REPUBLICATION – Consultants sought for study on interaction between peace/historical trauma/cultural heritage (incl. faith and religions) At DanChurchAid

DCA is committed to strengthening integrated, locally-based and sustainable conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts in the Central African Republic (CAR). In order to support the programs, strategy and advocacy initiatives of DCA and its partners, DCA is seeking proposals from interested and experienced candidates to conduct research aimed at generating knowledge and concrete recommendations on how peace can be promoted through the interactions between historical trauma and cultural heritage, including spiritual and religious practices and traditions in the areas of Ippy and Bouar (CAR).
Proposals should be submitted as specified in the call for applications document, and all questions should be addressed to Claire Mohamed-Petit (CPPB Advisor at DCA HQ), cmpe@dca.dk.

Terms of reference

(FRENCH VERSION BELOW)

1. Background
2. Budget

The budget available to carry out the Services as described below is DKK 180,000 inclusive of all taxes.

1. General overview

DanChurchAid (DCA) supports the poorest in the world in their struggle for a dignified life and helps people in need. We provide both emergency relief and long-term assistance with the objective of creating a more equitable and sustainable world. DCA’s international work adopts a Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding (HDP) nexus approach, promoting long-term solutions from the earliest stages of a humanitarian crisis, introducing prevention measures in developing contexts, and supporting emergency response when needed.

DCA has been working in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2015, across seven provinces: Kemo, Ombella M’Poko, Nana-Grebizi, Nana-Mambere, Ouaka, Ouham and Vakaga. DCA’s programming has initially focused on implementing humanitarian response projects across Mine Action, Food Security and Livelihoods sectors. Since 2021, DCA has worked increasingly closely with local partners to develop and enhance its Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding (CPPB) and Protection sector initiatives, integrating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with faith actor engagement, and community-level peace dialogues and the capacity building of local peace mechanisms.

1. Context to this consultancy

Over the last couple of years, DCA has undertaken several research studies to refine its understanding of how best to carry out relevant and impactful HDP programming, including with the integration of MHPSS activities to address long-lasting and emerging issues faced by communities, and the involvement of faith actors, faith communities and faith-based organizations (hereafter grouped under the abbreviation FAs) to ensure adapted and sustained accompaniment and support provision.

This led DCA, in partnership with Conciliation Resources (CR) to produce a report published under the title Peace of Mind: Exploring mental health in relation to peacebuilding and conflict in CAR (August 2022) exploring mental health in relation to conflict in CAR, and the role of faith-based and traditional practitioners in delivering MHPSS services. The research provided insights on how the conflict has shaped local experiences of distress, and shed light on the specific social psychological determinants of well-being within the targeted communities in Sibut and Kaga-Bandoro, and associated rituals rooted in traditional and spiritual beliefs.

To further explore these spiritual and religious dimensions, and in particular FAs’ approaches and initiatives linked to CPPB in CAR, as well as their interactions with local and national government entities, civil society and community-based organizations (CSOs and CBOs), DCA commissioned additional research, published by Baoro Consulting and entitled Contribution of faith-based organizations to the peace process in Bria, Ippy, Kaga-Bandoro and Sibut in CAR (January 2023). Overall, the study highlighted that FAs in CAR present essential contributions to CPPB, with local interreligious peace committees driving and participating in peace processes with varying degrees of capacities and resources, by building on their strong connection to, and engagement with, grassroots and daily community life.

These studies have enabled DCA to take a key step towards analyzing the intersections between MHPSS, FAs and peacebuilding, and develop hypotheses for how CPPB programming could be complemented by these findings. Nevertheless, these require further exploration, particularly in terms of how historical trauma and cultural heritage may provide critical avenues to potentially promote and properly anchor peacebuilding initiatives locally through systems of belief and frameworks of reference that have not yet been tapped into by standard CPPB projects implemented across CAR.

1. Definitions

DCA understands the term “historical trauma” as it emerged from postcolonial studies to describe the effects of collective adverse experiences lived by people belonging to the same group and spanning across different generations (Braveheart & DeBruyn, 1998), conceptualized in the African context as a collective wounding (Motsi & Masango, 2012), and does not refer to any personal psychological trauma or mental illness.

