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

Other General