Weapons and Ammunition Management and Preventing Violent Extremism Expert (Conventional Arms and Ammunition)

Background

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research—an autonomous institute within the United Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. The Institute explores current issues pertaining to a variety of existing and future armaments, global diplomacy, and local tensions and conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, government officials, NGOs and other institutions since 1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and Member States.

UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme (CAAP) works towards enhanced control over conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons (SALW), conventional ammunition, cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices, landmines and explosive remnants of war, thereby reducing human suffering and promoting peace, security, and development.

CAAP’s Preventing Armed Conflict and Armed Violence research pillar gathers information on the context-specific drivers of demand for illicit and destabilizing accumulations of conventional arms and ammunition in order to inform efforts to put in place effective conventional arms control measures to prevent armed conflict and armed violence. The pillar’s work focuses on integrating conventional arms control into United Nations’ conflict analysis, prevention and management activities, as well as on increasing understanding on policies and practices that can mitigate civilian harm and contribute to armed violence reduction in fragile settings.

The objective of this non-resident consultancy is to strengthen the substantive and technical component of a regional study on the prevention of armed violence based on a holistic approach to weapons. The study will focus on the intersection between preventing violent extremism (PVE) and weapons and ammunition management (WAM).[1] It aims to provide a detailed assessment of – existing and potential – PVE-WAM integration in West Africa, at the level of frameworks (normative, policy and strategic), institutional structures and implementation practice. It is expected to serve as a practical reference for States in strengthening the PVE-WAM intersections, contribute to national and regional communities of practice, and contribute to the elaboration of guidelines by regional and continental organizations. The study will be conducted in partnership between UNIDIR, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) (henceforth “the partners”), with all three partners contributing substantively to the study. It responds to a recommendation from a regional seminar on PEV and WAM in West Africa in Lomé in December 2023 organized by UNIDIR, FDFA and UNREC.

The thematic areas of focus expected for this non-resident consultancy relate to PVE, WAM and conventional arms control in West Africa, regional arms control, as well as broader considerations of prevention, community violence reduction (CVR) and armed violence prevention. It also requires sensitivity to gender considerations in PVE and WAM.

While reporting to UNIDIR, the consultant can take advantage of an arrangement with UNREC, under which the consultant will be able to use the offices of UNREC during the period of the consultancy.

Tangible and measurable outputs of the consultancy^[2]  

The non-resident consultant shall provide UNIDIR with the production of the following outputs (deliverables):

• Support to the production of the methodology for the regional study (Deliverable 1)
  • A mapping of relevant national, regional and continental stakeholders for a written questionnaire and/or semi-structured online interviews;
  • A mapping of relevant stakeholders for interviews during field visits;
  • Substantive contributions to and review of a written questionnaire and guide for semi-structured online interviews; and
  • Review of the outline of the regional study and review of the templates of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers.

• Support to the collection of secondary data, and support to production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers (Deliverable 2)
  • Provision of expert insights and relevant literature relating to PVE and WAM, including good practices for PVE-WAM integration in West Africa, and provision of all relevant PVE and WAM frameworks (normative, policy and strategic), mandates of existing PVE and WAM institutions, as well as documentation on key PVE and WAM implementation practice of the 15 West African States and relevant regional and continental organizations; and
  • Review of an internal UNIDIR background paper on good practices of PVE-WAM integration in West Africa, and review of a concise internal UNIDIR background paper that analyzes PVE-WAM interconnections in, and distilled guidance elements from, PVE and WAM frameworks, institutions and implementation practice.  

• Collection of primary data, and production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers (Deliverable 3)
  • Analytical summary of the responses to the written questionnaire to relevant PVE and WAM stakeholders in West Africa, including identification of stakeholders for semi-structured online interviews and of potential additional literature;
  • Semi-structured online interviews with relevant PVE and WAM stakeholders in West Africa, and timely delivery of analytical summaries of these interviews, including identification of potential additional literature; and
  • In connection with field visits:
    • Substantive planning, preparation, and conduct of field visits to 5 countries in West Africa;
    • Timely delivery of analytical summaries of the interviews conducted during each field visit;
    • Timely delivery of an internal, analytical background paper of good practices of PVE-WAM integration (existing and potential), identified guidance elements for such integration and challenges.