Moreover, “cultural heritage” is understood as a series of reflections on the lived experiences of a community that are passed down, in different ways, from one generation to the next (Bumbaru, 2003), and can be “tangible” (eg built or natural environments, objects, attract) and “intangible” (eg rituals, oral history, music). DCA considers that faith-related traditions, practices and rituals, as well as religion more broadly, are included in the term “cultural heritage”.

1. Contract Purpose and Expected Results
2. Assignment Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to identify more effective pathways to peace in Bouar and Ippy in CAR. The assignment will generate a solid understanding of how peace can be promoted through the interactions and interplay between historical trauma and cultural heritage , and will contribute to the formulation of actionable recommendations based on these findings, which can be used by DCA and its partners to inform and enhance their programmatic and policy-oriented initiatives as well as raise awareness among donors to further support initiatives that focus on addressing historical trauma, conflict prevention and peacebuilding with the involvement of FAs where relevant and conflict sensitive to do so.

The individual, group or consultancy firm (hereafter referred to as ‘consultant’) will be responsible for designing, developing and conducting research aiming to fulfill the assignment. The following proposed research questions should serve as guidance to do so, and the consultant is expected to formulate their own questions based on these:

1. Following years of conflict and colonialism’s enduring impacts, how do communities in CAR experience the full spectrum (negative, neutral and positive responses) of historical trauma across different age, gender and diversity groups?
2. How, and to what extent, does cultural heritage, including spiritual and/or religious practices, mitigate the negative responses to historical trauma, and promote neutral and positive ones in CAR? Through what particular elements of cultural heritage, and spiritual and/or religious practices does this manifest in CAR?
3. How, and to what extent, does the full spectrum of historical trauma interact with peace and reconciliation efforts? Can the promotion of positive reactions, and the mitigation of negative ones, promote peaceful coexistence, and conflict prevention and resolution strategies?
4. What strategies, leveraging the positive interactions between cultural heritage and historical trauma, would be the most meaningful and effective to implement to support community-level CPPB initiatives? What actors and practices could be integrated into CPPB activities to enhance relevance, impact and sustainability?
5. Key Deliverables/Results to be achieved by the consultant

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking all activities related to the pursuit of this research and the production of the ensuing deliverables. The activities and their scope are detailed in the relevant section below.

There are four (4) deliverables expected from the consultant – these are:

• Deliverable 1: 1 inception report , which should include a desk and literature review, proposed approach or methodology, research plan, sampling strategy, list of specific research questions, and data collection tools.
• Deliverable 2: 1 executive summary (5 to 10 pages max.) providing a comprehensive overview of relevant findings for a wide non-specialized audience, and key policy-oriented recommendations. 1
• Deliverable 3: 1 final report (25 to 30 pages max.), providing a structured and detailed account of the consultant’s research findings, as well as programmatic and policy-oriented recommendations for DCA and its partners at the local and country-level.
• Deliverable 4: full set of raw data and transcripts , containing all the information collected by the consultant during the data collection work undertaken in the areas of study.

The timeframe of deliverables submissions, including in draft formats for DCA’s review, is detailed below.

3. Assumptions and Risks

This consultancy assumes the following conditions are met by the consultant, by DCA, and generally in the wider context, for the research to be carried out and completed:

• The consultant team is able to secure all relevant research and access permits to the areas of study.
• The consultant team is able to travel to the areas of study, complete all their research activities, and produce all required deliverables in line with the agreed upon timeframe.
• The consultant team will await DCA’s Safety & Security briefing ahead of deploying to study locations for the data collection phase.
• The consultant team will adhere to DCA’s safety and security rules, and will comply with DCA’s security SOPs throughout the consultancy (ie pre-movement validation by DCA’s Safety & Security team, duration in different locations, departure/arrival time check-ins, etc. )
• The security situation in the areas of study allows access and permits the consultant team’s work to be completed.
• Important infrastructure, such as roads and communication networks, are functional to successfully carry out all research activities.
• The effects of existing or onset humanitarian crises, for instance internal displacement, population movements or emergency needs, allow for all relevant data to be collected, respondents to be reached, and subsequently for research questions to be thoroughly answered.

