Description

Consultancy Title: Conflict Assessment and Landscape Mapping in Borgou Department Consultancy - Benin

Background: Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. 

Purpose / Project Description: Mercy Corps is seeking a consultant to lead a mapping and assessment in the Borgou Department in Benin, specifically covering:

1. Preliminary conflict and governance mapping and capacity assessment across targeted communities, including a localized political economy analysis of target communes
2. Conflict, disability and gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) analysis of the target communes; and
3. Landscape analysis to map the extent of the current and upcoming NGO, INGO, UN and Governmental actors and interventions relevant to land and natural resource conflict across Benin and specifically in Borgou. 

Consultant Objectives: The objective of this consultancy is to lead the assessment process, collaborating with Mercy Corps and locally based partners (to be identified), and deliver a report with actionable findings. 

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Produce detailed Terms of Reference and Methodology for the assessment
• Recruit locally based partners to collaborate on data collection and analysis
• Write a full report with accompanying presentation
• Participate in dissemination of report findings 

Timeframe / Schedule: The report is expected to be delivered by December 31st, 2024. 

The Consultant will report to: Emilie Vonck (Deputy Regional Director, West/Central Africa 

The Consultant will work closely with: Mercy Corps’ Benin and Africa Regional Teams, and it’s HQ-based Technical Resources and Quality (TRaQ) and Research and Learning (RLT) departments. 

Desired Experience & Skills:

• 5-10 years of experience in relevant technical fields (including but not limited to conflict and political economy analysis, governance mapping and capacity assessment, and GESI analysis)
• Knowledge of the Beninese context and experience working in-country with local civil society actors
• French and English language skills

 To Apply:

• Submit a cover letter detailing your relevant experience, available timeframe, daily cost and estimated total fee, and a writing sample

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.