Guyana: Social Inclusion/Cohesion Community Consultant (Guyana)

Summary:

Counterpart International is currently seeking a Consultant to support civil society in designing and conducting social inclusion/cohesion activities, using focus groups, workshops, and the arts, in several communities in Guyana. This is a consultant position based in Georgetown, Guyana. This position will report to the Regional Director Latin America and the Caribbean.

Guyana continues to face its historical challenge of managing the relations and political division between the various ethnic groups represented in Guyana. This phase of Counterpart’s Youth and Citizens Participation, funded by USAID, involves a local CSO fostering social inclusion/cohesion in Guyana by leading projects to build social inclusion/cohesion in selected communities throughout the country aimed to promote pluralism, tolerance, and consensus building around key issues of concern. Counterpart anticipates that these activities will result in increased popular dialogue and community cohesion within targeted communities, focused on the involvement of youth and women and with the objective of improving social stability.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Counterpart International is seeking a consultant with expertise in social inclusion/cohesion/cohesion to support a civil society organization based in Georgetown, Guyana during the months of June and July 2016. This is a short-term consultancy position and will incorporate three functions: 1) support local CSO in consulting beneficiary communities through focus groups and roundtable table discussions; 2) advise local CSO in facilitating social inclusion/cohesion sensitization sessions and activities; and 3) support CSO to develop and implement a strategy that effectively engages the creative arts to build social inclusion/cohesion in selected communities.

Counterpart expects the consultant to have a thorough understanding of social inclusion/cohesion/cohesion in order to be eligible for providing the requisite guidance and support. The consultant will have experience working with CSOs on social inclusion/cohesion, facilitating dialogue and workshops on social inclusion/cohesion at the community level, and engaging the creative arts to promote community building.

The consultant will accomplish the following:

• Deliver effective tools and methodologies for building social inclusion/cohesion and facilitating dialogue, including reviewing Counterpart International’s current social inclusion/cohesion and dialogue approaches and toolkits as well as international best practices, and incorporate relevant methodology and tools to Guyanese context;

• Advise and support local CSO in conducting social inclusion/cohesion consultation sessions, including focus groups and roundtable discussions, with selected communities;

• Support local partner in facilitating cohesion-related sensitization sessions and skills-based exchange training sessions across communities;

• Advise and support local partner in designing a strategy and planning activities that engage the creative arts to build social inclusion/cohesion in selected communities, including sharing relevant methodologies and frameworks.

• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with national counterparts, national and international assistance providers, and relevant government agencies in Guyana, particularly the Ministry of Social inclusion/cohesion;

• Facilitate dialogue between local CSOs, community-based organizations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure delivery of social inclusion/cohesion activities;

• Conduct strategic planning workshops and trainings with local CSO on social inclusion/cohesion/cohesion framework, dialogue facilitation, and engaging the arts for social inclusion/cohesion;

• Prepare final drafts of focus group/roundtable/workshop outlines, agenda, and reports, as well as methodology and planned activities for using the arts;

• Develop a final report with recommendations based on findings from discussion with CSOs and Counterpart Team. The final report should include all training curriculum/tools developed, recommendations on next steps, and an action plan for replicating these activities/trainings/sessions in other communities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in International Development, Public Administration, Non-profit Management, Business Administration or a similar field;

• Thorough understanding of in social inclusion/cohesion/cohesion and associated technical methodologies;

• Technical proficiency and demonstrated experience in working with CSOs on social inclusion/cohesion/cohesion;

• Demonstrated experience in conducting training, administering focus groups, community consultation, and facilitating dialogue;

• Demonstrated experience in using the arts to address community social issues;

• Minimum of five (5) years of international development experience or an equivalent combination of applied research/advanced academic work in a relevant subject matter with several matter with several years of field work in a technical capacity working with civil society organizations;

• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills;

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment, able to work effectively with civil society organizations, USAID, project staff, and other beneficiaries;

• Excellent ability to amiably collaborate and coordinate activities with multiple stakeholders, including government, civil society, and individuals;

• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Word, Database management, Excel, PowerPoint).

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