Applicants need to include a risk analysis, including proposed risk mitigation measures, in their bid proposals. Identified risk mitigation measures should also be reflected in the research plan as part of the inception report, which will be submitted to DCA by the consultant ahead of the data collection phase, and consolidated by the consultant based on additional information provided by DCA’s Safety & Security team.

4. Scope of the Services

The tasks to be carried out by the consultant in the context of this assignment can be detailed as follows:

1. Research planning – Inception report
   1. The general literature review should provide an overview of the existing relevant literature (on CAR to the extent possible, widened out to other African countries’ contexts if needed, relevant and useful) on the interactions between historical trauma, cultural heritage (including faith and religion -related practices and traditions) and peacebuilding as they pertain to populations, including vulnerable and marginalized groups, in the aforementioned areas of study, and should highlight gaps, challenges, opportunities and particular considerations for research into this topic.
2. The desk review should also include the review of DCA’s relevant key approaches, as documented in the following resources:

• DCA’s approach to peacebuilding
• DCA’s Action Guide on Religion and Development
• DCA’s introduction to Conflict Sensitivity
• DCA’s Protection Framework
• DCA’s Global Strategy 2023-2026

Furthermore, DCA suggests the review of the following reports:

• The Triple Nexus, Location and Local Faith Actors: The Intersection between faith, humanitarian response, development and peace (F. de Wolf, O. Wilkinson, DCA, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities – 2019)
• Peace of Mind (DCA, CR – August 2022)
• Contribution of faith-based organizations to the peace process in Bria, Ippy, Kaga-Bandoro and Sibut in CAR (DCA, Baoro Consulting – January 2023)
• Gender, mental health and Reconciliation in CAR (DCA, CR – July 2023)
• Mapping Out and Mobilizing Diaconal Assets (K. Nordstokke – January 2014)

The findings in these key reports should also be used to guide the research design.

1. The research framework should include:
   1. The (re-)definition of a subset of specific research questions that reflect on the results from the literature and desk review, using the suggested research questions provided above as guidance.
      1. The data collection, sampling strategy, analysis plans and tools that reflect on the selected methodologies, as well as on timeframe and logistical considerations, including potential risks identified by the consultant.
      2. The description of the translation’s (to and from French, Sango and other local languages) quality assurance process for data collection tools as well as the conduct of interviews and focus group discussions.
2. Data collection and analysis
   1. The collection of primary data should be carried out by the consultant in the agreed upon research sites of Bouar and Ippy, and secondary data should be collected from resource persons in Bangui, with all the required forward planning regarding risk, security and safety management, and ethical due diligence in research. DCA can provide a list of some resource persons that may be helpful contacts for the secondary data collection.
   2. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that the required primary and secondary data collection tools are translated in Sango, or the relevant local languages, that data collection takes places in French, Sango, or the relevant local languages, where required, and that collected data is translated from Sango, or the relevant local languages, into French for the report.
   3. The primary and secondary data should be cleaned, treated and analyzed by the consultant to a high-quality standard to draft and produce the agreed upon deliverables. These will be subjected to oversight and quality assurance reviews by the assigned reference group, in line with the agreed upon deliverables schedule. The consultant will be required to provide all requested amendments to finalize the deliverables in accordance with the stipulated formats, quality and standards.
3. Report writing
   1. The resulting research products should be able to inform DCA and partners’ programming, and policy-oriented initiatives in CAR. The final report is expected to provide essential insights into how peace can be promoted through the interactions and interplay between historical trauma and cultural heritage, and provide actionable programmatic and policy-oriented recommendations based on these findings, which can be used by DCA and its partners to inform and enhance their programming, as well as raise awareness among donors to further support initiatives that focus on addressing historical trauma, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and cultural heritage including faith actor involvement, where relevant and conflict sensitive to do so.

The focal point for this contract will be Claire Mohamed-Petit, DCA Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Advisor , and the main contact for the in-country research will be Tom Martinez, DCA CAR Head of Program.

A reference group will be established to provide guidance and ensure oversight of key milestones and products of the consultancy. This will be composed by representatives from the CAR Country Office and Technical Advisors from DCA’s headquarters (HQ), within the Program, Advocacy and Learning (PAL), and Humanitarian Response and Mine Action (HRMA) units.

