1. Introduction
Search for Common Ground seeks a consultant or team of consultants to conduct a participatory online deliberation on youth perspectives on election-related risks for our project, “Peace Pulse: Youth-Led Early Warning and Digital Safety for Peaceful Elections”.
The Peace Pulse project, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), is implemented by Search for Common Ground in partnership with the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) and the Kenya Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (KCYPS), and aims to strengthen youth-led early warning and response to election-related risks across 11 counties in Kenya, specifically Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu, Homa Bay, Migori, Mombasa, Lamu, Tana River, Nyeri, and Garissa, identified based on ongoing programme reporting and risk assessments by Search and partners.
The study should employ AI-enabled deliberative tools to engage diverse youth across the listed counties in structured online dialogue processes to surface perspectives on emerging risks and triggers of election-related violence, particularly those linked to online spaces. The findings from this baseline will inform the design and targeting of subsequent program activities.
2.Context
Search for Common Ground
Founded in 1982, Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-governmental organization working to end violent conflict and build healthy, safe, and just societies. Using innovative tools, Search seeks to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches, toward cooperative solutions. Headquartered in Washington DC, USA and Brussels, Belgium, Search is present in over 30 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Central South, and South-East Asia.
The Project
Search for Common Ground, in partnership with the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) and the Kenya Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (KCYPS), is implementing a project titled “Peace Pulse: Youth-Led Early Warning and Digital Safety for Peaceful Elections” across 11 counties in Kenya. The project, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), aims to strengthen the role of youth in Kenya so that they can play a meaningful, recognised, and sustained role in preventing election-related violence and supporting peaceful, inclusive, and credible democratic processes.
Focusing on 11 counties in Kenya, specifically Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu, Homa Bay, Migori, Mombasa, Lamu, Tana River, Nyeri, and Garissa, this project targets the need for stronger youth leadership in election-related violence prevention, recognising that their perspectives and influence within communities are critical for building trust and addressing the specific drivers and impacts of election-related risks, particularly across interconnected online and offline spaces.
To realize that change, the project contributes to three Outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Youth-led early warning and early response (EWER) to election-related risks across online and offline spaces is strengthened.
- Outcome 2: Election-related tensions affecting youth are prevented, mitigated, and de-escalated through youth-led action.
- Outcome 3: Kenya’s elections ecosystem is strengthened through the integration of youth-led EWER and protected youth participation.
Collectively, these intermediate outcomes will contribute to the Prime Goal of the project: Youth in Kenya play a meaningful, recognised, and sustained role in preventing election-related violence and supporting peaceful, inclusive, and credible democratic processes.
3.Theory of Change
This project is underpinned by the theory of change that : Goal and Objectives of the Study
The goal of this study is to generate evidence-based insights from youth perspectives on election-related risks to inform responsive and conflict-sensitive programming.
The key objectives are:
- Objective 1: Assess the current context, with regards to youth perceptions of election-related risks and triggers, including misinformation, online harassment, exclusion, and political grievances.
- Objective 2: Examine barriers and opportunities for constructive youth-led early warning and early response (EWER) to election-related risks
- Objective 3: Collect baseline values of the project’s indicators and generate locally defined indicators on lived experiences within the project's target populations
- Objective 4: Assess potential risks associated with the project and draw recommendations for programming to ensure “Do No Harm”, safeguarding and conflict sensitivity are embedded in the project
4.Key Questions of the Study
The proposed lines of inquiry are indicative and can be revised according to the proposed methodology.
Objective 1: Assess the current context, with regards to youth perceptions of election-related risks and triggers, including misinformation, online harassment, exclusion, and political grievances
1.1 What are the key election-related risks and triggers as perceived by youth across different contexts (geographic, gender, socio-economic), both offline and online?
1.2 What forms of political, social, or economic grievances are most salient among youth, and how do these contribute to vulnerability to election mobilisation or election related conflicts?
1.3 How do online and offline dynamics interact in shaping youth perceptions of risk and escalation of election tensions?
Objective 2: Examine barriers and opportunities for constructive youth-led early warning and early response (EWER) to election-related risks
2.1 What are the main barriers limiting youth participation in early warning and early response (EWER) processes related to election risks, including those faced by young women and marginalized groups?
2.2 What factors enable or motivate youth to engage constructively in early warning and early response (EWER) efforts to mitigate election-related risks?
2.3 What existing platforms, networks, or initiatives support youth-led EWER and participation in election risk prevention, and how accessible and effective are they?
Objective 3: Collect baseline values of the project’s indicators and generate locally defined indicators on lived experiences within the project's target populations
3.1 What are the baseline values of the project indicators? (Baseline values will be disaggregated by sex, age, location and category of respondent) *
- % of young men and women participants who believe that they can make a positive difference to address election-related threats across online and offline spaces
- % of young men and women who report leading preventive actions in response to election‑related risks in online and offline spaces
- % of young men and women taking action to address election-related risks in online and offline spaces
- % of participating youth and EWER stakeholders who report that youth led actions meaningfully contribute to reducing election‑related violence in online and offline spaces
- % of participating election stakeholders reporting improved coordination with youth actors in election risk response
- % of participating young men and women who report that election‑related coordination platforms reflect their perspectives and responds to their needs
- % of young men and women participants who report confidence in available safeguarding, referral, and protection mechanisms when responding to election‑related risks.
3.2 What digital safety outcomes do youths believe are most needed to prevent election-related violence and support peaceful, inclusive, and credible democratic processes?
