Remote: Expression of interest for consultancy services: Conflict Sensitivity Support to the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN)

Sep 5, 2023 | Global Youth Biodiversity Network

About GYBN

Founded in 2010, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) is a global coalition of young people and youth organizations who have joined forces to lead, support, and accelerate a just and equitable transition to a society that lives in harmony with nature. With chapters across more than 55 countries and 4 regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America, GYBN represents a total of 1.25 million members and young environmental activists. GYBN is also recognized as the international coordination platform for youth participation in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). GYBN acts as a catalyst, empowering youth to safeguard biodiversity while addressing the pressing challenges of the current youth generation. The network operates at the grassroots level, implementing on-the-ground actions, advocating for policy changes, fostering alliances, and generating knowledge products.

Background to this consultancy

In 2022, GYBN and the Swiss-based PeaceNexus Foundation (PN) initiated a partnership on supporting Conflict Sensitivity integration into GYBN’s work. As a first activity in exploring where conflict and peace issues sit within GYBN’s work, a consultation was conducted with its members. The consultation found that 90% of the 109 young people who responded, experienced violent conflict in their work environment. The overwhelming majority of respondents live in the Global South and, as an example of how conflict affects their work, stated that they feel less safe, that they no longer have access to some areas due to conflict, that they feel less free to express and share their opinions, and that they have had to stop some of their work due to conflict. On a personal level, they reported that violent conflict triggers

fear and stress and makes them feel helpless, which affects their ability to do their work. When asked what they would value as support from the GYBN network, respondents indicated that they would value better understanding of the links between environment, conflict and peace; access to peer support and spaces for dialogue; building their conflict analysis and conflict resolution skills; and support in dealing with security issues. They also saw peace and harmony between people as crucial to enabling different groups to work together effectively and to achieve environmental outcomes. Building on these consultations, GYBN has formulated its overall vision for working on this agenda: GYBN has policies, practices, and support systems (such as well-being) in place that enable its members to do environmental work in conflict-affected settings and seize opportunities to contribute to peace. It empowers the young generation to access policy spaces and to raise awareness about the connection between biodiversity, conflict and peace; and it mobilises attention and resources to achieve better biodiversity conservation outcomes for living in harmony with nature.

To achieve this vision, GYBN and PN will collaborate on the following change objectives:

1. GYBN takes initial steps to integrate conflict sensitivity into the network's systems and structures, according to the identified needs of members, and building on existing experiences and learning exchanges between different chapters.

2. GYBN showcases how conflict and peace issues relate to young people's environmental work, and builds on the results of the youth consultation to mobilize awareness and resources from other stakeholders to better support young people working for conservation in conflict-affected contexts. GYBN (with PN support) is looking for an appropriately qualified consultant to accompany them in this process.

Objectives of the Conflict Sensitivity support consultancy

Working with the International Steering Group, the consultant will support GYBN to:

1. Establish and develop an internal Working Group on conflict and peace who could continue to lead and monitor the conflict sensitivity integration process. This may include strengthening their capacity to resolve internal conflicts within the network.

2. Deepen its understanding of the needs within the network on working with conflict and peace issues and/or in conflict-affected contexts

3. Integrate conflict sensitivity into GYBN policies, systems and structures, including its internal Code of Conduct

4. Amplify its messaging on peace and conflict issues as an integral part of its international advocacy on biodiversity (e.g. in relation to the CBD, regional agreements such as the Escazu agreement, UNFCC Local Conference of Youth / LCOY etc)

Depending on the profile of the selected consultant, there may also be some work with the GYBN well-being team on further identifying the needs of its members in relation to well-being and psycho-social support.

Methodology and deliverables

The consultant will work with GYBN over the course of several months (from September 2023 to April 2024) to provide advice, training and accompaniment in order to deliver the following activities under each of the support areas listed below. A proposed days allocation is provided for each task, which can be refined with GYBN and PN once the consultant is selected.