The focal point will coordinate consultations between the consultant and DCA’s reference group throughout the assignment as established in the tasks and deliverables schedule provided in the relevant section below, this may include additional consultations if required. DCA’s reference group will carry out quality assurance reviews of the deliverables and provide the consultant with feedback on any required and/or suggested amendments.

5. Timing, Logistics and Facilities
The assignment is to start on the 04th November 2024 and end no later than the 31st January 2025.

The consultant can be based in their regular place of work and/or residence to complete most of the tasks for this assignment, except for the tasks pertaining to primary and secondary data collection in the locations targeted by the research. The consultant will be expected to travel in CAR to lead, oversee and participate in all the required data collection for this assignment.

In CAR, the consultant can be provided with a desk space at DCA’s office in Bangui, subject to prior discussion and approval. The consultant will be responsible for their own travel arrangements from their regular place of work and/or residence to Bangui. This entails, if necessary, the consultant budgeting for their own flights, as well as accommodation in Bangui, Ippy and Bouar. DCA will be able to facilitate any administrative documentation that may be required for certain trips to research sites.

In Bouar and Ippy specifically the consultant’s field movements may (subject to scheduling) be facilitated by DCA and/or other partner organizations, and desk space may be made available if required, and subject to prior agreement. The consultant must be prepared to travel to remote areas by available means, and to stay in basic living conditions. Unless specified above, all travel arrangements, as well as personal insurance, fall under the consultant’s responsibility and are to be covered by the proposed global remuneration.

The consultant is expected to provide their own equipment for this assignment, including laptops, MS Office Suite and other required software, printer, smartphone, camera, and other items, material and equipment that may be necessary for the proper execution and completion of the services . Finally, the consultant is expected to cover costs related to translation and/or interpretation services for all required phases of this research.

The following timeframe and deadlines are proposed:

Tasks & Deliverables (mode/version)

Deadlines

Introductory consultation session (online) 06th November 2024

Proposed list of literature to be reviewed (draft) 08th November 2024

Inception report, including literature review, proposed research plan, guiding questions and data collection tools (final) 11th November 2024

Planning session (online) 15th November 2024

Data collection (in-person in-country) 18th November – 13th December 2024

Debriefing session post-data collection (in-person in-country and/or online) 13th December 2024

Executive summary (draft) 16th December 2024

Full report (draft) 16th December 2024

Validation session (online) 20th December 2024

Full set of data and transcripts (raw) 13th January 2025

Executive summary (final) 13th January 2025

Full report (final) 13th January 2025

6. Reporting

The full final report compiling the main results from the research and the final recommendations for DCA will be required by the end of the consultancy. This report, as well as all other deliverables expected from the consultant, are to be developed and submitted in French . All deliverables are to be delivered electronically (soft copies) with all the relevant annexes to the contract manager for approval.

The structure of the full final report is flexible but should include the following sections:

1. Final programmatic recommendations (once the report is finalized)
2. Final policy recommendations (ibid.)
3. Executive summary (distinct from the executive summary that is to be provided as a deliverable)
4. Introduction
5. Description of research methodology
6. Detail of findings
7. Conclusions
8. Recommendations
9. Annexes to include as minimum:
   • Bibliography (including list of literature reviewed and online sources)
   • Final data collection tools
   • Any visual graphics, tables, and photos, as relevant.

7. Qualification Requirements

• Master’s or PhD in a subject within a relevant field of social sciences, such as anthropology, peace and conflict studies, religious studies, and/or psychology.
• Documented knowledge of CAR, or the Central African region is essential.
• Demonstrated subject-matter knowledge and practice in at least two of the relevant technical areas: conflict prevention and peacebuilding, faith actor engagement, and/or mental health and psychosocial support, is required.
• Evidence of prior successful remote management, oversight and technical support of research teams must be highlighted in the application.
• Excellent research skills, including research framing and design, collecting and analyzing qualitative data, developing specific methods and tools, and research plans.
• Proven strong communication and presentation skills, as well as clear and accessible report writing skills, including programmatic and policy recommendations for varied audiences.
• Experience working and/or living in humanitarian settings, and basic living conditions.
• Proven ability to deliver against targets and meeting deadlines within short timeframes.
• Solid understanding of the international humanitarian and development aid sector, specifically INGO/NNGO work.
• Written and spoken fluency in French is a requirement (C1 or C2 level for non-native speakers), written and spoken fluency in English would be an added advantage.
• Ability to quickly become acquainted with specific subject matters, while keeping an eye on the bigger picture.
• Relevant computer skills: MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), qualitative analysis software (NVIVO, Power BI, etc.), data collection tools (ODK, Kobo Collect, etc.)

