Partnership to Support Conflict Analysis and Global Policy work for Peacebuilding

Organisational & research team profile

The following organisational characteristics are expected by Search for this assignment :

• Independent organisation, research or academic center, or thinktank
• Established expertise in conflict analysis in multiple countries and ideally multiple continents
• Established knowledge networks in multiple conflict affected countries
• Proven track record in developing actionable recommendations for policy makers;
• Understanding of the peacebuilding world;
• Legitimacy: Well known and respected in this field, with access to relevant policymakers and practitioners; not politically affiliated
• Ability to convene a variety of stakeholders
• Language: Ability to produce the agreed deliverables in English and French, and additional relevant languages for the selected contexts would be a plus (Arabic etc.)
• Excellent writing and presenting skills
• Strong contractual and compliance expertise

Application process and evaluation criteria

Interested candidate organisations are invited to submit the following documentation through our career portal, UKG , no later than 1 March 2026:

• An organisational capacity statement, outlining the profile of the candidate organisation, with specific reference to the desired characteristics listed above
• Specific listing of countries where the organisation has existing conflict analysis expertise and knowledge networks, including countries where Search has programmes, but also those countries where Search does not have programmes
• An overview of the CV’s of the principal people who would be involved in this project, including the main liaison person for Search;
• A narrative proposal for work deliverables- also include a brief reflection on power dynamics in policymaking, your own positionality and how you would handle including local peace actors’ insights into your analysis, and working with local actors in briefings for policymakers. (max 6 pages)
• A budget proposal with a detailed breakdown per suggested deliverable, per year

Selection will be made based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the organisational profile and employees’ CV’s;
• Expertise with policy-oriented analysis and global advocacy in multiple contexts
  Understanding of the peacebuilding world (differentiated from humanitarian/development world)
• Excellence in written and oral communication
• Geographic spread of expertise and of established networks
• Quality, relevance and coherence of the proposal;
• Cost-effectiveness of the financial offer.

For any questions regarding this assignment, please contact the following email address: brussels@sfcg.org

 

 

 

About Search for Common Ground

Founded in 1982, Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organisation working to end violent conflict and build healthy, safe, and just societies. Using innovative tools, Search seeks to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches, towards cooperative solutions. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and Washington, DC, Search is present in 30 countries with over 400 employees worldwide.

Context

Fragility and violent conflicts risk undermining global efforts to reach the SDGs. Only 20% of fragile and conflict-affected countries are on track to achieve their targets by 2030, with millions of people at risk of being left behind. Since World War II, global institutions have struggled to adapt to the evolving nature of conflict, which has become more violent, complex, and widespread, undermining social cohesion and sustainable development. Despite clear evidence that long-term, locally driven peacebuilding is effective, international responses often prioritize short-term, reactive strategies focused on economic development or security. This sidelining of grassroots efforts weakens the social contract and fails to address root causes, leading to fragile peace rather than sustainable peace. Meanwhile, international institutions often fail to incorporate local insights, data and narratives into their strategies and policies, reflecting a power asymmetry that is persisting. At the same time funding for conflict prevention and peacebuilding is at its lowest level in 15 years. The peacebuilding field also struggles to present a unified, evidence-based case for its value, often relying on short-term reporting that misses deeper, long-term impacts, while also needing to make the case on desirability of peacebuilding, as increasing polarisation has led to a reduced willingness to have dialogue across dividing lines to find common ground. This will require broadening the sector’s messaging and messengers. To shift this paradigm, decisionmakers should reshape policies and practices that consider more centrally the needs and insights of local communities affected by fragility and conflict, and invest in sustained action for conflict prevention and sustainable peace.

About the project

Search has been awarded funding by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Grant Policy Framework Contributing to Peaceful and Safe Societies (CPSS) 2024-2031. Under this framework Search is making the case for peacebuilding, using compelling evidence-based case studies on long-term peacebuilding interventions which centre local decision-making and leadership. The From Grassroots to Global (G2G) project aims to empower local actors in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) to meaningfully and durably influence multi-level peacebuilding practices and policies that contribute to strengthening peaceful and safe societies, taking into account the barriers that they face and co-developing safe advocacy mechanisms. Activities are implemented in 4 programme countries (currently Afghanistan, DRC, Niger and Palestine) as well as at global level. There is a consistent feedback loop between advocacy and implementation levels.

Objective of the assignment

We are looking for a partnership that will help us to strengthen the case for peacebuilding, increasing our global thought leadership by connecting the field experience of Search for Common Ground with top notch conflict analysis directed at policy makers at national and international level. For this partnership, we are looking for partners who can analyse conflicts in specific countries and make analytical connections across multiple conflict-affected countries, ideally including several of the 4 programme countries.

In collaboration with Search’s Global Affairs team, the selected partner would be responsible for:

• Regularly developing quick analyses of shifting conflict contexts, drawing on both their own existing knowledge networks as well as inputs from Search’s and Search partners’ programming teams;
• Developing oral and written recommendations and products for tailored audiences (policymakers, donors and journalists)
• Connecting analysis of specific contexts with global analysis, drawing comparisons and sharing insights
• Expanding Search’s reach through occasionally organising briefings, events and other strategic convenings of policymakers, donors and sometimes journalists

The policy partnership would contribute to the outcome of the programme by increasing Search’s policy impact, expertise, support-base and networks.

We aim to collaborate with the selected policy partner(s) for a period of up to three years, under the G2G framework.

Key tasks and deliverables

The assignment will need to be adapted to the selected contexts and budget, but would entail some of the following key tasks and deliverables:

• Regular data collection, including field research, via own established knowledge networks, in multiple conflict contexts
• Regular collaboration with the Search Global Affairs team, country offices and partners to deepen conflict analysis
• Tailored written analysis for a range of outputs (e.g. email updates, policy briefs, white papers, etc.)
• Tailored oral analysis for a range of outputs (e.g. bilateral briefings, presentations, workshops, events, etc.)
• Ad hoc capacity strengthening for programming staff to identify relevant input for policy & analysis
• Occasionally organising a convening of policy makers relevant for the selected contexts for briefings (online)
• Supporting Search to position in the wider discourse, based on our unique added value

The exact deliverables will be agreed upon during the selection phase in consultation with the Search’s Global Affairs and Partnerships Team.

Collaboration and reporting lines

The selected candidate organisations will coordinate and collaborate with Search’s Global Affairs Team, with connections as relevant to Global Programmes Team, Global resourcing team, and Impact team, as well as any relevant Search country offices.

Timeline and budget

The budget available is 160.000-200.000 EUR (April 2026-March 2029) all costs included, and would take the form of a service contract.

Contracted organisations will be solely responsible for payment of all applicable taxes and other charges as required by national and/or local law.

We will select one partner organisation for a partnership of up to 3 years. As our budget becomes available on an annual basis, we offer a multi-year contract with the funding obligated for Year 1, and then the budget for the contract for subsequent years will be negotiated on an annual basis.