Nigerian Conflict Sensitivity Technical Specialist

Job Description

Job Title Conflict Sensitivity Technical Specialist
Project Name Field Support Service Project – Nigeria
Job type Consultancy
Location of Position Nigeria
Reporting to Project Manager
Remuneration Based on experience and market rates
Indicative LOE/Timeframe 30 Days
Citizenship Nigerian
Language Requirements English
Application Deadline 27 August 2025 at midnight – Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Application Instructions:
1. A cover letter is mandatory to be considered. Cover letters should effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position’s description, demonstrating your aptitude and enthusiasm for the role, your daily rate and current availability.
2. Click the “Apply now” link to up load your cover letter and CV (Curriculum Vitae).
3. Only successful candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Alinea is an international development consultancy providing technical and management expertise that helps people improve their lives. We work with governments, investors, companies, and communities to create lasting change. Over 38 years, Alinea has successfully delivered more than 1000 projects worldwide. alineainternational.com

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At Alinea International we value diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility and belonging in everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer opposed to all forms of discrimination. We actively seek and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds recognizing that an inclusive workforce enriches our organization and achieves smarter, more innovative results.

Alinea is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of our work, all candidates will be subject to due diligence checks and extensive background checks where appropriate.

Project Description
The Field Support Services Project (FSSP) in Nigeria is a Global Affairs Canada (GAC)-funded bilateral initiative that provides administrative, technical, logistical, and financial support to Canada’s development assistance efforts in the country. Its goal is to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of Canada’s programming.
GAC’s cooperation in Nigeria is guided by Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and Africa Strategy, focusing on gender equality, economic development, peace and security, and sustainability.
Through the Nigeria Bilateral Development Program, Canada supports poor and marginalized populations—especially women and girls—across three priority sectors:

1. Health: Strengthening primary health systems and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
2. Inclusive Economic Growth: Empowering women and youth, particularly in agriculture and livelihoods.
3. Gender Equality: Advancing women’s political participation, leadership, and rights, and capacity building for women’s rights organizations.

About the work
The focus of GAC conflict sensitivity activities in Nigeria is to mitigate the negative impacts and maximize positive effects of development and humanitarian interventions in conflict-affected areas including the BAY and Benue states. These activities involve promoting conflict-sensitive approaches to programming, which ensure that projects are designed and implemented with an awareness of how they might interact with and affect the local conflict dynamics. Key aspects of GAC’s conflict sensitivity work in Nigeria include:

1. Awareness creation and Training – supports training programs for partners on conflict sensitivity principles, including the Do-No-Harm approach and understanding how interventions can exacerbate or alleviate conflict.
2. Integration into Programming – integrates conflict sensitivity into the entire project cycle including risk analysis to identify potential conflict triggers, as well as designing interventions that minimize negative impacts and maximize positive contributions to peace.
3. Focus Approach – targets specific conflict issues including a) farmer-herder clashes, and b) inter-communal conflicts, environmental issues that lead to displacement.
4. Capacity Building – works with local organizations, including women and youth groups, to build their capacity for conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration – facilitates dialogue platforms and supports initiatives that encourage collaboration between different groups to address conflict issues.

The local Conflict Sensitivity Technical Specialist’s mandate is to support Canada’s international development assistance program in Nigeria in applying a conflict-sensitive approach, ensuring more effective and efficient programming that prevents or mitigates potential negative impacts—including on women and girls—and ultimately contributes to more sustainable and inclusive development outcomes. This includes leading conflict analysis, adapting programming to shifting dynamics, and training staff and partners to improve program impact and reduce the risk of exacerbating tensions.

The Role
The FSSP will engage a local Conflict Sensitivity Technical Specialist on a part-time basis to provide technical support to GAC in advancing its conflict sensitivity programing in Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities
Coordination & Advocacy

• Participate in national and state-level forums including technical working groups (TWG) related to peacebuilding and humanitarian coordination.
• Contribute to organizational policy and strategy development related to conflict sensitivity and social cohesion.

Technical Guidance & Mainstreaming

• Ensure the integration of conflict sensitivity approaches across program design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Advise GAC sectoral programs (health, inclusive economic growth, and gender equality/women & girls’ empowerment) on how to mitigate conflict risks.
• Provide ongoing conflict sensitivity assessments for program planning and adaptive management.

Conflict Analysis/Risk Monitoring

• Conduct regular conflict analyses, and monitor evolving conflict trends and early warning signs in project areas.
• Utilize the results from conflict analysis to develop risk mitigation plans.

Capacity Building

• Design targeted training programs for GAC partners, and government counterparts (especially in conflict affected and/or prone locations) on conflict sensitivity and “Do No Harm” principles.
• Review and adapt to local contexts existing tools, guidelines, and frameworks utilize by partners/stakeholders on conflict sensitivity programming.
• Promote stakeholder engagements to enhance adaptive learning, and collaboration.

Required Qualifications: Education

• Post-graduate degree from an accredited, recognized institution in relevant discipline such as Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, Political Studies, Sociology, or a related fields.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in conflict-sensitive programming, preferably in fragile environments.
• Good understanding of conflict drivers in Nigeria (e.g., farmer-herder crises, insurgency, communal clashes).
• Familiarity with Nigeria’s national and state-level peacebuilding structures and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct conflict analysis and apply “Do No Harm” principles, with practical experience using conflict analysis tools (e.g., ABC Triangle, 3P Framework, Actor Mapping).
• Experience working with diverse communities, especially in conflict-affected states including BAY, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, or Plateau.
• Experience supporting multi-sectoral programming (e.g., health, economic growth,, protection, etc.).
• Prior experience in an international development institution (public, NGO or private) is preferred.
• Ability to function effectively in multidisciplinary teams is essential.

Competencies

• Good facilitation skills and ability to generate ideas from, and build consensus among, a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and a professional commitment to promote a culture of social cohesion and social inclusion.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Hausa, Kanuri, Tiv, or Fulfulde is a strong asset.
• Ability to work across cultures and with local civil society organizations.

Note: This position may require travels to various locations within Nigeria.