FRENCH VERSION

1. Context
2. Budget
3. General overview
4. Reason for this consultancy
5. Definitions

The budget available for the performance of the services described below is DKK 180,000 including all taxes.

DanChurchAid (DCA) supports the world’s poorest people in their struggle for a life of dignity and helps those in need. We provide both emergency and long-term assistance with the aim of creating a more equitable and sustainable world. DCA’s international work takes a humanitarian, development and peacebuilding (HDP) nexus approach, promoting long-term solutions in the early stages of a humanitarian crisis, introducing prevention measures in development contexts and supporting emergency response when needed.

DCA has been working in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2015, in seven provinces: Kemo, Ombella M’Poko, Nana-Grebizi, Nana-Mambere, Ouaka, Ouham and Vakaga. DCA’s programming initially focused on implementing humanitarian response projects in the mine action, food security and livelihoods sectors. Since 2021, DCA has been working increasingly closely with local partners to develop and improve its initiatives in the conflict prevention and peacebuilding (CPPB) and protection sectors, integrating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), engagement of religious actors, community-level peace dialogues and capacity building of local peace mechanisms.

Over the past two years, DCA has undertaken several research studies to refine its understanding of how best to implement relevant and effective HDP programming, including the integration of MHPSS activities to address enduring and emerging issues facing communities, and the involvement of religious actors, faith communities and faith-based organisations (hereinafter collectively referred to as FAs) to ensure tailored and sustainable accompaniment and support delivery.

This led DCA, in partnership with Conciliation Resources (CR), to produce a report published under the title Peace of Mind: Exploring mental health in relation to peacebuilding and conflict in CAR (August 2022) exploring mental health in relation to conflict in CAR, and the role of religious and traditional practitioners in the provision of MHPSS services. The research provided insights into how conflict shaped local experiences of distress and shed light on the specific socio-psychological determinants of well-being within targeted communities in Sibut and Kaga-Bandoro, as well as associated rituals rooted in traditional and spiritual beliefs.

To further explore these spiritual and religious dimensions, and in particular the approaches and initiatives of the FAs related to the CPPB in CAR, as well as their interactions with local and national government entities, civil society and community-based organisations (CSOs and CBOs), DCA commissioned additional research, published by Baoro Consulting and entitled Contribution of Faith-Based Organisations to the Peace Process in Bria, Ippy, Kaga-Bandoro and Sibut in CAR (January 2023). Overall, the study highlighted that faith-based organisations in CAR make essential contributions to the CPPB, with local interfaith peace committees leading and participating in peace processes with varying degrees of capacity and resources, drawing on their close connection and engagement with the grassroots and daily life of the community.

These studies have allowed DCA to take a key step in analyzing the intersections between MHPSS, FA, and peacebuilding, and to develop hypotheses on how CPPB programming could be complemented by these findings. Nevertheless, these require further exploration, particularly with regard to how historical trauma and cultural heritage can provide critical pathways to potentially promote and properly anchor peacebuilding initiatives locally through belief systems and frames of reference that have not yet been tapped by standard CPPB projects implemented across CAR.

DCA includes the term “historical trauma” as it emerged in postcolonial studies to describe the effects of collective negative experiences experienced by people belonging to the same group and spanning different generations (Braveheart & DeBruyn, 1998), conceptualized in the African context as a collective wound (Motsi & Masango, 2012), the term does not refer to personal psychological trauma or mental illness.

Furthermore, ‘cultural heritage’ is understood as a series of reflections on the lived experiences of a community that are transmitted, in different ways, from one generation to the next (Bumbaru, 2003), and can be ‘tangible’ (e.g., built or natural environments, objects, clothing) and ‘intangible’ (e.g., rituals, oral history, music). DCA considers that traditions, practices and rituals related to faith, as well as religion in the broad sense, are included in the term ‘cultural heritage’.

