Call for Application: Engagement of Social Media & Community Influencers on the “Inclusive Religious Engagement in Nigeria Enhanced by Women (I-RENEW)” Project. - Plateau & Kaduna State

About Search for Common Ground  Search for Common Ground is an International non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. Searchâs Mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe. Search for Common Ground-Belgium in partnership with Search for Common Ground-USA, the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and the Centre for Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Peace (DREP) is implementing a project titled Inclusive Religious Engagement Enhanced by Women (I-RENEW) in Plateau and Kaduna states. Context Analysis  In recent times, Nigeria has suffered a series of violent attacks along religious lines â from the brutal killing of a young Christian woman by her Muslim classmates for blasphemy to a mass shooting at a Catholic Church in Ondo State to the murder of a Muslim woman and her four children in Anambra. The killings have attracted global attention in a country that was seen as making progress on issues of FoRB. Indeed, Nigeria was removed from the Secretary of Stateâs list of countries of âparticular concernâ for violations of FoRB in 2020. However, these recent killings, and subsequent expressions of national outrage, have demonstrated the continued salience of questions of religious freedom and tolerance in Nigeria, reigniting divisions along religious lines and reinvigorating calls for global action. Following a fact-finding mission to Nigeria in June 2022, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded that âthe risk of mass atrocity is real and present and felt by everyone.â Meanwhile, many northern states continue to prosecute citizens on blasphemy charges in contravention of Article 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees FoRB. Although there are no estimates for the number of deaths attributable to religiously motivated violence in Nigeria, some 13,241 Nigerians were killed extra-judicially between 2011 and 2021, demonstrating a high level of impunity for interpersonal violence, including for religious reasons. In addition, social media and offline narratives in print and traditional media are playing a growing role in aggravating religious tensions. âBlasphemousâ social media content has triggered killings and arrests; videos of religiously motivated violence have rapidly spread over online platforms, and inflammatory and misleading reporting on religious issues in print and traditional media has fuelled divisive narratives.Religiously diverse states such as Plateau and Kaduna have struggled to find sustainable mechanisms to maintain peaceful coexistence amongst divided communities, both between farmers and herders and between Muslims and Christians. Biased state-level legislation in both Plateau and Kaduna states that discriminates along ethnic and religious lines in favor of âindigenesâ has fueled sectarian tensions. As a result, in recent years, Kaduna City has become a âcenter of political, ethnic, and religious violence,â with Christians concentrated in the cityâs south, and Muslims in the cityâs north. In fact, although Christians and Muslims reside in approximately equal numbers in both states, the faith communities usually live in segregated settlements. Just this year, 531 violent deaths have been recorded in Kaduna, and 246 in Plateau, placing them in third and fourth places respectively for the most violent deaths out of Nigeriaâs 36 states. Project Objectives  The overall objectives of the project are to empower women religious actors and youth activists to FoRB and inter and intra-religious peaceful coexistence in Plateau and Kaduna States. The specific objectives are - To strengthen the capacity of women religious leaders and youth activists to play an active role in promoting freedom of religion and beliefs (FoRB) and peaceful coexistence across different beliefs and to contribute to a social and policy environment that is conducive to inclusive FoRB efforts. These specific objectives will be attained through the following four expected results: 1.Target women religious leaders and young activists who have greater skills and tools to promote FoRB and inter and intra-religious communities 2.Target women religious leaders and young religious activists have an increased role in enhancing inter and intra-faith coexistence at the community level 3.High-level policymakers and religious leaders in target states have an enhanced understanding of the importance of and capacities to support inclusive FoRB and intra and inter-religious engagement efforts. 4.Citizens in target communities have increased access to information and narratives that positively shift norms and attitudes on FoRB, intra and inter-religious engagement, and women and youth's role in promoting religious coexistence. Under this expected result, Search for Common Ground will support social media influencers in Plateau and Kaduna states in the production and dissemination of 50 short âviral videosâ between 10 and 60 seconds. Theory of Change  The action is premised on the following Theory of Change (ToC): IF women religious leaders and youth FoRB activists have increased capacities and opportunities to promote FoRB and inter and intra-religious peaceful coexistence in Plateau and Kaduna States, and IF target communities, policymakers, and religious leaders recognise and value the importance of FoRB and women and youthâs role in sustaining it, and IF target communities experience positive interactions and narratives that foster inter and intrareligious collaboration and dispel myths and harmful stereotypes, THEN a diverse community of multi-level stakeholders can more effectively and collaboratively protect and support the rights of people of all faiths and beliefs and promote religious coexistence across target communities BECAUSE effective FoRB and religious engagement initiatives require the support and intervention of all of society, including women and youth, in order to be effective and adequately incorporate the needs of all Nigerians. Purpose of Engaging Social Media and Community Influencers  As part of achieving Expected Result , which is to ensure that citizens in target communities have increased access to information and narratives that positively shift norms and attitudes on FoRB, intra and inter-religious engagement, and women and youth's role in promoting religious coexistence, Search for Common Ground will engage 10 social media influencers, 5 each from Plateau and Kaduna states to produce and disseminate 50 short âviral videosâ between 10 and 60 seconds. Geographic Locations The social media influencers will be selected from Plateau and Kaduna states Methodology Search will publish this role on its job site and also share it with relevant associations in the New Media in Kaduna and Plateau. Also, due diligence will be deployed into the process by being conflict and gender-sensitive among other factors such as balance in religion and inclusion in the process of engaging the social media influencers. The selection will be based on but not limited to the following criteria: 1.Locally based in the target locations.2.Strong motivation for driving social change via a written and visual statement of purpose3.Reasonably large followership and influence on social media in the locations.4.Rating on social media. In order to ensure Search is working with change-makers who have or can influence their network positively, significant checks on the previous online engagement of the social media influencers will be carried out to determine if the intended influencers are willing and able to promote conflict-sensitive messaging regarding FoRB using their online and offline platforms.At the inception stage, successful social media influencers will be inducted and trained on Searchâs Common Ground Approach in relation to improving conflict-sensitive reporting and advocacy for FoRB on social media platforms. The training will enhance the knowledge of participants on conflict-sensitive communication of peace messages in relation to FoRB. Search will advance its Common Ground Approach throughout all of its Strategic Communication activities to ensure it maintains a high degree of sensitivity when discussing such a sensitive topic.