Objective 4: Assess potential risks associated with the project and draw recommendations for programming to ensure “Do No Harm”, safeguarding and conflict sensitivity are embedded in the project
4.1 What risks do youth participants face when engaging in youth-led EWER initiatives and election-related risk prevention, particularly in digital spaces?
4.2 What are the potential risks associated with the project implementation and their impact on the target populations, particularly young women?
4.3 What recommendations can be made to enhance safeguarding, DNH and conflict sensitivity in the project?
5.Geographic Locations
The assessment will target youth and election stakeholders in 11 counties in Kenya, specifically Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu, Homa Bay, Migori, Mombasa, Lamu, Tana River, Nyeri, and Garissa.
6.Methodology and Data Collection Tools
Proposals should clearly outline a participatory and mixed-methods approach, leveraging deliberative technology tools for engagement.
The methodology should include:
- AI-enabled online deliberation platforms
- Structured discussions and moderated dialogue sessions
- Rapid polling or surveys embedded within deliberation
In addition to AI-enabled online deliberative processes, the consultant(s) will be expected to:
- With support from Search, design and conduct community-level consultations in selected locations to complement online findings
- Validate and contextualise insights generated through online deliberation by engaging youth in in-person or hybrid formats
- Ensure that findings reflect diverse lived experiences, including those of youth with limited or unequal access to digital platforms
Proposals should also include the sampling strategy and approach to analysis. In addition to Do No Harm strategies, any proposed deliverables for sharing the findings of the study should be included in this section of the proposal.
7.Deliverables
Search expects the following deliverables from the external consultant(s) as they correspond to the timeline and budget:
- An inception report detailing the methodology, data collection tools and timeline;
- Any necessary training of data collectors or set-up of systems for data collection;
- Supervision and participation in data collection;
- Oversight of data coding and analysis;
- Debriefing session after data collection is completed to discuss preliminary results, report structures and align expectations
- All original data submitted to Search;
- A draft report in English for review by Search staff and partners;
- A final report in English (20 pages max in length, excluding appendices) consistent with the donor’s visibility guidelines and Search branding, as well as standards for evaluation. The report: 8.Logistical Support Consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics for data collection (vehicles, fuel, and drivers), and this must be budgeted for in the study. In addition, the consultant is required to secure all necessary authorizations, including permits and clearances from relevant government authorities and any other pertinent organizations, to conduct the baseline study comprehensively and in compliance with local regulations. Search and partners will share the following elements with the external consultant(s): Background materials including the project proposal and logframe, M&E plan, etc. 9.Ethical Considerations The consultant(s) proposal should outline key risks of conducting the study and the steps to assure Do No Harm and Conflict Sensitivity and inclusion principles (i.e. gender, age, ethnicity, religion, etc.) are respected. Steps taken to ensure informed consent is collected should also be outlined. 10.Data Quality Assurance and Management The final methodology and tools will be approved by the Kenya country team and the Impact Team before data collection begins. The country team, impact team and the regional team will provide feedback on the report. The final report will be approved by the country team and impact team. 11. Timeline Search expects to finalize the recruitment of the consultant by June 30, 2026. Final deadlines will be agreed by Search and the consultant upon finalization of the contract. 12. Budget A detailed budget should be included in the technical proposal, detailing daily rates for personnel, and costes related to data collection (per total number of people sampled etc.), analysis, and production of deliverables. 13.Requirements of Consultant The following skills and experience are expected by Search for our evaluator for this project: In addition, the consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles[1]: 14.Selection Criteria Consultant proposals will be selected for: 15.Applications To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following two documents by June 25, 2026 : Note that the two documents should be merged and uploaded as a single document on UKG. At all times, we strive to create an environment where abuse and harassment are absolutely not tolerated. We protect victims as well as witnesses, so that they feel comfortable coming forward with reports. We commit to investigating breaches of our Code of Conduct seriously and transparently, and have sfcg.ethicspoint.com available for anonymous reporting — and which is managed by our People & Culture department.
- Uses the Search template unless otherwise agreed in the contract
- Fully explains the objectives and research questions of the study, limitations and methods chosen for analysis,
- Findings respect Search’s standards, are structured around the main objectives of the study, and are presented in relation to the intended target groups.
- Recommendations should have a clear audience and be specific, accessible, and actionable.
- Appendices should include detailed research instruments, terms of references and evaluator(s) brief biography.
- 2-page summary of key results and recommendations (separate document)
- PowerPoint presentation of findings
- Restitution session (presentation of key results to staff, partners and donor), potentially coinciding with the project launch.
- July 5 Inception report (incl. methodology, tools, literature review & timeline)
- July 17 Data collection completed
- July 24 First draft report
- Aug 4 Final draft report & restitution session
- Proficiency in English and Swahili (written and spoken);
- More than 5 years of experience in research, including youth engagement, participatory methodologies and deliberative technologies approaches
- Experience working with international organizations;
- Experience conducting quantitative surveys and analysis;
- Existing contacts with relevant government authorities and key stakeholders in the Kenyan peacebuilding and electoral context
- Previous experience with securing permits and clearances from relevant government authorities
- Contextual knowledge of and experience working in the project implementation areas is a comparative advantage.
- 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. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she 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 his or her 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 for people: Consultant 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.
- Relevance of proposed methodology to the goal, objectives, and research questions for the project.
- Quality of proposed methods, conflict sensitivity approaches, and quality control measures.
- Qualifications of the candidate(s).
- Proposed budget in relation to proposed methodology, deliverables and team.
- Timeline for proposed activities.
- A technical proposal clarifying the methodology and timeline for the study;
- A financial proposal.
