Mensen met een Missie is an organisation for international cooperation and solidarity that aims to change beliefs that lead to hatred and violence. To do this, we’ve joined forces with hundreds of partner organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. With people who dare to go against the current, who stick their necks out and stand up for justice, inclusion and equality. Together we facilitate dialogue between people on each side of a conflict. We inspire consideration and discussion of harmful beliefs, so that mutual hatred and mistrust can decrease. Our team in The Hague consists of about 35 people who work daily with passion and commitment, on building a world without violence.
For The Peace Project we are looking for:
Consultants in DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda & South Sudan
to conduct a country-level baseline study
Contract: February – June 2025
Starting date: as soon as possible
Mensen met een Missie (MM) is conducting its baseline study for an eight-year (2024-2031) strategic peacebuilding programme titled “The Peace Project – Transforming harmful convictions, fostering cohesive connections & promoting conducive conditions for peace in DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan” which is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
The Peace Project aims to support locally led peacebuilding with a strategic programme objective of strengthening and supporting religious actors and other proximate peacebuilders. The project aims to transform harmful convictions and ‘othering’ into social trust, bridging inter-group divides towards cohesion, and influencing conflict-sensitive and inclusive policies at local, national, and international levels. The Peace Project’s approach emphasises:
- Constructive role of religion: recognising the normative influence, mobilising power, and the extensive network of religious circuits in promoting positive change.
- Individuals as ‘peace catalysts’ to inspire and initiate transformative change.
- Linking local realities with each other, and with broader national, regional & international policies/ practices.
- Embracing flexibility, continuous reflection, and learning for adaptive programming.
- Trauma healing as a fundamental prerequisite for peace, safety & wellbeing of communities and peacebuilders.
- Focusing on women and youth engagement in peacebuilding efforts.
- Addressing the underlying harmful convictions that feed mistrust, hate and violence
- Locally-led development that empowers communities, CSOs and decision-makers to define their own agenda, develop solutions and mobilise resources, especially to influence policy in their contexts.
What are you going to do?
The country-level baseline study will be conducted in Uganda, Burundi, DR Congo, and South Sudan. The study will focus on understanding the social context of peacebuilding efforts in the different communities we work with, and to eventually evaluate the effectiveness of the programme in building stronger social cohesion and influencing policy-making. This study will mainly focus on the Convictions and Connections Pathway within the Theory of Change. The baseline study’s objectives are to:
- To understand the social, cultural, and contextual dynamics in the communities where the Peace Project is implemented, particularly those that influence peacebuilding efforts and social cohesion.
- To assess the existing dividing lines, tensions, and dynamics that challenge peacebuilding at the community level, as well as opportunities for stronger social cohesion and intergroup trust.
- To evaluate the current capacities and approaches of in-country partner organisations and local stakeholders to lead peacebuilding efforts in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS).
- To establish baseline values for indicators related to social cohesion, community trust, and intergroup relationships as outlined in the Peace Project’s results framework, ensuring a strong foundation for evaluating changes over time.
- To document and assess community-level perspectives on peacebuilding efforts, including local narratives, initiatives, and needs, to ensure that programming remains adaptive, locally led, and relevant to the communities involved.
- To provide recommendations for strengthening community-level peacebuilding pathways in the theory of change, ensuring alignment with the programme’s intermediate and long-term goals.
- To identify synergies and areas for collaboration between in-country partners, local communities, and stakeholders that can enhance the effectiveness of peacebuilding strategies.
The detailed Terms of Reference for the baseline study can be found here in English and here in French.
Qualifications
The Peace Project is seeking suitably experienced consultants in each of the four programme countries—Burundi, DR Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda—to undertake this assignment.
- At least 5 years of demonstrable experience in community-level qualitative research and/or evaluations, including baseline studies.
- Strong knowledge of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community dynamics, particularly in conflict-affected settings.
- Familiarity with participatory methodologies and research approaches.
- A postgraduate degree in development studies, sociology, anthropology, or related disciplines.
- Experience working with diverse groups, including women, youth, and faith-based actors.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (Uganda and South Sudan) or French (DR Congo and Burundi), along with knowledge of relevant local languages.
- Ability to respond to feedback and questions in a timely manner.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in multicultural teams.
- Must be based in the respective country of assignment.
- Availability to commence work immediately after recruitment.
Interested?
Qualified parties may submit the following:
- Letter of Interest: A formal letter expressing interest in the proposal.
- Technical Proposal: A detailed proposal demonstrating an understanding of this ToR (see above), including methodology, research process, timeline, and proposed check-in moments.
- CV and Work Samples.
- Financial Proposal: A detailed financial proposal, including a breakdown of costs in euros.
Applications should be sent to Christina Maasdam at christinamaasdam@mensenmeteenmissie.nl and Fatema Kakal at fatemakakal@mensenmeteenmissie.nl as soon as possible. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Kindly specify in the subject line which country consultancy you are applying for.
For any further questions or information about the assignment, please contact Fatema Kakal.
Mensen met een Missie is an organisation where diversity and inclusion are paramount and where everyone feels welcome and valued. That’s why we invite everybody to apply, regardless of religion, roots, gender, sexual preference or age.