Political Normalization Consultant

Strengthening Unified Systems for Transformation, Accountability, Inclusion and Normalization of the Bangsamoro (“SUSTAIN”)Terms and Reference for Political Normalization ConsultantYou may view and download full Terms of Reference here.I. BACKGROUNDNonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is an international civil society organization dedicated to the protection of civilians in violent conflict through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). NP works in partnership with local communities, civil society, and authorities to prevent violence, strengthen peace infrastructures, and support inclusive peace processes.In the Philippines, NP has operated since 2007, with sustained engagement in the Bangsamoro region. NP contributes to civilian protection, early warning and response, and conflict-sensitive peacebuilding that promotes inclusive participation of women, youth, and conflict-affected populations.The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) provides the framework for long-term peace through democratic governance, normalization, and inclusive development. The Normalization Track specifically addresses political reintegration, confidence-building, and institutional strengthening necessary to transition from armed conflict to sustainable peace.The EU-funded SUSTAIN Project supports these objectives by enhancing political reintegration, inclusive leadership, and stakeholder trust while mitigating risks such as factional tensions and election-related violence. Given the political sensitivity and evolving dynamics of normalization, specialized advisory expertise is required to ensure that project interventions remain:* Politically feasible * Conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm compliant * Strategically aligned with CAB commitmentsII. OBJECTIVESThe consultancy aims to provide strategic support to the SUSTAIN Project in advancing the normalization process in the Bangsamoro region. The primary goal is to help ensure that project activities remain aligned with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and its Normalization Track, while being responsive to the evolving political context. This includes offering timely political advice and analysis to anticipate risks, guide adaptive programming, and maintain trust among stakeholders. This consultancy operationalizes the role of the Political Normalization Consultant as defined under Grant Contract 485-377, Annex I_C – Roles and Contribution of Consultants.The consultant will contribute to strengthening the quality and relevance of project interventions by ensuring that training modules, knowledge products, and communications uphold conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm principles. Support will also extend to mentoring former combatants, emerging leaders, and community actors in peacebuilding and political engagement, as well as advising on strategies for stakeholder dialogue and discreet engagement. In addition, the role involves providing technical input on policy and legislative proposals, contributing to scenario planning and early warning systems, and helping capture lessons learned to inform adaptive learning and future programming.The consultant will:* Provide non-binding political analysis and strategic advice relevant to SUSTAIN implementation. * Strengthen adaptive programming through risk analysis, scenario planning, and early-warning insights. * Ensure training, knowledge products, and communications meet conflict-sensitivity and do-no-harm standards. * Provide technical advisory guidance to inform mentorship and leadership-support approaches within project activities (without direct mentoring or facilitation). * Support project-level stakeholder engagement strategies and knowledge management for adaptive learning.III. METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF WORKThe consultant will provide analytical and technical advisory inputs through desk review, consultations, and limited field engagement as approved.No direct implementation, facilitation, representation, or institutional function is foreseen.1. Political Alignment and Strategic AdviceProvide project-specific, non-binding political and technical advice, upon request, to support alignment of SUSTAIN activities with the CAB Normalization Track. Inputs are limited strictly to project design, implementation, and adaptive management and do not constitute institutional authority.2. Real-Time Political Risk AnalysisGenerate analytical advisory outputs on political and conflict dynamics that may affect the SUSTAIN project. These analyses inform project-level risk awareness, scenario planning, and adapt programming only, without monitoring or oversight authority.3. Conflict Sensitivity and Quality AssuranceProvide technical review observations, when requested, on project training materials, knowledge products, and communications to support conflict-sensitive and inclusive implementation. This role is advisory only and does