Facilitator – Thematic Roundtable At Search for Common Ground

1. Context

ABOUT SEARCH

Search for Common Ground (Search) is a non-governmental organization working to transform the way societies deal with conflicts. We have over 30 years of experience in peacebuilding and are based in 53 local offices worldwide. We strive to build sustainable peace for generations to come by working with all sides of a conflict, providing the tools needed to work together, and finding constructive solutions. While conflict is inevitable, violence is not. Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Instead of tearing down an existing world, we focus on constructing a new one. We shift the everyday interactions between hostile groups of people, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violent means. We rely on local staff as well as local partner organizations in order to ensure our work is culturally sensitive, sustainable and well-grounded in the context.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Community of Practice in Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance is a community of 37 organizations operating throughout Iraq. The primary objective of this project is to strengthen a Community of Practice (CoP) in Iraq’s fields of democracy, human rights, and governance, with the goal of enhancing the collaborative and inclusive impact of the Iraqi community of practice as a leading civil society space within the democracy, human rights, and governance sector. Additionally, this initiative seeks to foster increased coordination and collaboration among diverse Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and strategic partners operating within the democracy, human rights, and governance sector in Iraq.

• Project’s Theory of Change: IF diverse CSOs working in the democracy, human rights, and governance sector in Iraq, including smaller organizations, actively participate in and shape a CoP AND IF these diverse organizations leverage this CoP to meaningfully engage in learning and capacity building, resource creation and sharing, and facilitated discussions and actions that respond to their specific needs, THEN the democracy, human rights, and governance sector in Iraq will have improved effectiveness, ultimately contributing to durable solutions and enduring change in Iraq BECAUSE strategic collaboration and knowledge among leading organizations operating in the sector will improve, positioning them as leading civil society practitioners within Iraq’s civic space.
• Project’s Goal: Enhance collaborative and inclusive impact of an Iraqi community of practice as a leading civil society space in the democracy, human rights, and governance sector.

1. Background:

Thematic Roundtables are organized as part of the Community of Practice (CoP) activities to facilitate more focused and in-depth discussions on specific programmatic goals and activities aligned with the themes of donor-funded programming. These roundtables aim to encourage active participation, foster collaboration, and generate actionable solutions to address identified challenges or leverage opportunities.

1. Objective:

The facilitator will lead the thematic roundtable discussions on Strengthening Democratic Institutions with the following objectives:

• Encourage active participation and ownership among participants.
• Facilitate in-depth dialogue on topics relevant to the themes of DRL-funded programming.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants with similar programmatic goals.
• Ensure that discussions are action-based, solutions-oriented, and aligned with the defined objectives of the roundtable.

1. Responsibilities:

The facilitator’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborating with discussion leads and CoP members to define clear objectives and topics for each roundtable.
• Developing an agenda and discussion framework tailored to the specific theme and objectives of the roundtable.
• Leading discussions in a structured and inclusive manner, ensuring all participants have the opportunity to contribute.
• Encouraging active engagement and collaboration among participants to generate actionable insights and solutions.
• Moderating discussions to maintain focus, relevance, and respectful dialogue.
• Summarizing key points and outcomes of the roundtable discussions.
• Providing a brief report highlighting actionable recommendations and next steps.

1. Qualifications:

The ideal facilitator should possess the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating interactive discussions, workshops, or thematic roundtables.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the themes and objectives of DRL-funded programming or willingness to conduct necessary research.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to dynamic discussion dynamics.
• Understanding of group dynamics and conflict resolution techniques.

1. Duration and Deliverables:

The facilitator’s engagement will be for the duration of the thematic roundtable discussion. Deliverables include:

• An agenda and discussion framework submitted prior to the roundtable.
• Facilitation of the thematic roundtable discussion.
• A summary report highlighting key insights, actionable recommendations, and next steps.

1. Application Process:

Interested facilitators are invited to submit their proposals, including a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience, proposed methodology for facilitating the thematic roundtable discussion, and any additional supporting documents, to Iraq@sfcg.org by 27 April 2024 with the subject Facilitator: Thematic Roundtable.

1. Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated based on the facilitator’s experience, expertise in the subject matter, facilitation approach, and proposed methodology.

1. Terms and Conditions:

Search for Common Ground reserves the right to select or reject proposals based on the evaluation criteria and event requirements. The selected facilitator will be required to adhere to the event guidelines and code of conduct throughout the engagement.