Benefits

 Enhanced knowledge about Searchâs Common Ground Approach to Freedom of Religion and Belief by successful influencers Successful influencers will have a better approach to promoting conflict-sensitivity content online  Successful influencers will have enhanced capacity to lead FoRB-related conversations in a conflict-sensitive manner  Successful influencers will have enhanced skills in producing short video formats Opportunity to network with like-minded peace builders online, especially on Searchâs FoRB programs  Successful influencers will receive monthly stipends throughout the duration of the activity 

Deliverables

Each social media influencer is to develop at least 5 short viral videos on FoRB weekly and share them with Search for approval before posting online.  Utilize recommendations from snapshots to create content to address false rumors, hate speech, and misinformation and also offer relevant accurate messages aiming at tackling misinformation and misunderstanding around FoRB. Track resonance and the reaction of radio programs and products in their respective locations Submission of a monthly report with content developed, screenshots of content shared, and provide social media analytics.  Provide support to Searchâs ongoing programs on the project media outputs, training activities, and other components of the project 

Skills and Competences - The following skills and competencies are expected by Search for this engagement:

Must be between 18 & 35 years of age  Must be resident in Plateau or Kaduna states  Oral and written communication skills in English and the local languages  Must have some basic storytelling skills  Must be relatable and command trust and respect in the community  Demonstrable experience as a far-reaching Social Media Influencer â crafting creative content with attention to details  Have access to the internet at every contact, a working Email account, and Social media handles especially Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter  A large, highly dedicated viewership across multiple channels especially on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (Minimum of 1k followers) The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently Must be a social entrepreneur uses traditional and New media for social good  Familiarity and experience with the multi-cultural and traditional sensitivities in Plateau and Kaduna states The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal. The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively. The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures, and people)  The Social Media Lead must show capacity in video production and editing and also demonstrate an understanding of video formats for different social media platforms. 

Applications Interested candidates are invited to send an application through our Career Portal. Proposal/Offer Submission : 1.Each applicant must submit an update Resume highlighting links to three top social media handles2.A personal statement of purpose detailing interest with proof of experience in social media use for social good, a peace champion, a change maker, community influence, and management in not more than 1200 character Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications received after the 18th of October 2023 may not be considered.