1. Objects of the contract and expected results
2. Purpose of the mission

The objective of this mission is to identify more effective pathways to peace in Bouar and Ippy in CAR . The mission will provide a better understanding of how peace can be promoted through the interactions between historical trauma and cultural heritage , and will contribute to the formulation of actionable recommendations based on these findings, which can be used by DCA and its partners to inform and improve their programmatic and strategic initiatives, as well as to raise awareness among donors to further support initiatives that focus on addressing historical trauma, conflict prevention and peacebuilding with the involvement of FAs where it is relevant and conflict-sensitive to do so.

The individual, group or consulting firm (hereinafter referred to as “consultant”) will be responsible for the design, development and conduct of the research to fulfill this assignment. The research questions proposed below should serve as guidelines, and the consultant is encouraged to formulate his or her own questions based on them:

1. After years of conflict and the lasting impacts of colonialism, how do communities in CAR experience the full spectrum (negative, neutral and positive responses) of historical trauma across different age, gender and diversity groups?
2. How and to what extent does cultural heritage in CAR, including spiritual and/or religious practices, mitigate negative responses to historical trauma and promote neutral and positive responses? Through which specific elements of cultural heritage and spiritual and/or religious practices is this manifested in CAR?
3. How, and to what extent, does the full spectrum of historical trauma interact with peace and reconciliation efforts? Can promoting positive responses and mitigating negative responses to historical trauma foster peaceful coexistence and conflict prevention and resolution strategies?
4. What strategies, leveraging the positive interactions between cultural heritage and historical trauma, would be most meaningful and effective to implement to support CPPB initiatives at the community level? What actors and practices could be integrated into CPPB activities to improve their relevance, impact and sustainability?
5. Key deliverables/results to be provided by the consultant

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking all activities related to the pursuit of this research and the production of the resulting results. The activities and their scope are detailed in the relevant section below.

Four (4) deliverables are expected from the consultant:

• Deliverable 1: 1 initial report , which should include a literature review, the proposed approach or methodology, the research plan, the sampling strategy, the list of specific research questions and the data collection tools.
• Deliverable 2: 1 executive summary (5-10 pages max.) providing an overview of relevant findings formulated for a broad, non-specialist audience, and key policy-oriented recommendations.1
• Deliverable 3: 1 final report (25 to 30 pages max.), providing a structured and detailed account of the consultant’s research findings, as well as programmatic and strategic recommendations for DCA and its partners at the local and national levels.
• Deliverable 4: Complete set of raw data and transcripts , containing all information collected by the consultant during the data collection work undertaken in the study areas.

The timeline for submission of deliverables, including drafts for DCA review, is detailed below.

3. Assumptions and risks

This consultancy assumes that the following conditions are met by the consultant, by DCA and, more generally, in the context of the mission more broadly, so that the research can be conducted and completed:

• The consulting team is able to obtain all research and access permits to the study areas.
• The consulting team is able to travel to the study areas, carry out all its research activities and produce all required documents within the agreed deadlines.
• The consultant team will attend the DCA Safety and Security Briefing before travelling to the study site for the data collection phase.
• The consulting team will adhere to DCA safety and security regulations and comply with DCA security SOPs throughout the consultancy (i.e. pre-travel validation by DCA safety and security team, duration in different locations, departure and arrival time checks, etc.)
• The security situation in the study areas allows access and the completion of the work of the consulting team.
• Important infrastructure, such as roads and communication networks, are functional and enable all research activities to be carried out.
• The effects of existing or emerging humanitarian crises, such as internal displacement, population movements or emergency needs, enable all relevant data to be collected, respondents to be reached and, subsequently, research questions to be answered comprehensively.

Applicants must include a risk analysis, including proposed risk mitigation measures, in their application proposals. The identified risk mitigation measures must also be reflected in the research plan as part of the inception report, which will be submitted to DCA by the consultant prior to the data collection phase, and consolidated by the consultant based on additional information provided by DCA’s Safety and Security team.

