CSOS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, OVERSIGHT AND SMALL-SCALE PROJECT COORDINATION

The Organization

CEFA (The European Committee for Training and Agriculture) is an Italian Non-Governmental Organisation established in 1972 and active in 10 Countries in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. CEFA’s medium- and long-term interventions in agricultural, environmental and Human Rights sector are focused on the sustainable development of the communities, achieved by involving local counterparts and by promoting the active participation of the beneficiaries.

Project Summary

BRIDGES: Building Reconciliation and Peace through Inclusive Dialogue, Gender Equality, Sport and Protection of Cultural Heritage project, is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in Somalia, by a consortium of partner organizations. The consortium is formed by CEFA – European Committee for Training and Agriculture as the lead applicant, and Agency of peace building and Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development as implementing partners. The overall objective of the proposed action, implemented by a Consortium of three Partners with unique technical expertise (CEFA, GECPD, AP), is to empower, strengthen and mobilize Somali civic society actors to lead peace and reconciliation processes, foster freedom of expression, and promote a Human Rights culture in Puntland and Galmudug States of Somalia. The Consortium recognizes the need to expand the concept of Somali identity, from its current emphasis on clan and religious affiliation to a more inclusive “civic identity”. Sports, culture and arts will give importance and meaning to peacebuilding initiatives by bringing people together, bridging the gaps created by identity-based differences, while creating a common identity, based on common aspirations and interests. To achieve this, the specific objectives envisioned by the proposed initiative are: SO1 to strengthen the role of civil society actors, especially women and youth, as lead actors in the promotion of peace and reconciliation processes, and in the dissemination of a culture of human rights, inclusion, and freedom of expression, and SO2 to promote community-driven and owned initiatives to support reconciliation efforts and social cohesion through sport and arts, and create an enabling environment for the development of safe spaces for democratic debate and free artistic expression. Activities will be implemented in 2 targeted States (Puntland and Galmudug), and more specifically in 3 regions highly affected by clan-based conflicts (Mudug, Nugaal and Sool).

In Puntland and Galmudug, the project aims to address several interconnected challenges affecting communities, particularly women and youth. These challenges include the persistence of inter- and intra-clan conflicts that often escalate into violence, displacement, and cycles of retaliation. Deep-rooted mistrust between clans, disputes over land, grazing areas, and natural resources, and the absence of effective land policies and dispute-resolution mechanisms continue to fuel tensions. Conflicts frequently become intertwined with political rivalries and are further exacerbated by the influence of armed groups and local power actors.

The exclusion of youth- and women-led civil society organizations from peacebuilding processes, limited institutional capacity, and the non-conducive operating environment—especially in rural areas—also undermine efforts to promote cohesion. Despite their crucial role in fostering dialogue, protecting rights, and strengthening community resilience, many CSOs lack resources, recognition, and structured avenues for engagement. These factors collectively hinder inclusive governance, reconciliation, and the development of a shared social vision.

The project seeks to overcome these challenges by focusing on four principal components

1. Enhanced understanding of the root causes of social tension and conflicts affecting Somali society, and analysis of the role of culture and sport as a vector to foster community cohesion” will be the first to be achieved, as it produces the knowledge from which opportunities to promote dialogue, reconciliation, and peacebuilding are built
2. Strengthened the capacities of youth and women leaders, artists, and cultural practitioners to exercise positive leadership to prevent conflicts and promote peaceful cohabitation by leveraging on Somali cultural heritage and sports as vectors of unity
3. Constructive dialogue is promoted and peace messages at the heart of the common Somali culture are disseminated among communities, defining culture and sport as key factors for the promotion of peacebuilding processes.
4. Enhanced leadership, influence and agency of Somali women and youth and their organizations through community-based responses addressing social cohesion, freedom of expression and cultural diversity.

The project aims to engage approximately 20 youth- and women-led CSOs, CBOs, and human rights defender groups in Puntland and Galmudug. Through this engagement, the initiative will support young community members to become empowered, active agents of positive change within their communities.

As part of its efforts to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of Civil Society Organizations in Puntland, CEFA is implementing a two-phased approach:

1. A training phase focused on building the skills and competencies of participating CSOs, and
2. A follow-up phase that provides support to selected CSOs (approximately 10) that will receive sub-grants to implement peacebuilding initiatives.

Tasks and Responsibilities of the Consultant

The Consultant will support CEFA in the following tasks, aligned with the objectives of the Bridges project under the CSOs component:

1. Vetting, selection of project proposals and finalization of grants agreements:

• Participate in the review and vetting of project proposals submitted by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance and recommendations for selecting high-potential projects that align with Bridges’s goals.
• Collaborate with CEFA and other partners during the proposal co-creation phase to ensure that the selected projects are feasible, sustainable, and address community needs.
• Prepare project grant agreements for the 10 selected CSOs, ensuring that all legal, financial, and administrative requirements are met.
• Coordinate and follow up on the signing of the Grants agreements with selected CSOs, ensuring timely and efficient completion of the process.
• Ensure that all parties understand their roles and responsibilities as outlined in the agreements.

2. Coordination and support of small-scale project development and implementation:

• Coordinate the development of small-scale projects under the Bridges project, ensuring alignment with the overall project objectives.
• Provide oversight to ensure projects are implemented in a timely and effective manner.
• Work closely with CEFA staff and project partners to ensure coordination and proper resource allocation.
• Identify key challenges and opportunities during implementation and propose solutions or adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Provide technical support and guidance to sub-grantees in the implementation of their projects.

3. Monitoring and continuous evaluation of the small-scale projects:

• Lead the creation and adaptation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) tools tailored to the needs of small-scale projects.
• Ensure that the MEAL framework is integrated into all stages of project implementation for effective tracking of progress and impact.
• Oversee the ongoing monitoring of project activities, ensuring compliance with set objectives and timelines.
• Conduct regular analysis of project data and indicators to assess progress toward the achievement of project goals.
• Facilitate regular communication with sub-grantees to monitor project progress and address emerging challenges.

4. Support to the CSOs and CEFA for the preparation of comprehensive project documentation and reports:

• Ensure thorough documentation of all project phases, from inception to evaluation, including key activities, decisions, and lessons learned.
• Prepare regular progress reports, final project evaluations, and any other required documentation for submission to CEFA and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that all reporting from CSOS is comprehensive, accurate, and delivered within agreed timelines to CEFA.

5. Developing the Evaluation Framework, Planning and Conducting Data Collection:

• Designing a comprehensive framework that includes evaluation questions, objectives, indicators, and methodologies for data collection.
• Creating plans for data gathering, including scheduling and logistics, and executing surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with stakeholders and beneficiaries in Garowe and Galkayo.

6. Preparation of impact and result study for the sub-granted projects

• Analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to assess the impact of the sub-granted projects, identifying trends, challenges, and success factors.
• Compiling a final evaluation report that summarizes findings and recommendations, along with developing presentation materials for stakeholder dissemination.
• Organising and facilitating the final conference for evaluation and result sharing with stakeholders Organizing and leading a workshop to share evaluation findings, fostering dialogue and gathering feedback.
• Being receptive to stakeholder input throughout the evaluation process and integrating it into final outputs.