1. Inception

- Introduction call with GYBN (and PN) on the partnership aims, the work of GYBN and the most important international frameworks to take note of for the purpose of GYBN’s work

- Desk review of applicable documents for the assignment

Provisional days allocation: 1.5 days

Expected timeline: Sept 2023 – Oct 2023

2. Support GYBN to establish and develop an internal Working Group on conflict and peace

- Participate in a debrief session from an online training on Conflict Sensitivity for the internal

Working Group

- Advise and support the Working Group to develop their Terms of Reference, membership criteria

and work plan

- Accompany the Working Group in its activities by providing a light sounding board / coaching role

as needed

Provisional days allocation: 3 days

Expected timeline: Sept – Nov 2023

3. Support GYBN to deepen its understanding of the needs within the network on working with conflict and peace issues and/or in conflict-affected contexts

- Support GYBN in a research mapping process of current conflict sensitivity challenges across its chapters.

- Potentially facilitate one face-to-face workshop or facilitate an online workshop with a selection of interested section representatives

- Conduct online check-in sessions / clinics with sections as relevant, to discuss live conflict sensitivity challenges

Provisional days allocation: 5.5 days

Expected timeline: Nov 2023-Feb 2024

4. Support GYBN to integrate conflict sensitivity into GYBN policies, systems and structures

- Depending on needs identified by the internal Working Group, provide practical support to GYBN to revise policies, systems and structures to better enable conflict sensitive practices.

- Specifically work with GYBN’s well-being team to integrate conflict sensitivity into GYBN’s Code of Conduct

- Possibly: support GYBN to identify steps for strengthening its ability to manage internal conflicts in the network, for instance during meetings and conferences or other GYBN activities.

Provisional days allocation: 1.5 days

Expected timeline: Sept – Nov 2023

5. Support GYBN to amplify its messaging on peace and conflict issues as an integral part of its international biodiversity advocacy

- Provide an ad hoc sounding board role to help GYBN frame conflict and peace messaging into its global advocacy efforts, including research and communications products and designing activities at big international events.

Provisional days allocation: 1.5 days

Expected timeline: Sept – Nov 2023

OVERALL NUMBER OF DAYS ENVISAGED: 13 days

Timeframe and coordination

This assignment is expected to require approximately 13 consultancy days overall and is anticipated to be carried out over several months, starting no later than September 2023 and up until April 2024. The consultancy will be managed by GYBN as the contracting authority. PeaceNexus will remain in close communication with GYBN throughout the process and will participate in some exchanges with the consultant, as defined with GYBN.

Profile and competency requirements

GYBN is looking for applicants with the following profile:

  • Extensive (5 years +) experience in applying conflict sensitivity concepts and toolsto the
  • programming, organizational policies and processes of civil society organisations or social change movements. Doing this work with environment, biodiversity, climate or conservation-focused organisationsis not a requirement, but would be an asset.
  • Demonstrated experience (5+ years) in working on organizational change processes and in accompanying and/or coaching roles. Working specifically with young people is not a requirement, but would be an asset.
  • Excellent communications skills, with experience in conducting information-gathering consultations and/or participatory research
  • Excellent training and facilitation skills
  • Familiarity with key international agreements on biodiversity and/or youth engagement on environment issues would be an asset

Application process and package

Please send application package (see details below) to gybncontent@gmail.com with ‘GYBN CS consultancy’ as the subject. The deadline for applications is 17 September 2023.

Application package:

  • CV (not exceeding 4 pages) (relevant to this assignment)
  • Expression of Interest / motivation letter (1 page), highlighting relevant experience
  • Approach note (1 page), setting out the approach the applicant would take to fulfil this assignment
  • Financial proposal for the assignment, showing expected fee and availability
  • Contact details of two references/previous (relevant to this assignment)

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview, provisionally envisaged for the week

of 18 September 2023.

See full job posting here.