Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organisation that promotes the peaceful transformation of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organisations, and governments deal with conflict, moving away from destructive approaches and towards cooperative solutions. With more than 700 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and North America. Search for Common Ground has fully integrated the Lake Chad Basin Programme, representing a strategic, multi-dimensional, and coordinated conflict transformation initiative across Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad.
The Nigeria Office is part of Search’s Lake Chad Basin Country Programme which leverages a mature, nationwide operational platform in Nigeria established in 2004, a strategically expanding mission in Cameroon officially registered in August 2023, and a purposefully re-established presence in Chad returned in 2023 following an initial operational phase from 2011 to 2017. Fundamentally grounded in rigorous, locally validated conflict analysis and deploying our signature Common Ground methodology, the programme systematically empowers women and youth as central agents of peace, strengthens indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms, and mainstreams peacebuilding objectives into humanitarian and development frameworks through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Project Officer (EWER)
Location: Benue or Nasarawa
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Summary
- Search for Common Ground is seeking experienced Project Officers (Early Warning and Early Response Officers) for an 18-month European Union-funded project.
- Implemented in partnership with consortium co-applicants, the project aims to reduce religious and intergroup violence in Benue and Nasarawa States by strengthening multi-level early warning and rapid response systems.
- The Project/Early Warning and Early Response Officer will support the implementation of community-based early warning, conflict prevention, and mitigation activities across Benue and Nasarawa States
- . The successful candidate will coordinate community early warning observers, verify and analyze incident reports, facilitate timely information sharing, and prepare high-quality monthly reports.
- The officer will work closely with community-based EWER structures and other key stakeholders to strengthen local capacities for conflict prevention and rapid response.
- The position reports to the Senior Social Cohesion / EWER Officer and collaborates closely with other project and country office support staff to ensure effective implementation of project activities. Successful candidates will be based in either Benue or Nasarawa State.
- This 18-month action aims to strengthen conflict prevention, rapid response, community resilience, and psychosocial support systems in Benue and Nasarawa States by improving coordination among communities, government authorities, security actors, and protection service providers.
- Implemented by Search for Common Ground in partnership with Terres des Hommes (Tdh), the project combines strengthened Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems, including training, Community Safety and Resilience Committees, State Conflict Monitoring Situation Rooms, and livelihood support, with integrated mental health, psychosocial, and protection services.
- Through these complementary interventions, the project seeks to reduce violence, address its underlying drivers and impacts, strengthen rapid response and conflict management capacities, and promote trauma healing, social cohesion, and trust between communities and institutions.
The design of the action centres around two activity streams detailed below:
- Stream 1 will strengthen the rapid response and conflict management capacity of authorities and community stakeholders at local, state, and national levels to address and respond to grievances, security threats, and conflict triggers in Benue and Nasarawa States through enhanced Situation Rooms, structured dialogue, and interfaith engagement.
- Stream 2 will improve access for women, children, youth, and other conflict-affected groups to integrated, community-based psychosocial support and protection services that support trauma healing, resilience, dignity, and promote trust between communities and institutions.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Support the Senior Social Cohesion / EWER Officer in managing and strengthening the Early Warning System (EWS) and integrated coordination hub in Benue or Nasarawa State, under the guidance of the National Conflict and Policy Analyst.
- Coordinate and facilitate monthly meetings with Community Observers (COs) to strengthen information sharing, coordination, and response planning.
- Ensure the timely receipt, verification, documentation, analysis, and dissemination of incident reports submitted by Community Observers and other stakeholders to enable rapid and coordinated responses.
- Compile, analyze, and produce weekly early warning reports and monthly analytical updates for internal use, donors, and relevant stakeholders.
- Develop and disseminate bi-weekly Early Warning bulletins in both print and electronic formats for government institutions, security actors, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Present and share conflict trend analyses and early warning findings with Search's peace structures and other relevant coordination platforms to inform conflict prevention and response.
- Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and notable responses generated through the Early Warning System.
- Provide programmatic, operational, and logistical support to the Senior Social Cohesion / EWER Officer to ensure the effective implementation of project activities.
- Contribute to the preparation of high-quality donor reports, project updates, and other technical documentation.
- Support research, conflict analysis, and evidence-generation activities to inform project implementation, learning, and adaptive management.
- Collaborate with programme staff to strengthen, refine, and continuously improve the design and functionality of the Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system.
- Provide technical and coordination support to implementing partners, government institutions, and community stakeholders under the supervision of the EWER Coordinator.
- Prepare and submit timely weekly and monthly progress reports to the Senior Social Cohesion / EWER Officer and relevant country office teams
- As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties broadly in line with the above key duties.
Education
- A Degree in Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, Peacebuilding, Conflict Management, or a relevant field;
Required Experience:
- At least three (3) years of experience in early warning and conflict management or related fields
- Have supported the implementation of similar Early Warning and Early Response initiatives in Nigeria and the North Central Region
- Relevant experience working in the non-profit and NGO sector or institutions providing conflict early warning and early response services.
- Some level of experience with using conflict analysis tools;
- Some level of experience in working with government officials, NGOs and communities;
- Understanding of the social, political, and economic context of the North Central region and how it impacts conflict drivers and conflict in Benue and Nasarawa states and targeted communities.
Other Relevant Requirements:
- Good knowledge of the local languages will be an asset.
- Knowledge of civil society organizations, government agencies, private sector companies, and international development agencies, with experience of working in partnership within some of these sectors;
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment and strong interpersonal skills;
- Commitment to Search’s aims and a clear understanding of the links between policy, lobbying, campaigning, and how policy change can be achieved through effective advocacy;
- Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;
- Good knowledge of the political, economic, and social dimensions of the North Central region
- Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment;
- Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the EW/ER field;
- Basic financial management skills;
- Knowledge of other languages spoken in the States will be an advantage;
- Strong command of English language, with excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal communication skills;
- A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace; and
- Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize workflow to tight time frames, handle multiple tasks, and be flexible with changing priorities.
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrate integrity and promote Search values and ethical standards;
- Promote the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of Search;
- Demonstrate capacity to adapt to a multi-cultural context, tolerance, and respect for issues related to gender, religion, race, and nationality;
- Proficiency in the use of MS Office and MS Excel is required.