Consultant - West and Central Africa Crisis Analysis Lead: Benin and Nigeria Cross border Trends Analysis - Remote

Background: 

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. 

Purpose / Consultancy Description: 

The consultancy aims to deliver actionable insights and tools to address gaps in localized understanding of cross-border trends and their impact on human security and conflict resilience in communities along the Benin-Nigeria border. Mercy Corps aims at employing its Crisis Analysis expertise and operational presence in the region to deliver two main analytical products:  

• Comprehensive Report on Socio-Economic and Security Dynamics: This report will analyze how socio-economic trends, such as women-led informal trade, gendered vulnerabilities, and agricultural challenges, interact with security concerns like violent extremism, organized crime, and farmer-herder conflicts. It will also explore the implications of population movements, including economic migration and forced displacement, and governance gaps affecting border stability. Data will be gathered through a mixed-methods approach, including both qualitative fieldwork and the integration of existing quantitative and qualitative sources, to provide a holistic view of conflict drivers and community resilience mechanisms. 

• Dynamic Conflict Monitoring of Herder-Farmer Conflicts: A mini-series of visual briefs will focus on farmer-herder conflicts, utilizing innovative tools like geospatial analysis, satellite-derived environmental indicators (e.g., NDVI and NDWI), and text mining from social media and local communication channels. These tools will identify resource stress hotspots, monitor triggers of disputes, and provide real-time insights into emerging tensions. The deliverables will support stakeholders in preempting conflicts, developing sustainable resource management strategies, and enhancing community resilience. 

In collaboration with the existing Mercy Corps teams (Global Crisis Analysis WCA Analyst, T4D/GIS Analyst, field teams), the consultant will deliver visually engaging reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement sessions (webinar), enabling decision-makers (including donors), implementing partners, and other stakeholders to apply the findings in policy and programmatic interventions. 

Expected Deliverables 

• Inception Report 

• Annotated bibliography (or overview of secondary resources to be used, including quantitative data) 

• Product methodology, timeline, staffing, RACI and scope of the consultancy (including necessary inputs from Mercy Corps teams) 

• Product 1: Comprehensive Report 

• Analysis of socio-economic and security dynamics in border areas. 

• Sections on women-led trade, labor migration, violent extremism, and population movement patterns. 

• Visualizations such as maps and dashboards to enhance understanding. 

• “So what” section focusing on recommendations to diverse stakeholders 

• Product 2: Dynamic Monitoring Briefs 

• 2-3 Briefs or factsheets focused on farmer-herder conflicts dynamics and evolution 

• Contextualized insights from satellite imagery, environmental indicators, and social media/text analysis 

• Identification of conflict hotspots and early warning mechanisms. 

• “So what” section focusing on recommendation and sense-making to diverse stakeholders 

• Presentations and Stakeholder Engagement Outputs 

• Slide decks summarizing findings (in English and French) 

• Internal stakeholder feedback sessions to validate insights 

• External sessions (briefings or webinars) – in English or French 

Required Experience & Skills: 

• At least 5-10 years of experience in relevant roles including humanitarian and/or crisis analysis, humanitarian and/or development consulting, research projects, donor relations; 

• Demonstrative knowledge and experience working on West and Central Africa, preferably Benin and Nigeria. with extensive in-country network for field research in the border areas; 

• Excellent analytical, writing and briefing skills; strong verbal and written communication skills;  

• Fluency in English and French; 

• Data visualization and GIS skills desirable; 

• Experience analyzing the interplay of conflict, socio-economic factors (including gender equality and social inclusion), displacement and climatic shocks. 

How to Apply: 

• Upload CV and a research proposal detailing research methods and frameworks, available timeframe, daily cost and estimated total fee  

• Upload at least 1 writing sample from a similar project (in French or English) 

Timeframe: 

• Preferred start date: Jan 1, 2025 

• Inception report: before Jan 8, 2025 

• Product 1 (final content): before March 15, 2025 

• Product 2 (final content): before February 20, 2025 (first brief) and March 15, 2025 (second brief) 

• Presentations: before March 31, 2025 

The Consultant will report to:  

• Senior Director, Global Crisis Analysis 

• With technical support from WCA Analyst, Global Crisis Analysis 

Consultant will work closely with: 

• Deputy Regional Director for Programmes 

• Country Director and Director of Programmes, Mercy Corps Benin and Nigeria 

• Project researchers 

• Project editor 

• Nigeria Context Analysis Team (NCAT) 

• T4D/GIS Manager (HQ-based) 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.  

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

Safeguarding & Ethics 

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.