Consultant for Conflict Analysis and Strategic Accompaniment (Syria project)
About The Position
The World Council of Churches (WCC) seeks a consultant to provide strategic and technical support to its Syria peacebuilding programme. Working closely with the Geneva-based programme team, implementing partners, and field coordinators, the consultant will advise on dialogue, mediation, and preventive engagement, using contextual analysis and information from local peacebuilding processes. The consultant will help ensure that programme interventions are conflict-sensitive, contextually relevant, and responsive to developments in Syria’s transition. The consultancy is home-based, with possible travel to Syria, Geneva, or other locations as required and subject to security considerations. The initial contract runs through 31 August 2027, with a maximum of 90 working days over the contracted period. Working days will be requested and agreed in advance with WCC. An extension may be possible subject to satisfactory performance, programme needs, and available funding. The consultant will produce periodic conflict and context analysis, strategic assessments of priority issues or mediation processes, recommendations for preventive engagement and adaptive programme management, and quality assurance of selected analytical and strategic documents. The consultant may also contribute to programme strategy reviews and reflection meetings. Specific deliverables, scope, and timing will be agreed with the WCC programme team. The consultancy requires confidentiality and discretion. Materials developed under the consultancy remain WCC property, and their circulation requires WCC authorisation. The consultant must comply with the WCC Code of Conduct.
Requirements
- Advanced university degree in political science, peace and conflict studies, international relations, development studies, or another relevant discipline, or equivalent professional qualifications and experience.
- Demonstrated professional experience in conflict analysis, peacebuilding, mediation support, and strategic advisory work, particularly in designing, coordinating, and adaptively managing locally led initiatives promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
- Proven analytical skills in assessing conflict dynamics, stakeholder relationships, emerging risks, and opportunities for preventive engagement.
- Proven experience facilitating and accompanying sensitive dialogue and mediation processes, with sound political judgement, discretion, and a strong understanding of conflict-sensitive approaches.
- Strong experience in strategic advisory work, institutional strengthening, and multi-stakeholder coordination, including collaboration with international organisations, local partners, and institutional donors.
- Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills, including the ability to synthesise complex information into clear findings and practical recommendations.
- In-depth understanding of the Syrian political, social, and religious context.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Respect confidentiality requirements and comply with the WCC Code of Conduct.
Nice To Haves
- Previous professional experience related to Syria is considered a strong asset.
- Good knowledge of Arabic and French.
- Experience working with faith-based organisations, civil society actors, or locally led peacebuilding initiatives.
- Familiarity with donor-funded programmes.
Responsibilities
- Provide periodic political, social, and conflict analysis relevant to programme priority locations and intervention areas.
- Analyse emerging tensions, conflict drivers, stakeholder relationships, and opportunities for preventive dialogue and mediation.
- Interpret information generated by local coordinators and early-warning networks, identifying recurring patterns and priority concerns related to Syria’s transition.
- Advise on the development and accompaniment of sensitive dialogue and mediation processes.
- Contribute to strategic reflection on issues emerging from dialogue, mediation, and community-level peacebuilding, particularly those affecting social cohesion and Syria’s transition.
- Advise the programme team on conflict sensitivity, do-no-harm principles, risks, and opportunities for constructive engagement with relevant actors.
- Support strategic reflection and adaptive programme management in response to developments in Syria.
- Review and quality assure conflict analyses, strategic papers, concept notes, and other relevant programme documents.
- Prepare concise analytical notes and recommendations for programme management and, where appropriate, other stakeholders.
- Contribute to programme strategy reviews and reflection meetings.