• Preparation and implementation of a drafting workshop and a consultation workshop (Deliverable 4)
  • Agenda and methodology of the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, and regular integration of comments and feedback from UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA;
  • Implementation of the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, including participating in these workshops, presenting preliminary findings of the regional study, and facilitating sessions; and
  • Consolidated summaries of relevant feedback from the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, for use in the revision of draft reports of the regional study.

• Support to the production of a regional study on PVE-WAM integration (Deliverable 5)
  • Substantive contributions to, and substantive feedback during, the drafting and revision of draft reports of the regional study.

Expected duration of assignment

This is an output-based contract. This contract will start on 1 September 2024 and end on 30 September 2025 with the final draft of the regional study agreed by the partners. The timeframe for completion of deliverables is as follows:

• Deliverable 1: Support to the production of the methodology for the regional study. Due date: 30 September 2024
• Deliverable 2: Collection of secondary data, and support to production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers. Due date: 30 November 2024
• Deliverable 3: Support to the collection of primary data, and production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers. Due date: 31 January 2025
• Deliverable 4: Preparation and implementation of a drafting workshop and a consultation workshop. Due Date: 30 June 2025
• Deliverable 5: Support to the production and dissemination of a regional study on PVE-WAM integration. Due date: 30 September 2025

Responsibilities and outputs

Under the direct supervision of a CAAP Researcher, operating under the supervision of the CAAP Head, and in consultation with the UNREC Director, the consultant shall deliver the following services:

Support to the production of the methodology design for the regional study (Deliverable 1)

• Mapping relevant stakeholders at national, regional and continental levels (incl. national PVE and WAM institutions, members of parliament, civil society, PVE and WAM implementation stakeholders, research institutes, United Nations, and regional and continental organizations) that are relevant for the written questionnaire and/or semi-structured online interviews. This also entails integrating feedback from UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA;

• Mapping relevant stakeholders for interviews during field visits (incl. national PVE and WAM institutions, members of parliament, civil society, PVE and WAM implementation stakeholders). This also entails integrating feedback from UNIDIR, UNREC, Swiss FDFA;

• Contributing substantively to and reviewing a written questionnaire, tailored to relevant stakeholders (list of stakeholders as outlined in 1.1);

• Contribute substantively to and reviewing a guide for semi-structured online interviews with relevant stakeholders; and

• Reviewing the outline of the regional study and reviewing the templates for internal analytical UNIDIR background papers (incl. background papers related to field visits).

Support to the collection of secondary data, and support to production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers, written in English (Deliverable 2)

• Providing expert insights and relevant literature on examples of existing good practices of PVE-WAM interconnections, including comprehensive approaches addressing both supply of and demand for weapons in West Africa, at the level of frameworks (normative, policy and strategic), institutional structures and implementation practice. This also includes providing all relevant PVE and WAM frameworks (normative, policy and strategic), mandates of existing PVE and WAM institutions and documentation on key PVE and WAM implementation practice of the 15 West African States and relevant regional and continental organizations; and

• Supporting UNIDIR in a comprehensive literature review, as well as reviewing and providing complementary information for an analytical UNIDIR background paper of good practices of PVE-WAM integration. This also includes, as necessary, supporting UNIDIR in a mapping, in table format, of frameworks, institutional structures and key implementation practice, as well as in drafting a concise UNIDIR background paper regarding PVE-WAM interconnections in them and distilled guidance elements for PVE-WAM integration.

Collection of primary data, and production of internal, analytical UNIDIR background papers, written in English OR French (Deliverable 3)

• Delivering, in a timely manner, an analytical summary of the responses to the written questionnaire, including communicating with questionnaire addressees to prompt returns, identifying potential additional literature for the literature review, as well as identifying relevant stakeholders for follow-up to substantiate and exemplify received information (follow-up in writing or as part of semi-structured online interviews). This also consists of providing regular updates to UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA on the status of the data collection, and joining coordination calls with UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA;

• Preparing and conducting semi-structured online interviews with relevant stakeholders and delivering, in a timely manner, analytical summaries of these interviews, with the dedicated logistical support by UNREC. This also includes identifying potential additional literature for the literature review. This also consists of providing regular updates to UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA on the status of the data collection, and joining coordination calls with partners; and

