| Overview : To apply, kindly read the procurement notice, attach the following documents and submit through the following email: ic.jo@undp.org - CV with at least three references;
- Applicant’s letter to UNDP/Confirmation of interest form;
- Technical proposal (to showcase requested experience and competencies); and
- Financial proposal as in the attached template.
no later than 27 February at 18:00 HRS. (Jordan time) with subject: “Evaluation Consultant for PVE Interventions”. Any request for clarification must be sent to maen.oweis@undp.org, Mr. Oweis will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants. The spread of violent extremism constitutes a major concern and challenge for citizens, governments, and the international community. Violent extremist groups directly undermine the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as efforts to maintain peace, foster sustainable development, achieve human security, promote the respect of human rights and the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. Jordan is among the top five countries of origin for Daesh foreign fighters and second globally for foreign fighters per capita. As of March 2016, an estimated 4,000 Jordanian nationals travelled to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. Furthermore, many Jordanian combatants who fought for terrorist groups have returned, and many more are destined to return shortly. Levels of sectarianism and intolerance are reportedly rising across all governorates in Jordan, creating an enabling environment for violent extremist groups focusing their recruitment efforts on at-risk individuals. In this challenging context, interventions must consider approaches that reintegrate and disengage fighters returning from abroad and prevent further domestic radicalisation by leveraging all imaginable positive change agents in the Jordanian society. Risks and pressures on Jordanian institutions are mounting. First, Jordanian institutions seem to be challenged by a governance deficit that constrains the effectiveness with which it can address Violent Extremism threats. The absence of effective political structures and processes to strengthen state-society relations is likely to contribute to a sense of isolation and prevents state institutions from engaging constructively early on to address local grievances. Poor social cohesion within and between communities and between state institutions and youth could thus risk becoming a driver for increased frustration and eventually fuel alienation and radicalization. Weak ‘societal fabric’ and the lack of a shared identity are critical enabling factors for violent extremist groups who excel at promulgating and taking advantage of such grievances. The government’s policy on Support to Counter-Terrorism, Stabilisation and Counter-Radicalisation in Jordan concludes that violent extremism in Jordan is fundamentally “the result of frustration and exclusion” and that “extremism is first and foremost a socio-political phenomenon”. Second, as in many other contexts, youth are disproportionally negatively impacted by unemployment, marginalisation and a sense of hopelessness. These are grievances that violent extremist groups in many contexts have exploited for recruitment purposes. The Jordanian youth bulge will remain a key challenge for at least the coming two decades and a specific focus on engaging young men and women through constructive and meaningful avenues will therefore continue to be a key priority of the Jordanian government and its partners. At the individual level, powerful messaging, narratives and imagery via social media networks completes peer relations (family, friends, etc.) in portraying an image of camaraderie, adventure and fulfilment enjoyed by those joining violent extremist groups. Friends and family are nonetheless the key stakeholders in recruitment processes in Jordan as many recruitments to violent extremist groups are based on social ties in Jordan rather than social media. Further, the promised prospective of reward, retribution, and revenge wrapped in the guise of religious salvation, comprises a “package” that resonates well with vulnerable individuals’ sense of marginalization, hopelessness and subjugation. The absence of positive, productive, meaningful and constructive ways of channeling the agency and energy that youth are often associated with adds to the “perfect storm” enabling, often swift, radicalization processes aided by divisive and violent interpretations of Islam. Unemployed young men and women in Jordan, who increasingly gravitate towards cities in the search for jobs, have become more vulnerable, in part, as a result of often weakening family cohesion and critical family support and in part due to underemployment, economic insecurity and a social gap that is considered increasingly unjust. Without a labour market able to accommodate them, many young Jordanians are unable to secure a safe and steady income, leading to frustration, loss of identity and financial vulnerabilities. Drug abuse is also often perceived to be a significant driver of Violent Extremism. At the community level, a range of formal and informal institutions play critical roles in enhancing or reducing the risk of violent extremism. Religious institutions are particularly important in this context propagating either a discourse, which promotes tolerance, pluralism and understanding or more divisive and isolationist messages. The Jordanian state is insufficiently capacitated to work with and regulate religious institutions such as Mosques, the multiple informal religious teaching centers and trusted Sheikhs which often act as primary providers of religious guidance. Mosques also need help from the state to be prepared to play an effective guiding role at the community level - particularly when internal institutional governance mechanisms are weak. In such contexts, religious institutions are easy targets for recruiters and the propagation of extremist religious messaging. Effective PVE interventions are particularly critical soon due to the return of Jordanian fighters from Syria and Iraq. Jordanians who fought with Daesh and other terrorist groups return for a variety of reasons including disillusionment with the Daesh and its project or simply the fact that Daesh has lost most of its territory including the strong-holds of Mosul and Raqqa. Hence, some fighters may return with a strong desire to “normalize” and reintegrate into society while others will hold on to extremist ideologies and sympathies for violent extremist groups. Though Jordan has been taking security measures ahead of their expected return, there are neither clear procedures nor comprehensive programming efforts aimed at managing return and reintegration processes. The prevention of violent extremism is not an issue related solely to security measures but necessitates a focus on development-related causes of, and solutions to, the broader phenomenon of Violent Extremism. The three interrelated phases of PVE projects that targeted the main drivers of Violent Extremism, were formulated during the old CPD; however, they also targeted areas on the current CPD “specifically CDP 1.3”, which delivers on strengthening the National and civic capacities to improve social cohesion and prevent violent extremism. In addition to this, these interventions directly delivered on SDG 16 which targets the area of rule of law at the national and international levels, as well as ensuring equal access to justice for all. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All individuals including persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strictest confidence and equally. Technical and financial proposals along with CV & 3 references should be submitted, and without such will not be considered). (Only Short Listed Candidates will be contacted) UNDP is an employer committed to gender equity and to providing equal opportunities to both males and females. | 
