The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) seek a consultant to develop an evidence-based narrative on the role of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) within the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. The Consultant will prepare a knowledge product that will inform a side-event at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and contribute to the mid-term review of AfDB’s 2022-26 Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa. The knowledge product will build on and present important linkages between the Bank’s new Ten-year Strategy (2024-2033), the relevant strategies of ICRC and the Movement components as well as the relevant collaboration frameworks, including existing MOU between the institutions and other core partners. The consultant will analyse IHL’s contributions to preventing development reversals due to conflict, guiding post-conflict recovery, and fostering conditions conducive to peace and development. Key deliverables include (i) various preparation and presentation materials (including a one-pager brief) ahead of the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and (ii) building on the outcomes of the Conference, a Final Report, Policy Brief and PowerPoint presentation on the overall assignment, including proposed actions points for the Bank and its partner institutions. This 3 months, home-based consultancy involves virtual and potentially also on-site consultations with stakeholders in Abidjan, Geneva, selected African countries and HDP Nexus partners of the Bank.
Place of assignment: Home-based
Period of the assignment: October 2024 –March 2024
Expected start date of the assignment: 01 October 2024
Objective
This assignment will strengthen the evidence-base dialogue on the importance of collaboration between Development and Humanitarian institutions in advancing respect for IHL. The evidence gathered from a wider stakeholder consultation and at a side-event at the 34thInternational Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will also feed into the Mid-Term Review of the Bank’s 2022-26 Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa. It will also enhance the design of joint Bank-ICRC interventions, initiatives, and policy engagement approaches. Building on the Bank’s experience and ICRC’s mandate, expertise and footprint in fragile and conflict-affected settings, the Consultant will formulate an evidence-based narrative on how both institutions can contribute to the respect of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)in line with their comparative advantages and mandates. The assignment will analyze the contribution of the respect of IHL, including prevention of atrocities, protection of civilians and of critical civilian infrastructure, sharing information on the fate of the missing, and other provisions, to development and peace building and peace-financing efforts. In this light, it will explore IHL as:
(i) a key element to prevent large development reversals due to conflict, especially in protracted situations, thereby achieving ‘’development holds’’ and reducing the costs of recovery,
(ii) a guidepost for a path out of conflict,
(iii) and part of an enabling environment for peace.
Where possible, IHL will also be considered in context specific cases that demonstrate:
- Successful operating and financing models for staying engaged in conflict-affected and de facto settings and
- Viable pathways, innovative coalitions, and financial models for sustainable impact in fragile and conflict-settings.
The assignment will also showcase opportunities for strengthened synergies as it relates to shared strategic and operational priorities within respective institutional mandates and showcase the importance of continued complementarities of IHL where this might go beyond selectivity criteria and comparative advantages of development actors such as AfDB. The cross-cutting thematic areas of climate adaptation(climate-fragility nexus as per COP28 RRP Declaration implementation), social inclusion and the role of the private sector and civil society will also be considered. The Bank’s Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS), is therefore, inviting qualified individuals to express their interest to undertake this knowledge work.
Activities and Deliverables
The incumbent will conduct virtual and in-person interviews with staff of the Bank, ICRC and other components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (‘’the Movement’’), as well as with Officials from Regional Member Countries of the Bank, and with other humanitarian, development and peace partners. It is expected that knowledge, experiences and data gathered will be used to formulate a conceptual framework, develop case studies, and identify recommendations on IHL as part of the HDP Nexus. In particular, respect for IHL will be explored in different contexts, including countries with pockets of fragility, vulnerability and conflict and de facto authorities, and in relation to development interventions targeted at key sectors and thematic area such as water and sanitation and food security. The assessment will highlight the application and limitation of the IHL in various contexts and countries. It will also showcase success stories and best practices and how partners can generate lessons from those experiences. The assignment will also provide a case for supporting and mainstreaming respect for IHL. This may involve demonstrating cases where lack of IHL has led to significant civilian infrastructure damage/destruction reversing, halting or eroding development progress, as well as example cases where IHL application resulted in saving significant humanitarian and development financing costs.
The key deliverables will be:
(i) By mid-October2024: an inception report (outlines)detailing approach, activities, timelines, suggested structure of brief and report for all aspects of the assignment.
(ii) By end-October 2024: A one-page event brief ahead of the Joint side event at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent;
(iii) By end of December 2024: a Final Report(20-page report) with clearcut recommendations and actions points for the Bank and the ICRC;
(iv) By end of February2025: a5-page policy brief
Qualifications and Experience Required
The Consultant is required to have the following qualifications and experience:
- A master’s degree or equivalent in fields such as Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, Humanitarian Law, Conflict Studies, or a related discipline.
- At least 10 years of relevant work experience in applied research (preferably on the African continent, including for policy dialogue and operations with multilateral development banks), peace and state building and financing, conflict prevention and conflict resolution, social inclusion, public-private dialogue, project management, and management consulting.
- Understands and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Understanding of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, including the roles of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Understanding of the mandates and business models of multilateral development banks(MDBs), including their role and engagement in fragile situations.
- Expert knowledge of IHL and strong experience in developing and delivering conflict prevention advocacy, mediation and programs is also required, including assessments, project portfolio reviews and analyses, conflict sensitivity analysis and tools/applications would be an asset.
- Good understanding of development economics and prior exposure to AfDB’s-or other MDB’s-corporate functions and existing strategies, operations, processes, and instruments would be strong assets.
- Fluency in English is required; fluency in both working languages of the Bank Group, French and other official language would be a plus.
- Capacity to handle discussions with diplomacy and tact is critical.
- Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, Power Point and Teams).
Duration and Location
This is a consultancy position with a level of effort of 3 months spread over 6 months. The Consultant will be home-based with potential on-site visits for consultations with various stakeholders including in Abidjan, within the Headquarters of the African Development Bank, in Geneva within the Headquarters of the ICRC and in selected countries, if the need arises. The consultations will generally take place online. All travel arrangements and payments shall be in accordance with the Bank’s Travel Policy (PD01/2016) as amended.
How to apply
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to send their updated Curriculum Vitae (based on the template in Annex I) and letter of interest in a single PDF file (in English) to a.l.sanogo@afdb.org with copy to j.berndt@afdb.org with the following email format.
File name: “[last name], [first name]” (e.g. Peterson, Anna).
Subject line: “RDTS Consultant –HDP Nexus & IHL.”
Last date for expressing interest: 20 September 2024 at 5p.m. Abidjan time (GMT)
Candidates are encouraged to include references to proven analytical products developed under their previous working experience.
P.S: Please note that we will contact you only if you are shortlisted for further consideration, and that, given the large volume of applications we receive, some time may elapse before the selection process is complete.