4. Scope of Services

The tasks to be carried out by the consultant as part of this mission are as follows:

1. Research Planning – Initial Report
   1. The general literature review should provide an overview of existing relevant literature (on CAR where possible, extended to other African country contexts where necessary, relevant and useful) on the interactions between historical trauma, cultural heritage (including practices and traditions related to faith and religion) and peacebuilding as they relate to populations, including vulnerable and marginalized groups, in the above-mentioned areas of study, and should highlight gaps, challenges, opportunities and special considerations for research on this topic.
2. The literature review should also include consideration of key relevant DCA approaches as documented in the following resources:

• DCA’s Peacebuilding Approach
• DCA’s Action Guide on Religion and Development
• DCA’s Introduction to Conflict Sensitivity
• The DCA Protection Framework
• DCA’s 2023-2026 Strategy

Additionally, DCA suggests reviewing the following reports:

• The Triple Nexus, Location and Local Faith Actors: The Intersection between faith, humanitarian response, development and peace (F. de Wolf, O. Wilkinson, DCA, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities – 2019)
• Peace of Mind (DCA, CR – August 2022)
• Contribution of faith-based organizations to the peace process in Bria, Ippy, Kaga-Bandoro and Sibut in CAR (DCA, Baoro Consulting – January 2023)
• Gender, mental health and Reconciliation in CAR (DCA, CR – July 2023)
• Mapping Out and Mobilizing Diaconal Assets (K. Nordstokke – January 2014)

Findings from these key reports should also be used to guide research design.

1. The research framework should include:
   1. (Re)defining a subset of specific research questions that reflect the findings of the literature and document review, building on the research questions suggested above.
      1. Data collection, sampling strategy, analysis plans and tools that reflect the selected methodologies, as well as the timing and logistical considerations, including potential risks identified by the consultant.
      2. Description of the quality assurance process for translation (from and into French, Sango and other local languages) for data collection tools as well as for conducting interviews and focus group discussions.
2. Data collection and analysis
   1. Primary data collection should be carried out by the consultant at the agreed research sites in Bouar and Ippy, and secondary data should be collected from resource persons in Bangui, with all necessary planning regarding risk management, safety and security, and ethical diligence in the research. DCA can provide a list of resource persons who may be useful contacts for secondary data collection.
   2. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that the necessary primary and secondary data collection tools are translated into Sango or relevant local languages, that data collection takes place in French, Sango or relevant local languages, where applicable, and that the data collected is translated from Sango or relevant local languages ​​into French for the report.
   3. Primary and secondary data shall be cleaned, processed and analysed by the Consultant to a high quality standard to draft and produce the agreed outputs. These shall be subject to oversight and quality assurance review by the appointed Reference Group in accordance with the agreed schedule for deliverables. The Consultant shall provide any requested edits to finalise the deliverables in accordance with the stipulated formats, quality and standards.
3. Report writing
   1. The research findings are expected to be able to inform DCA and partners’ programming, as well as policy-oriented initiatives in CAR. The final report is expected to provide critical insights into how peace can be promoted through the interactions between historical trauma and cultural heritage, and provide programmatic and strategic recommendations based on these findings, which can be used by DCA and partners to inform and improve their programming, as well as to raise awareness among donors to further support initiatives that focus on addressing historical trauma, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and cultural heritage, including the involvement of religious actors, where relevant and conflict-sensitive.

The focal point for this contract will be Claire Mohamed-Petit, DCA Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Advisor , and the main contact for in-country research will be Tom Martinez, DCA Programme Manager in CAR .

A reference group will be established to provide advice and oversight on key milestones and deliverables of the consultancy. It will be composed of representatives from the DCA national office in CAR and technical advisors from DCA Headquarters (HQ), within the Programme, Advocacy and Learning (PAL), and Humanitarian Response and Mine Action (HRMA) units.

The Focal Point will coordinate consultations between the Consultant and the DCA Reference Group throughout the engagement, as set out in the Schedule of Tasks and Deliverables provided in the relevant section below, which may include additional consultations as necessary. The DCA Reference Group will conduct quality control reviews of the deliverables and provide feedback to the Consultant on any required and/or suggested changes.

5. Schedule, logistics and equipment
The mission must begin on November 4, 2024 and end no later than January 31, 2025 .

The consultant may be based at his/her usual place of work and/or residence to carry out most of the tasks of this assignment, with the exception of tasks related to the collection of primary and secondary data in the research target locations. The consultant will be required to travel within the CAR to lead, supervise and participate in all data collection required for this assignment.