not include approval or endorsement authority.4. Advisory Support to Leadership and Reintegration ApproachesProvide technical guidance on mentorship methodologies and leadership-support approaches relevant to SUSTAIN activities.5. Stakeholder Engagement and Dialogue ConsiderationsProvide context-specific advisory inputs, upon request, to inform project-level dialogue, trust-building, and discreet engagement strategies. No mediation, representation, or convening authority is implied.6. Technical Input on Policy or Legislative ProposalsProvide project-specific, non-binding technical observations, upon request, on selected policy or legislative proposals only where directly linked to SUSTAIN objectives and implementation context. Such inputs do not constitute an institutional, governance, or decision-making function.7. Scenario Planning and Early-Warning ConsiderationsDevelop analytical scenarios and mitigation inputs relevant to potential developments affecting SUSTAIN. Outputs are for internal project planning only and do not create institutional early-warning mandates.8. Knowledge Management and Adaptive LearningDocument lessons learned and contextual insights emerging from SUSTAIN to inform evidence-based project adaptation. No external evaluative or institutional reporting role is foreseen.IV. DELIVERABLES AND INDICATIVE SCHEDULEThe following table outlines the key deliverables of the Political Normalization Consultant. The consultancy is part-time and intermittent in nature and may extend for a maximum period of twenty-four (24) months, from February 2026 to January 2028, counted from contract commencement to submission of the final technical report. The engagement shall not be continuous or full-time, but rather deployed on an as-needed basis across the implementation period, in accordance with approved workplans and evolving project requirements.The level of effort is estimated at an average of eight (8) to ten (10) working days per month when engaged, with periods of non-engagement possible depending on activity timelines and advisory needs. Any engagement beyond this indicative level of effort shall require prior written approval from Nonviolent Peaceforce and, where applicable, the European Union.The consultancy shall be home-based within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) or elsewhere in Mindanao, ensuring proximity to the project context and stakeholders. Applicants residing outside Mindanao may be considered only where sustained physical presence in BARMM/Mindanao for the duration of the assignment or during pre-approved travel missions can be demonstrated.The consultant is expected to undertake periodic, pre-approved travel to Cotabato City and other target areas within BARMM and adjacent Mindanao provinces as required to deliver project-specific advisory support. Travel, accommodation, and related mission costs incurred during such approved field engagements shall form part of the consultant’s professional fee. These costs shall not be charged to the specific SUSTAIN project activity to which the consultant is directly providing technical or advisory support, instead be subsumed in the Consultant’s professional fee package.All outputs listed below are advisory and technical-support products intended to guide and strengthen the work of Nonviolent Peaceforce and its partners under the SUSTAIN project. They do not involve direct implementation, facilitation, or delivery of activities, which remain the responsibility of NP staff and partners, in line with Annex I_C.You may view full Terms of Reference for full information on scope and required output.V. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANTIn close cooperation with the programme’s unit, particularly the Head of Mission and Program Manager, the consultant will:1. Coordinate all activities with NP to ensure smooth preparation and implementation of the actions on the ground. 2. Submit regular progress reports on the implementation of the activities under the consultancy, which will be shared with the European Union as contracting authority of the programme 3. Implement the activities as mentioned in the scope of work of the consultant 4. Regularly review, assess and evaluate the implementation achievement of the consultancyVI. EXPECTED OUTPUTThe consultant will provide advisory and analytical outputs that ensure project activities remain politically sensitive, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) normalization track. Draft outputs should be submitted according to the agreed schedule, and the consultant will organize an in-person or virtual review session with project staff to discuss comments and suggestions. Relevant feedback must be incorporated into the final outputs.Final deliverables should include:* Cover Page * Acknowledgment * Glossary/Acronyms * Executive Summary * Introduction * Methodology (including approach for political analysis and conflict sensitivity review) * Scope and Limitations * Findings (political risk analysis, stakeholder