• With regards to field visits:
  • Preparing substantially and conducting data collection visits to 6 countries in West Africa to document, in a detailed manner, existing and potential good practices of PVE-WAM integration, at the level of frameworks (normative, policy and strategic), institutional structures and implementation practice. This includes scheduling and holding meetings for each country visit, including a grouped visit debrief on key findings for key stakeholders in that country, with the dedicated logistical support by UNREC;
  • Delivering, in a timely manner, analytical summaries of the interviews conducted during each field visit;
  • Delivering, in a timely manner, an analytical UNIDIR background paper (of approximately 5,000 words, in English or French) that documents notably existing and potential good practices for PEV-WAM integration and challenges (country-specific and across countries), distils guidance elements for such integration and entails other relevant findings. The background paper may also include visuals;  
  • Providing regular updates to and joining coordination calls with UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA on the status of the data collection, key findings gathered and lessons learnt of relevance to upcoming field visits.

Preparation and implementation of a drafting workshop and a consultation workshop (Deliverable 4)

• Participating in coordination meetings to prepare the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, in cooperation with UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. This will notably consist of elaborating the agenda and methodology of the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, as well as integrating feedback from UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. UNREC will be responsible for providing dedicated logistical support, including communication with participants;

• Supporting the implementation of the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop, including participating in these workshops, presenting preliminary findings of the regional study and facilitating sessions, in cooperation with UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. UNREC will be responsible for providing dedicated logistical support.

• Providing consolidated summaries of the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop that synthetize participants’ oral and/or written feedback relevant for the finalization of the regional study. This also includes liaising with the partners and support team to (a) ensure that accurate summary notes during the drafting workshop and the consultation workshop are taken, and (b) ensure that the notes taken are made available to the consultant for consolidation and summarization in a timely manner; and

• Under the substantive and logistical lead of UNREC, UNIDIR and the Swiss FDFA, contribute substantively, as needed, to two webinars: (a) a preparatory webinar with participants of the drafting workshop; and (b) a webinar after the drafting workshop on the advancement of the study.

Support to the production and dissemination of a regional study on PVE-WAM integration (Deliverable 5)

• Providing substantive contributions to, and substantive feedback during, the drafting and revision of the draft reports of the regional study, in support of and coordination with UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. This may involve selective, ad hoc research and communication with relevant stakeholders to complement and verify the research findings, as necessary. The consultant will be involved in consultations and coordination with the partners during the drafting and revision process; and

• Under the substantive and logistical lead of the dedicated logistical support by UNREC, UNIDIR and the Swiss FDFA, contribute substantively, as needed, to a webinar to launch the final regional study.

Other duties

6.1   The delivery of any additional task(s) shall be subject to prior approval from the CAAP Senior Researcher and CAAP Head, in consultation with the Director of UNREC.

Schedule for the proposed assignment

An indicative implementation timeline is included in section I. “Tangible and measurable outputs of the consultancy”. The final implementation timeline will be informed by the consultant start date and in accordance with the schedule of the field visits, co-drafting workshop and consultation workshop, with milestones for deliverables established in agreement with the CAAP Researcher, CAAP Head, and the Director of UNREC, at the start of the assignment.

Level of the consultant

The consultant sought for this assessment falls under the fee range of Level C, as described by Annex III, Fee and remuneration levels for consultants and individual contractors, of ST/AI/2013/4. A consultant under fee range of Level C is an individual with extensive relevant professional experience requiring specialized or technical knowledge and skills. Individuals at this level will be expected to develop new approaches, techniques or policies and/or design guidelines, standard operating procedures and a project’s theme. Individuals would be engaged in projects of broad scope and considerable depth that will have an impact on the overall execution of programmes or service of a function or various interrelated areas. Expected outputs of the consultancy at this level may relate, inter alia, to providing technical support; leading group dynamics; and undertaking report drafting or project-wide proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Academic qualifications

• Advanced university degree in international affairs, political science, disarmament and arms control, peace studies, international security or a related field is required for this post.

Experience

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in prevention of violent extremism, armed violence prevention, conventional arms control and/or peace and security in West Africa is required;
• Demonstrable experience of conducting and analyzing semi-structured interviews on sensitive security issues in West Africa is required;
• A proven track record of drafting written outputs and producing policy-relevant publications is required. Experience in drafting multi-stakeholder strategic documents is desirable;
• Experience in research on the links between conventional arms control and prevention of violent extremism or on root causes of armed violence is desirable;
• Experience working in/with, and building strong relationships with, international and regional organizations, national government institutions in West African States, specialized NGOs, think tanks, and/or academic institutions in the fields of conventional arms control, preventing violent extremism, armed violence prevention and/or peace and security is desired;
• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desired.