In CAR, the consultant may be provided with a workspace at the DCA office in Bangui, subject to prior discussion and approval. The consultant will be responsible for his/her own travel arrangements from his/her usual place of work and/or residence to Bangui. This will involve, if necessary, the consultant budgeting for his/her own flights, as well as accommodation in Bangui, Ippy and Bouar. DCA will be able to facilitate any administrative documentation that may be required for some travel to research sites.

In Bouar and Ippy in particular, the consultant’s field travel may (subject to scheduling) be facilitated by DCA and/or other partner organisations, and office space may be made available if necessary, and subject to prior agreement. The consultant must be prepared to travel to remote areas by available means and to stay in rudimentary living conditions. Unless otherwise stated, all travel arrangements, as well as personal insurance, are the responsibility of the consultant and should be covered by the proposed total remuneration.

The Consultant shall provide his/her own equipment for this assignment, including laptops, MS Office suite and other necessary software, printer, smartphone, camera and other items, materials and equipment that may be necessary for the proper performance and completion of the Services. Finally, the Consultant shall cover the costs related to translation and/or interpretation services for all required phases of this research.

The following schedule and deadlines are proposed:

Tasks & Deliverables (medium/version)

Deadlines

Preliminary consultation session (online) November 6, 2024

Proposed list of literature to be reviewed (draft version) November 08, 2024

Initial report, including literature review, proposed research design, guiding questions and data collection tools (final version) November 11, 2024

Planning Session (Online) November 15, 2024

Data collection (in-person in-country) November 18 –
December 13, 2024

Debriefing session after data collection (in-person in-country and/or online) December 13, 2024

Executive Summary (Draft Version) December 16, 2024

Full report (draft version) December 16, 2024

Validation session (online) December 20, 2024

Full Data Set and Transcripts (Raw Version) January 13, 2025

Executive Summary (Final Version) January 13, 2025

Full report (final version) January 13, 2025

6. Reporting

The full final report compiling the main research findings and final recommendations for the DCA will be required at the end of the consultation. This report, as well as all other deliverables expected from the consultant, must be written and submitted in French . All deliverables must be delivered electronically (soft copies) with all relevant annexes to the contract manager for approval.

The structure of the full final report is flexible but should include the following sections:

1. Final programmatic recommendations (once the report is finalized)
2. Final strategic recommendations (idem.)
3. Executive Summary (different from the Executive Summary which must be provided as a separate deliverable)
4. Introduction
5. Description of the research methodology
6. Results details
7. Conclusions
8. Recommendations
9. Annexes to be included as a minimum:
   • Bibliography (including list of literature reviewed and sources consulted online)
   • Final data collection tools
   • All graphs, tables and photos where applicable.

7. Qualification and skills requirements

• Masters or PhD in a relevant social science field, such as anthropology, peace and conflict studies, religious studies and/or psychology.
• Proven knowledge of the CAR or the Central African region is essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge and practice in at least two of the relevant technical areas: conflict prevention and peacebuilding, religious engagement and/or mental health and psychosocial support, is required.
• Evidence of previous success in remote management, including supervision and/or technical support of research teams, should be highlighted in the application.
• Excellent research skills, including research framing and design, qualitative data collection and analysis, development of specific methods and tools, and research designs.
• Proven strong communication and presentation skills, as well as skills in writing clear and accessible reports, including programmatic and policy recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Experience working and/or living in humanitarian contexts and basic living conditions.
• Proven ability to achieve set objectives and meet deadlines within tight time frames.
• Solid understanding of the international humanitarian and development aid sector, particularly the work of INGOs/NNGOs.
• Written and oral proficiency in French is essential (level C1 or C2 for non-native speakers); written and oral proficiency in English would be an additional asset.
• Ability to quickly become familiar with specific topics while maintaining an overview.
• Relevant IT skills: MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), qualitative analysis software (NVIVO, Power BI, etc.), data collection tools (ODK, Kobo Collect, etc.).

How to apply

Kindly find the instructions to bidder, the terms of references and the draft contract in the Request for Proposal