TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY STUDY OF KENYA PEACE CONFERENCE (KPC) TO ADVISE ON ITS SPACE AND EFFICACY IN THE CURRENT PEACE BUILDING CONTEXT

Background

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. AFSC promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution. As such, we seek to promote the transformation of cultural and societal norms, values, and behaviors to reject violence, with ***Simplicity*, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship** as our values.

Background of KPC

The Kenya Peace Conference (KPC) was established in June 2014 following a conflict analysis study by the American Friends Service Committee. The analysis revealed that since the return of multi-party politics in 1992, Kenya has been experiencing repeated cycles violence during elections. Though linked to hunger for political power, the causes of these conflicts stem from unresolved injustices that date to the colonialization period and that continued with successive governments following the country’s independence. Indeed, most conflicts are outcomes of the flagrant injustices and human rights abuses committed by elites and state institutions. Therefore, building a durable peace involves addressing the underlying causes and sources of violent conflicts. The KPC thus organized the first National Peace Conference in June 2014 as a platform for all concerned actors to chart a roadmap for a more sustained and long-term effort in building and attaining peace in Kenya. The key advocacy issues from the conference were used to develop the priority action plan of the KPC namely;

• Advocating for Parliament to enact the national peace council bill and to ensure that a proper mechanism is in place to implement the Reparation Fund; advocating for mainstreaming of UN Resolution1325; participate in county processes and persuade governors on county budget allocation for peacebuilding and to promote county-level peace policy as some counties have led the way.

Brief Description of KPC

KPC is a national platform that brings together all key actors in peace building together. It is a non-political platform for promoting advocating for peace and justice in the county. Its initial objectives were:

• Advocate for the establishment of the Inter-Agency Committee to administer the Restorative Justice Fund.
• Coordinate efforts at the national and local levels to tap into synergies, and capitalize on different expertise in advancing the peace, justice and security agenda.
• Develop alliances with local institutions to promote quick responses to potential conflicts or conflict-related scenarios.
• Conduct continuous peace meetings at the national and county levels to reinforce the message of peace across Kenya and link the KPC Action Plan to International Peace Day celebrations.
• Engage with all relevant actors including women, youth, and people with disabilities to promote peacebuilding.
• Collaborate with the public to promote peace at local levels as well as supporting and strengthening existing coordination mechanisms at the county level, for example, the County Peace Committees
• Strengthen the caucus for inter-faith dialogue both at the national and local levels, with multi-stakeholder participation.
• Enhance the peacebuilding capacity of youth and appreciate their initiatives and efforts in promoting peace.

Some Achievements

• KPC has worked with CSOs, supported and coordinated them in holding the International Day of Peace 21^st September since 2014.
• KPC has evolved and to address a wide variety of advocacy issues in the country such as successfully advocating for Kenya peace policy (currently peace bill is in parliament), advocating for inclusion of youth in peaceful elections, including monitoring, enhancing the voice of youth in policy development. KPC has continued to enhance collaboration with other actors in enhancing peace in Kenya. The forum has organized peace Dialogue and Exchange Programs with youth in Kenya and across Africa. For example, the forum organized over 100 youth meeting in Nairobi, (Amani youth forum) in 2017, and supported peace campaigns in 47 counties in Kenya.
• Engagement with journalists through Dialogue and Exchange program to sensitise them on peace sensitive messaging, reaching out to the youth through the youth platforms in social media with peace messages among others.
• Participation in the youth parliament lobby in East African Community. Members of KPC have been supported to IGAD, EAC to make presentations to ensure youth voices are heard. More so, ensuring implementation of the UN Resolution 2250.
• AFSC through the KPC platform members has been promoting the SDG 2030, especially SDG 16.
• Providing a safe space where youth, women and local based organizations speak without fear. This has been done through constant engagement of these organizations in planning activities, decision making and running events such Youth Amani festivals.
• Formation of youth network forum across Africa, where youth interact on different topicals issues. The platform is hosted by AFSC (Africa Youth Network) and membership, from Africa. This is acts as a regional advocacy platform though not very active.
• Youth from different parts of Africa have been able to come together and support each other with information on prevention of electoral violence since 2017 through shared security model (ubuntu).

Challenges

• Youthful CSOs which require capacity strengthen to air their views, as well as to strategise on their messaging to the government.
• Weak institutions: They require Institutional strengthening in fundraising, financial and organization management.
• Evidence based research lacking due to low funding for the alliance members.
• Low engagement with mainstream NGOs and INGOs due to different ideologies among the CSOs.
• Africa Youth Network has been slow in interactions on its 3^rd year (formed in 2017) and this requires constant youth engagement and dedicated officials to interact with the youth.
• Weak CSO voices due to leadership challenges.

Aim of the Study

The main aim of the study is to provide AFSC with a deeper understanding of KPC, the challenges the faced by KPC in bringing together peace building CSOs, how to revamp KPC into a strong platform for coordinating and networking with other peacebuilding CSOs, and actors (Stakeholders) in peace building. The Consultancy will provide recommendations on how to revive KPC, making it a strong alliance/network of various actors in peace building as well as a one stop shop on information on peace building especially SDG16.

Objectives:

1. The main objective to undertake a deep understudy of KPC with an objective of understanding its performance, challenges faced by the network.

2. Advise on the initial activities for KPC within the first one year as a way to reviving KPC, including possible research by the network.

3. Give clear recommendations on building KPC into a formidable one stop shop network of information in peace building.

4. Advise on the structure of the network (fluid, with secretariat, how it can be hosted etc).

Expected activities:

The study will involve desk top research and interviews where possible to bring out the following:

1. Read all the documents pertaining the KPC and initial ideas of the platform and familiarize with SDG 16. Its formation, coordination and its agenda.

2. Prepare an interview schedule for CSOs and interview a few listed in annex, AFSC staff and former staff through telephone, face to face or self-administered questionnaire.

3. Spell out activities for KPC for the first year as per the above objectives

4. Present a draft interim structure of KPC

5. Present the findings to AFSC virtually and incorporate feedback

6. Present a final agreeable final report.

Expected outcomes

1. A comprehensive write-up of KPC outlining the achievements, key concerns, challenges, different perspectives and recommendations on how to revive KPC into a strong network of peace building CSOs.

2. A possible structure of KPC, (how the new outlook should look like (fluid body, with a secretariat, how this can be hosted among others).

3. Power point presentation for validation with AFSC at a date to be confirmed.

Dates of the consultancy

This assignment will take a total of not more than 10 days.

How to apply:

If interested in the assignment, kindly send a technical and financial proposal showing how you wish to carry out the consultancy, as well as 3 references (one being on the most recent assignment) to the email below by latest 5.00 p.m. EAT 11^th September 2020.

The Regional Director

On email: infoafrica@afsc.org

The AFSC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.