Early Warning and Early Response (Ewer) Intern at Search for Common Ground (SFCG) - Adamawa and Taraba

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Early Warning and Early Response (Ewer) Intern

Locations: Adamawa and Taraba
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Project 

• Search will be implementing an 18-month project with an overall goal to contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa and Taraba states of Nigeria.
• The overall goal is supported by four specific objectives and is integrated across consortium partners to play to the strengths and experience of partners, encourage adaptability of the project and contribute to elevated impact. The objectives are highlighted below: 
  • Specific Objective 1: Strengthened traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.
  • Specific Objective 2: Improved trust in authorities.
  • Specific Objective 3: Enhanced collaboration on natural resource management.
  • Specific Objective 4: Improved intra and inter-communal perceptions.
• Search working in consortium with Mercy Corps and IOM will be combining an iterative series of training, Early warning tracking and reporting, media activities, and engagement with policymakers and relevant stakeholders to meet the project goal and objectives.  COMITAS will cover LGAs and communities are in Adamawa State -Demsa (New Demsa, Kpasham, Borrong, Bille, and Dong), Girei (Tambo and Gerreng), Numan (Gamadio and Kodompti), Lamurde – (Waduku and Gyawana), Guyuk (Dumna and Bamjiram), Shelleng (Shelleng and Libbo), and Mayo Belwa (Gengle, Ndikong and Gorobi), and in Taraba State – Lau (Abbare and Lau) and Zing (Monkin A, and Monkin B).
• Search’s expertise in community mobilization will be used to mobilize an early response to address the early warning signals. To achieve this, Search will formally establish community response networks.
• These will include religious leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, school teachers, representatives of the Police, Union representatives, e.g. Nigerian Union of Road and Transport Workers Community Response Workers (NURTW), representatives of community-based organizations, and representatives of farmer and herder associations.
• These structures will be trained extensively to achieve the results in the project locations. 

Objective for the Engagement of an EWER Intern

• The EWER component of the COMITAS Project is in need of interns who will provide support towards achieving a proactive and reactive environment in our 22 project communities across Taraba and Adamawa State. This medium is a sequel to the project communities’ responses; as it relates to Early Warning Early Response (EWER). The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System) data will be stored in a database.
• The objective of the IVR System is primarily, to support the various levels of engagement for real-time responses to the project community structures within and around the various project communities as well as other assigned deliverables on the COMITAS-II project.
• S/he will work under the direct supervision of the EWER Coordinator and in close coordination with the Project team. The position is based in Yola and Jalingo with frequent travel to the field when needed.

The Roles and Responsibilities

• Receiving calls through the IVR system from project communities and providing accurate, satisfactory answers to their queries and concerns on Early Warning security threats within project communities.
• Manage and de-escalate situations involving violent conflicts in the project communities; offering real-time assistance and support to the necessary response unit(s) for short, medium, or long-term assistance.
• Call CRN, CSAD, and community mobilizers and observers to collate, inform and ascertain information periodically within their communities for further data analysis.
• Record all IVR calls from all the 10 project communities for onward transmission to the database backup for storage.
• Collaborate and triangulate information with security agencies, community influencers on any other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide feedback to the EWER Coordinator in real-time on early warning signals and/or events.
• Provide diligent, resourceful, and timely information to the EWER Team for storage on the back-end database of the EWER System
• Be discreet with sharing sensitive information security information to persons who may not be assigned.
• Provide other necessary support to the team relating to the project.
• Perform any other task as may be assigned by the supervisor.
• Understands, explains, and shares information on assigned tasks with accuracy and clarity to those assigned on deliverables. 
• Demonstrate regular and consistent communication skills and frequency with supervisors, colleagues, security agencies, and all project communities.

Required Educational Qualification and Experience

• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication, Political Science, Conflict and Peacebuilding Studies, International Relations, Sociology, Psychology, or related fields; 
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and in a diverse workplace.
• Had volunteered with Search or any other INGO/NGO and understand Search’s ethics.
• Has attended Search’s training in the past (desired but not required)
• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize workflow to tight time frames and handle multiple tasks.
• Has a good understanding of the context in the five Local Government Areas we are working in.

Skills Required:

•  Analytical skills – the ability to analyze data from different perspectives
• Interpersonal, Coordination, and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Understanding English, Hausa, and Fulfulde languages is a plus factor
• Ability to work under stringent deadlines with acute attention to detail.
• Self-starter with the ability to manage time effectively.
• Have a fair working knowledge of IT tools (e.g. Internet, MS Office, and Excel).

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.