previous work as relevant
• Preference will be given to applicants who include at least an executive summary or abstract of a similar work conducted.
• Please compile your writing sample and resume into one document as the system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• 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.

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