Language

• For this consultancy, fluency in English and French (both written and oral) is required.

Performance indicators for evaluation of services provided:

Assignments described above are completed to the satisfaction of UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. The non-resident consultant will be evaluated at the end of the contract. Performance indicators include:

• Deadlines for delivery of agreed deliverbales are met.
• Deliverables are provided in the form and quality requested by UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA.
• Key deliverables are addressed to the satisfaction of UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA. To this end, the non-resident consultant shall keep the Researcher, the Head of CAAP, and the Director of UNREC informed at agreed regular intervals as to how the delivery of work is progressing.
• Progress and performance will be measured against a work schedule, which the non-resident consultant shall provide to and agree on with UNIDIR management at the start of the assigment. Over the course of the consultant’s work, reviews, updates and drafts of the work as it stands shall be provided in a timely manner if requested.
• Professional engagement is cooperative and positive. In this regard, the non-resident consultant will work under and consult with the CAAP Researcher, the CAAP Head, and the Director of UNREC to manage unexpected events.

In addition, in this role, the non-resident consultant will demonstrate the following competences:

• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Ability to take ownership and demonstrate a willingness to accept responsibilities. Ability to apply good judgment; exercise a fair degree of autonomy, and personal initiative including to work independently within established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality. Ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially. Knowledge of relevant stakeholders in the field of disarmament and arms control, international security, peace or defence economics.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

The non-resident consultant is to demonstrate at all times the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity.

Travel

Travel is required as part of this assignment. Travel required under this assignment will be organized by UNIDIR in accordance with UN travel rules and regulations. The consultant must complete the United Nations course BSAFE (online) and provide UNIDIR with a certificate of completion.

Budget for the contract

UNIDIR will pay the consultant a total amount of USD 49,000. The payments will be made in four instalments, as follows:

1. The first instalment of USD 15,000 shall be paid upon the successful conclusion of Deliverable 1, and judged to be satisfactory by the Head of CAAP;
2. The second instalment of USD 9,000 shall be paid upon the successful conclusion of Deliverable 2 and Deliverable 3, and judged to be satisfactory by the Head of CAAP;
3. The third instalment of USD 9,000 shall be paid upon the successful conclusion of Deliverable 4 and judged to the satisfaction by the Head of CAAP; and
4. The fourth instalment of USD 16,000 shall be paid upon the successful conclusion of Deliverable 5 and judged to be satisfactory by the Head of CAAP.

Payments are contingent on approval of the services rendered by the consultant by the CAAP Head and UNIDIR senior management in consultation with UNREC Director.

Copyright

Written outputs completed by the consultant under this assignment will be attributed to the partners, with a dedicated acknowledgement of the consultant’s support. All outputs will be edited, fact-, and language-checked by UNIDIR. The consultant is responsible for conducting initial fact- and language-checks on all written outputs prior to submitting drafts to the Head of UNIDIR’s CAAP. UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents, as well as ownership of the intellectual property resulting from work carried out under this assignment. All documents meant for publication must display the logos of UNIDIR, UNREC and Swiss FDFA on front and last pages. All documents must be delivered in both Microsoft Word and PDF format. The consultant warrants that all written outputs are original works or that where they incorporate copyrighted material from another source, this information is cited correctly and the necessary permissions for its use is obtained. The consultant is to provide UNIDIR with written documentation, where applicable, together with the written outputs.

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[1] For UNIDIR, weapons and ammunition management (WAM) is the oversight, accountability and governance of arms and ammunition throughout their management cycle, incl. the establishment of relevant national frameworks, processes and practices for safe and secure materiel acquisition, stockpiling, transfers and end use control, tracing and processing of illicit arms, profiling and treatment of illicit ammunition, weapons collection, and disposal. In the context of this study and this consultancy, taking a holistic approach to WAM is essential to ensure that the study examines both the supply of and demand for weapons and therefore to reflect prevention tools (e.g. CVR) aimed at addressing the root causes of violence. More information on UNIDIR’s approach can be found in: Giezendanner and H. Shiotani, A Reference Methodology for National Weapons and Ammunition Management Baseline Assessments, UNIDIR, 2021, https://unidir.org/publication/reference-methodology-national-weapons-and-ammunition-management-baseline-assessments.

[2] See Section III for further details.