Scoping Consultant for Resilient States Project - Virginia (Independent Contractor)

Common Ground USA:

Common Ground USA (CG-USA) fosters collaboration across differences to address America's biggest challenges and build a society where everyone can belong and thrive. As part of Search for Common Ground, with 40 years of global conflict resolution experience, CG-USA transforms conflict into cooperation with programming focused in the United States. At CG-USA, we believe that most Americans want to overcome the divisions we face in our society and that we all have a role to play. Engaging across political and other divides, we see disagreement as an opportunity to transform conflict into cooperation to solve our most pervasive problems. All of our work is rooted in an evidence base where we strengthen the five vital signs of peace: safety, social cohesion, institutional legitimacy, personal agency, and resourcing peace.

The Project:

The Resilient States Project is a collaboration between CG-USA and Over Zero - that convenes and empowers broad-based networks of diverse leaders to build resilience and mitigate risks for division and political violence in key states (currently: Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas). Our networks unite diverse leaders across various sectors, ideologies, and geographies. These networks work together to transform division and risks for conflict within their states and unify their communities.

From 2022-2025, the first phase of this project's four pilot states showed the promise and potential of the Resilient State model to mobilize and coordinate new and diverse leaders with the aim of reducing risks and harms in their states. This next phase of the project will look to expand to new states and contexts and further incorporate learning from across the project.

Goals and Objectives:

The consultancy should consider the following goals and objectives:

• Conflict analysis that studies the causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict, providing a "social diagnosis" of the state. CG-USA is looking for actor and issue analysis, as well as both long-term structural and shorter-term analysis of potential triggers of conflict in the state based in part on key interviews with critical stakeholders and desk research;
• Stakeholder mapping that identifies key stakeholders in the state with broad-reaching sectoral, cultural, geographic, or political influence;
• Networking and relationship-building with civil society organizations, networks, and leaders who have some measure of interest, capacity, or influence to mitigate political violence in the state, including possible listening sessions for key communities or sectors, to help CG-USA begin to establish relationships towards building a broad-based network of state leaders.

Geographic Locations:

The consultant must be based in Virginia. This role may require some travel within the state for interviews, meetings and other convenings.

Logistical Support:

The consultant will be responsible for organizing their own logistics, and these costs must be reasonably budgeted into the proposal. CG-USA can provide some support in arranging logistics as agreed upon based on the consultant's proposal. At least one CG-USA staff member will be the point of contact and manager of this project.

In addition, the Resilient States Project team will share background materials including the project proposal, related desk research, pre-existing relationships, etc.

Deliverables:

The Resilient States Project team expects the following deliverables from the external consultant(s) as they correspond to the timeline and budget:

• An initial inception report and budget;
• Regular progress updates;
• A final report detailing research, outreach, and recommendations listed above; and
• Any additional deliverables as may be required by the consultancy according to the approved inception report, including specific introductions or completion of events.

Timeline:

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with a first round of review starting on February 2, and the Resilient States Project team will follow up with individual candidates to generate a specific timeline for the work.

Budget:

Candidates are encouraged to submit a budget, including a proposed daily/monthly rate, as part of their application.

Requirements of Consultant:

Required qualifications:

More than 5 years of experience in a combination of the following areas are required:

• Deep working knowledge and relationships with community leaders and civil society organizations within the state;
• Demonstrated ability to connect with a broad network of actors;
• Experience working or doing research on peacebuilding, political violence, elections, democracy, communications, or polarization in the USA; and
• Writing and editing competency.

Desirable qualifications:

Strong candidates will also have the following qualities:

• Resident of the state in which the study will be conducted or with strong ties to the states part of the research;
• Pre-existing relationships with local networks of NGOs working on community building or political violence mitigation; and
• Background in political science, community organizing, community work, or related fields.

In addition, the consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. They should communicate their methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique their work. They should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of their professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect: Consultant should respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.

Selection Criteria:

Consultants should include a proposal for review. Consultant proposals will be selected for:

• Relevance of their expression of interests as it relates to the applicant's ability to meet the goal, objectives, and research questions for the assessment;
• Qualifications; and
• Proposed budget in relation to proposed methodology and deliverables.

Applications:

To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following two documents:

• Curriculum vitae.
• Expression of intent outlining the following: (1) any relevant research and analysis experience; (2) relevant networks, community connections, and other key relationships in target state that can be leveraged for this process; (3) a budget and/or proposed pay rate; and (4) any other relevant experience as applicable to these terms of reference.

Ethical Considerations:

Consultancy activities should conform to Do No Harm and inclusion principles (i.e., age, gender/gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, ideology, etc.). The consultant will also be asked to sign Search for Common Ground's Code of Conduct.

In addition, the consultancy should be conducted in such a way that it builds and maintains the Resilient States Project's relationships and legitimacy with partners and leaders in the state. Nothing in the consultant's work should suggest, or give the appearance of suggesting, that the Resilient States Project team, its partners, Common Ground USA, or Search for Common Ground as a whole are participating in political activity or lobbying that would violate the requirements of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The Resilient States Project team also requires consultants to maintain a balanced, unbiased, and respectful relationship with all staff and local contacts.

Questions: If you have any questions about this opportunity, please write to Johandra Delgado at jdelgado@sfcg.org