Tribal Liaison Office (TLO)
The Liaison Office (TLO) is an Afghan Non-Governmental organisation that was established at the end of 2003 to facilitate the formal integration of communities and their traditional governance structures within Afghanistan’s newly emerging governance, security and reconstruction framework. TLO focuses on post-conflict peace building that tries to create a platform for constructive dialogue in the provinces of South, Southeast and East regions, and for building capacities in the provinces to facilitate governance and development initiatives. As TLO works with a do-no-harm approach research forms a core of its activities
Closing date: 25 Nov 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Afghanistan
Kabul (incl. field trips to field offices in the Southeast/East and South)
BACKGROUND:
The Liaison Office (TLO) is an Afghan Non-Governmental organisation that was established at the end of 2003 to facilitate the formal integration of communities and their traditional governance structures within Afghanistan’s newly emerging governance, security and reconstruction framework. TLO focuses on post-conflict peace building that tries to create a platform for constructive dialogue in the provinces of South, Southeast and East regions, and for building capacities in the provinces to facilitate governance and development initiatives. As TLO works with a do-no-harm approach research forms a core of its activities
TLO’s aim is to contribute to peace and security through strengthening the capacity of traditional and modern civil society structures in the area of peacebuilding and conflict mediation. TLO is trying to find a way to deal with the challenge of working in insecure environments with communities desperately wanting to be part of the peace and reconstruction effort.
With this mission, TLO emphasizes:
- a participatory approach to peace- and state-building, which means including traditional civil society structures and rural elites just as much as modern ones and women and minorities;
- a “do-no-harm” and “reflecting on peace practises” approach that was developed by the Collaborative Learning Projects & the Collaborative for Development Action Inc. (CDA) under the leadership of Mary B. Anderson;
- forms of engagement that take into account local realities, so as to make a contribution to an inclusive state building process where tradition can co-exist with modernity and change can progress at a pace which suits the stakeholders involved.
The overarching goal will remain on TLO’s potential role as a platform for constructive dialogue among traditional and modern civil society communities, and for building capacities in among these communities to facilitate peace and development initiatives.
More than before, however, TLO will focus on designing methodologies and models that are trying to address four overarching objectives:
- Improve knowledge and understanding of Afghanistan and its communities through targeted research.
- Improving Peace and Human security: This includes activities that address both aspects of freedom from fear (prevention, management and resolution of community conflict) and freedom from want (facilitation of development projects that enhance the livelihood of communities, especially in the area of natural resource management).
- Build the capacity of traditional and modern civil society in areas of peaceful conflict resolution and management.
The main activities of TLO are in the areas of
- Research and Advocacy
- Conflict Mediation / Peacebuilding
- Facilitation and Coordination
- Capacity building
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Natural Resource Management
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Research and Advocacy
Participate in ongoing research projects of TLO which involves:
- Contribution to research design and survey tool development
- Assist in the training of field researchers
- Contribute to data analysis and report writing
- Ensure that the flow of information to and from TLO is relevant to donor organization
- Identify and initiate appropriate future research projects
- Draft at least one TLO policy paper on a topic to be agreed upon with TLO management and advisor
Program support and development
- Contribute to existing TLO programs (Conflict Mediation/Peacebuilding, Natural Resource Management)
- Developing programs on relevant areas for TLO
- Contribute to the drafting of concept papers and proposals
Capacity building
- Assist local staff to build their capacity in research (e.g., research design, report writing, presentation skills, etc.)
CONDITIONS:
- Free accommodation in TLO guesthouse (or housing allowance) and modest living allowance (food, some pocket money), about USD 1,000/month
- Contribution to health insurance (interns have to arrange it), a maximum of USD 200/month (TLO can advise of appropriate insurance providers)
- One economy round-trip airfare between home and Afghanistan
- One economy regional R&R round-trip airfare (only for six month internships, flight only)
- Visa costs (and assistance with obtaining it) associated with work in Afghanistan
- Local transportation from the accommodation to the office and back (at standard working times). Utilization of car and driver is on a shared basis and after certain hours drivers may have to be reimbursed independently.
- Staff lunch during working days at TLO office
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATION:
- Masters degree (or equivalent) or in the last year of studies, in the social sciences or a related field (development, IR, peacebuilding, law), Ph.D. students are also encouraged to apply
- TLO encourages Ph.D. students to consider working with TLO as a possibility to gain access to field data while contributing to TLO’s ongoing research project
- Knowledge of good governance issues, peacebuilding and conflict analysis
- Strong analytical skills and research experience (finalists may be asked to submit writing samples)
- Relevant field (research) experience considered an asset (especially if in Afghanistan)
- Strong communication and presentation skills, particularly in written English, and demonstrated capacity to work in a team environment
- Interested in building capacity of local staff in Afghanistan (willingness to teach, patience, cultural understanding)
- Ability for gender-sensitivity while working in a male-dominated environment
- Strong inter-personal, liaison, diplomatic, and negotiation skills
- Flexible, stress resistant, able to work and live in stressed and instable environment
- Knowledge of one of the Afghan languages (Dari/Pashtu) is desirable
Reference Code: RW_7XPGLR-23
