Conflict Sensitivity Adviser

Job description

Programme Overview

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has contracted NIRAS, in partnership with ONF Andina and GITEC, to implement Pillar 3 of Territorios Forestales Sostenibles (TEFOS 3).

The full TEFOS programme reflects a £64m UK International Climate Finance (ICF) commitment (2020–2026) to support Colombia in reducing deforestation in conflict-affected and high-deforestation rural areas.

The programme operates through three pillars:

1. Strengthening land registry systems (World Bank).
   
   
2. Tackling environmental crime (UNODC).
   
   
3. Promoting sustainable economic opportunities (NIRAS-led consortium).
   
   

TEFOS 3

Supports sustainable livelihoods in deforestation hotspots by:

• Enhancing community skills in sustainable agriculture and forest management.
  
  
• Promoting market access and public-private partnerships for sustainable commodities.
  
  
• Supporting conservation incentives such as PES and conservation agreements.
  
  

The programme aligns with Government of Colombia priorities and will focus on Caquetá (previously also in Guaviare), specifically the Cuemaní deforestation cluster, which accounts for around 15% of Amazon deforestation in recent years.

Following a shift in geographical focus and shortened contract duration (38 to 30 months), the TEFOS 3 team structure has been re-designed to meet delivery goals within the new timeframe.

Role and Responsibilities

The Conflict Sensitivity Adviser ensures that all TEFOS 3 activities are designed and implemented through a conflict-sensitive lens.

This involves analysing how changes in territorial economic dynamics from TEFOS 3 interventions could trigger, worsen, or mitigate armed conflict.

This includes assessing how new value chains could affect power dynamics or benefit illicit actors, and recommending strategies to minimise unintended consequences.

Key responsibilities:

• Analyse:
• Socio-economic tensions (e.g., between project beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries).
  
  
• Interactions between sustainable livelihoods and illicit economies (illegal mining, drug trafficking).
  
  
• Governance impacts of incentive allocation (e.g., PES, Conservar Paga).
  
  
• Develop an initial Conflict Sensitivity Analysis Report in coordination with the British Embassy.
  
  This report will include:
• Contextual conflict understanding
• Stakeholder mapping
• Legal/policy framework
• Conflict risk and mitigation analysis
• Economic-productive risks (e.g., social exclusion, market distortion, armed actor co-optation)
• Provide quarterly report updates and a dedicated chapter on the economic sensitivity of TEFOS 3 interventions to conflict dynamics.
  
  
• Deliver monthly reporting on evolving conflict risks and trends.
  
  
• Support TEFOS 3 staff in integrating conflict sensitivity across planning and implementation:
• Advise on potential impacts of project activities on conflict dynamics.
  
  
• Recommend conflict mitigation approaches.
  
  
• Assess how conflict dynamics may affect delivery.
  
  
• Support fieldwork and travel to project sites, including Cartagena del Chairá.
  
  
• Update and maintain the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) and contribute to its refinement.
  
  
• Liaise closely with the British Embassy Political Team , serving as a key link between TEFOS 3 and FCDO on conflict-related matters.
  
  
• Facilitate secure grievance mechanisms for project-affected families to inform future design and delivery.
  
  
• Use and regularly update the Conflict Response (CORE) tool for conflict monitoring and analysis.
  
  
• As part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) , collaborate on mitigation protocols in response to conflict or unrest.
  
  
• Support updates to the programme risk matrix related to evolving conflict conditions.
  
  
• Establish a stakeholder engagement protocol for TEFOS 3 activities, defining contact points, methods, frequency, ownership, and anticipated challenges.
  
  

Expertise Required

• Undergraduate degree (Master’s preferred) in Political Economy, Development Economics, Peace & Conflict Studies, International Relations, International Law, or related fields.
  
  
• Minimum 5 years’ experience analysing economic dynamics in conflict-affected areas, ideally in the Amazon region.
  
  
• Strong understanding of how sustainable livelihoods interact with conflict dynamics in fragile territories.
  
  
• In-depth knowledge of Colombia’s armed conflict history, peace agreement frameworks, regional actors, and grievances.
  
  
• Prior experience integrating conflict sensitivity into development projects ; familiarity with Political Economy Analysis (PEA) is an asset.
  
  
• Experience with local community engagement and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) principles.
  
  
• Field experience in the Colombian Amazon , especially in TEFOS target areas.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience on donor-funded programmes , preferably UK-funded.
  
  
• Excellent analytical, communication, and technical writing skills in Spanish (and ideally English).
  
  

Timeframe and Input

This is a part-time consultancy role, with up to 180 days of input between now and end of 2026 (approx.

12.8 days/month).

Deliverables

• Initial Conflict Sensitivity Analysis Report
• Quarterly updates to the analysis
• Monthly risk reports
• Contributions to PMU meetings and risk analysis
• Regular updates to CORE and PEA tools

Reporting Line

Reports to the TEFOS 3 Team Leader at NIRAS.

Close collaboration with the Delivery Lead and British Embassy Political Team.

Required Skill Profession

Gestión Informática Y Gestión De Proyectos Informáticos