The Cordoba Peace Institute – Geneva (CPI) is an independent non-profit organisation, working on violence prevention and peace promotion. CPI aims to enhance theoretical and practical conflict transformation resources and has extensive experience in West Asian and African contexts. CPI promotes a methodology adapted to and accepted by local communities, conflict parties and peace actors.

Since 2002, it has developed unique access and networks in the countries where it works. CPI’s outlook is inspired by the Andalusian city of Cordoba: a renowned medieval centre of inter-faith dialogue, and by Geneva: a modern centre of international dialogue and exchange between peoples. CPI has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant for the Inter-religious Dialogue Project

Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-time

The Project

• With 19 years’ unique experience integrating orthodox religious and ideological actors in jointly reinforcing the public space in the MENA and Sahel regions, Cordoba Peace Institute – Geneva (CPI) has earned a reputation for empowering conflicting local actors with peacebuilding skills anchored in their respective belief systems.
• Following extensive experience in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, CPI would like to address increased polarization between Muslim, Christian and Traditional communities in a context of ongoing violence involving armed groups in the Sahel.
• This polarization has led to misconceptions about each other, even among learned people, and hence to the stigmatization of certain communities and their exclusion from the public square, weakening thereby the social fabric.
• Building on its experience in Mali, Chad and Tanzania, CPI will develop the capacity of religious and traditional actors, in expertly designed conflict transformation workshops, to engage each other’s narrative in humility and diligence while remaining faithful to their own beliefs.
• Equipped with the skills to revitalize resources from their traditions, they will be able to collaborate in sustainable concrete actions to build covenantal pluralism, in which religion is recognized as a positive factor for social cohesion.

General Objective

• Contributing to the reduction of inter-religious tensions and the promotion of social cohesion in Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

Specific Objective 1:

• The interfaith actors, members of action-oriented platforms, are equipped through capacity building to analyze conflict and options to transform it peacefully and to contribute to building community resilience

Outputs:
The interfaith Platform is set up:

• The relevant interfaith actors are adequately equipped in conflict transformation, social cohesion and on the role of religion in conflict and peace through capacity building sessions
• The Platform Meetings are held to exchange narratives on the causes of tensions and brainstorm joint actions to reduce them.

Specific Objective 2:

• A collectively shared understanding is developed among the members of the platforms, which reduces misunderstanding, promotes trust and opens a space for cooperation, and conflict transformation initiatives are designed and implemented jointly, which consolidates trust and contributes to the reduction of interfaith tensions and the strengthening of social cohesion.

Output:

• Local joint action initiatives addressing issues identified by the members of the platforms are implemented

Objectives of these Terms of Reference

• The objective of these ToRs is to mandate the Expert to set up an interfaith platform of relevant Muslim-Christian leaders and faith-based NGOs in order to equip them with the conflict transformation skills needed to engage in dialogue spaces conducive to the implementation of practical joint initiatives to contribute to the consolidation of social cohesion and building community resilience.
• To do so, the main requested tasks will be mainly the following ones:
  • Mapping of the relevant Muslim-Christian organisations in the following states: Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa
  • Field research on the interfaith dynamics in the central and north-east Nigeria
  • Mapping of the relevant interfaith programs ongoing in the same area
  • Drafting the strategy to set up the platform with the relevant actors, designing the selection criteria, and the selection process of the faith-based organisations to be part of the platform.

Skills and Experience Sought

• A Degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Conflict Studies, Political Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest and knowledge of conflict & peace issues and in interreligious questions in Nigeria
• Understanding of geopolitical issues in the Sahel region, particularly in Nigeria.
• Fluency in English and one of the local dialects.
• Good writing and synthesis skills (reports, concept notes, etc.).
• Originally and based in Nigeria.

Status of the Expert

• The Expert has an independent status and is neither an employee nor member of staff of Cordoba.
• The Expert is responsible for all mandatory tax and social contributions requirements of his country of residence.
• Travel for the purpose of the consultancy:
  • It should be planned at the beginning of the consultancy and in line with the requirements and the budget available.
  • A formal document signed by CPI and the expert will be formalized mentioning the specific needs for travel and the rates/lumpsum for the expenses available.

Timeframe

• The Expert will carry out the work between May 25, and August 15, 2022.
• The work should be finalised and submitted by August 31, 2022, including 4 main documents listed above in section 4 objectives (mapping, research, and strategy).

Application Closing Date
20th May, 2022.

Starting Date
25th May, 2022.