mapping, conflict sensitivity review) * Recommendations (for adaptive programming, dialogue strategies, and training improvements) * Appendices, including: * Advisory notes and risk analysis briefs * Stakeholder mapping tools * Scenario planning matrices * Reviewed training materials and communication guidelines * List of consultations, workshops, and coordination meetings supportedThe main report should not exceed 50 pages (excluding appendices). In addition, the consultant will present the most significant findings and recommendations to NP and implementing partners through a briefing session.VII. COPYRIGHT AND OWNERSHIP OF THE STUDYAll reports, studies, analyses, datasets, presentations, training materials, advisory notes, knowledge products, and any other outputs developed by the consultant under this consultancy (collectively referred to as the “Deliverables”) shall be considered works made for hire and shall become the exclusive property of Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) upon creation and/or full payment of the corresponding professional fees.NP shall retain full and unrestricted rights to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, disseminate, or otherwise utilize the Deliverables, in whole or in part, in any format or medium, for programmatic, institutional, learning, advocacy, reporting, donor-compliance, or public-information purposes, without the need for further consent from, or compensation to, the consultant.In line with the funding arrangements of the European Union-supported SUSTAIN Project, NP may share, publish, or grant access to the Deliverables to the European Union, implementing partners, government counterparts, civil society stakeholders, and other authorized third parties for purposes related to project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, audit, accountability, visibility, and knowledge dissemination, consistent with applicable contractual and legal requirements.The consultant shall:* Not claim ownership over the Deliverables once produced under this contract; * Not publish, reproduce, or disseminate the Deliverables, in whole or in part, without prior written authorization from NP; * Ensure that all Deliverables are original work and do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of third parties; * Properly acknowledge any external sources, data, or references used in accordance with accepted academic and professional standards.Nothing in this section shall prevent the consultant from:* Listing the assignment in their professional portfolio or curriculum vitae; * Referencing non-confidential aspects of the work for professional or academic purposes, provided that prior written consent from NP is obtained where required and confidential or sensitive information is not disclosed.All Deliverables and related information shall be treated as confidential, unless formally released by NP.These provisions shall survive the completion or termination of the consultancy.VIII. PROFESSIONAL FEE AND MODE OF PAYMENTThe professional fee amounting to (P7,500,000) will be inclusive of tax, and the payment will be done according to the following arrangement:InstalmentsAmountDeliverables/Milestones1st instalment15% of the total amount· 1 Approved Inception Report and Advisory Workplan· Initial Political Context & Stakeholder Mapping Brief2 documents2nd instalment15% of the total amount· 4 Political Risk Analysis Reports (from total of 24)· 2 Strategic Advisory Notes / Guidance Briefs (from total of 8)· Minimum 2 Technical Review Notes on training/IEC/communications (on-need outputs)8 advisory documents3rd instalment15% of the total amount· 6 Additional Political Risk Analysis Reports (cumulative 10/24)· 2 Mentorship Advisory Notes (from total 26)· 2 Stakeholder-engagement / dialogue advisory notes10 advisory documents4nd instalment15% of the total amount· 1 Scenario Planning & Risk-Mitigation Paper (from total 2)· 2 Policy Review Briefs (from total 6)· 2 Lessons-Learned Advisory Briefs (from total 6)· 4 Additional Political Risk Analysis Reports (cumulative 14/24)9 advisory documents5th instalment20% of the total amount· 8 Additional Political Risk Analysis Reports (cumulative 22/24)· 4 Mentorship Advisory Notes (cumulative 6/26)· 2 Strategic Advisory Notes (cumulative 4/8)· 2 Technical Review Notes (minimum additional)· 2 Lessons-Learned Advisory Briefs (cumulative 4/6)18 advisory documents6th instalment20% of the total amount· Final 2 Political Risk Analysis Reports (24/24 completed)· Final 2 Strategic Advisory Notes (6/8 minimum delivered or all remaining)· Final 2 Policy Review Briefs (6/6 completed)· Final 2 Lessons-Learned Briefs (6/6 completed)· 1 Final Advisory Technical Report (≤ 50 pages)· 1 Final Briefing/Presentation to NP & partners8 deliverables (including final report & presentation)The payments will be made in A/C payee cheques in the name of the consultant/company.IX. QUALIFICATION OF THE MAIN CONSULTANTThe consultant shall demonstrate relevant expertise, professional credibility, and con…