Food Security, Peace and Stability: A Review of CGIAR’s Role in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (Consultancy)

Apr 20, 2025 | CGIAR
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Conflict and insecurity are major drivers of food insecurity and the highest numbers of people facing acute food insecurity are found in fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS). According to the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises conflict/insecurity was the primary driver in 20 countries/territories with 135m people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. It was the main driver in most of the ten largest food crises. Weather extremes were the main driver for 18 countries with over 72m people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Many countries were grappling with prolonged recovery from drought or flooding.  Overall, an estimated 65% of people facing acute food insecurity live in conflict affected countries.

 

Given the strong link between conflict and acute food insecurity, CGIAR has given greater attention to working in fragile and conflict affected contexts. There is now a dedicated CGIAR research program, fragility, conflict and migration. This was formerly the Fragility, Conflict and Migration (FCM) research initiative which has now part of the Food Frontiers and Security Science Program. In addition to FCM many CGIAR research centers are working at a bilateral level in FCAS environments and supporting recovery after disasters through providing seeds and other inputs. This has involved partnerships with humanitarian agencies to utilize CGIAR research.

 

The international development landscape is also changing with reductions in ODA budgets of key CGIAR donors and new priorities emerging on promoting security and reducing migration. While some traditional sources of funding may be reduced or stopped there will be new funding opportunities for CGIAR in this changing funding landscape. Also, humanitarian funding is likely to remain a priority, particularly in fragile and conflict affected contexts, and could be an increasing source of funding for CGIAR in the future.

 

The major purpose of this review is to support CGIAR pivot towards this changing context by demonstrating how CGIAR’s core mandate on reducing global food security in a changing climate contributes to conflict prevention, stabilization and the transition from humanitarian relief to development in FCAS contexts.  The review will provide the evidence and analysis to show the relevance of CGIAR research and innovation to improving the effectiveness of peace-building, security and humanitarian assistance in FCAS.

 

In order to demonstrate relevance, the review will undertake a stocktake of CGIAR’s experience of working in FCAS and humanitarian contexts and identify priorities for future investments in CGIAR’s work in FCAS contexts. The review will also review the operational capacity of CGIAR to work in such contexts and identify gaps in capacity which need to be addressed if CGIAR is to expand its role in FCAS and humanitarian contexts.

 

The review will also undertake analytical work on the role of research and innovation in agri-food systems in reducing security threats, promoting stability and reducing distress migration. This will enable CGIAR to re-frame its work using concepts, terminology and goals from conflict and security studies, and identify what types of organizations CGIAR should consider working with going forward.

 

The review will contribute the CGIAR Investment Case, setting out CGIAR’s expertise, capacity and added value to work in FCAS contexts. The review will identify key areas of expertise where CGIAR has a comparative advantage and has the potential to scale up activities. The data and analysis generated through this review will also be a key resource for CGIAR Research Centers and Science Programs in helping them to navigate the changing global context in which sustainable development investments are made.

 

 

 

Requirements

 

1.      Scope of Work

 

Analytical Framework 

 

The review will develop an analytical framework for understanding the CGIAR portfolio of research through a conflict lens. This will draw on external sources from conflict and security studies and multilateral institutions. This will also draw on the expertise and analytical work in the CGIAR Fragility, Conflict and Migration Research Initiative. The analytical framework will develop a robust, evidence-backed Theory of Change on how CGIAR investments contribute to security and conflict mitigation at national, regional and global levels.

 

This framework will also cover key relationships and partnerships for CGIAR in FCAS contexts CGIAR. This will include relationships with non-traditional partner organizations including defense and security actors.

 

 

Stocktake of Research Activities

 

The review will undertake a stocktake of all CGIAR research that is taking place in FCAS contexts. It will also cover where CGIAR has worked with humanitarian agencies in recovery after natural disasters in non-FCAS environments (such as agriculture recovery after extreme weather events) and supported refugees and migrants who have fled conflicts in neighboring countries. It will also cover CGIAR research on climate and security that looks at the security threats arising from climate change. This will cover all research from 2017 when the second phase of the Consortium Research Programs (CRPs) started.

 

Each Research Centre will be asked to provide this information on their work in FCAS and humanitarian contexts. This will include a breakdown by country. A key question will be whether their activities in such contexts are specifically targeted at addressing fragility and conflict and what methodologies are they using for their research in FCAS contexts. For example, activities might include conflict analysis (e.g., participatory conflict mapping, stakeholder engagement) or a strategy to promote conflict resolution. Another key question will be to what extent is the Research Centre working in the midst of active conflict within a large FCAS country or are they only focusing on more stable parts of the country?

 

In addition to consulting with Centers, PPU will analyze CGIAR databases to gather data on which Research Centers, Science Programs and Research Initiatives have been working in FCAS contexts and on what issues and crop types.

 

This review would provide information on the following:

 

  • Geographical Focus: which fragile and conflict-affected states are CGIAR working in?
  • What is the funding allocation to countries affecting by conflict and fragility, including pooled funding and bilateral funding, with breakdown by funder?
  • Who are CGIAR partners in FCAS, including national and international partners, and what has been CGIAR’s added value to these partnerships in FCAS?
  • What type of activities has CGIAR undertaken in FCAS?
  • What are the results from CGIAR interventions in FCAS – outputs, outcomes and impact – and what are the best examples of where CGIAR has made a difference both past and present?
  • What has been the key learning from CGIAR’s work in FCAS?
  • What type of roles does CGIAR play in FCAS?
  • What are Centers’ future priorities in FCAS?

 

 

Operational Capacity

 

If CGIAR is to scale up its research in FCAS environments it needs to have the operational capacity to function safely and achieve research impacts in these environments. The review will, therefore, also cover the operational capacity of CGIAR to work in FCAS contexts. The review will provide an overview of the key policies, procedures and protocols that need to be in place for operating in FCAS contexts. A more detailed assessment of CGIAR’s capacity will be undertaken through a further review in due course that will collect information from each of the Research Centers on their procedures and policies for working in conflict affected and insecure environments, including security protocols, duty of care for staff and partners, ethical frameworks and adherence to international humanitarian law. This will help identify good practice and capacity in individual research centers that could be shared with other centers and across the System Organisation.

 

 

2. Qualifications and Experience

 

The ideal consultant will be an internationally recognized expert in conflict and fragility, with a strong academic grounding in conflict studies. They should have demonstrable experience in research or policy engagement in FCAS in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East, and preferably experience in agri-food systems within these contexts. Familiarity with operational and ethical challenges in FCAS, including security protocols and humanitarian law, is essential.

 

 

Qualifications: Post-graduate degree in conflict studies or related discipline (Ph.D. preferable)

Publications/reports: Track record in research on conflict or related disciplines.

Experience: At least 10 years working on research, policy or programme delivery in fragile or conflict affected states in the agri-food sector or humanitarian delivery.

Methodology: The applicant should provide an outline of the analytical framework they would use for this study.

 

 

3. Deliverables

 

This review will provide the data and analysis to identify CGIAR’s comparative advantage relative to other actors in FCAS contexts in delivering on conflict prevention, stabilization and the transition to development, and set out the priorities for future investments. These will include considerations of role of research and innovation in FCAS, current CGIAR research expertise and capacity, geographical footprint, operational capacity and the funding context.  This section of the review will then inform the development of the CGIAR Investment Case.

 

A workplan to implement these TOR will be developed and used to procure the services of an expert in conflict who will undertake this review. This will be a two months’ assignment and the main deliverable will be a report that will be published. The report will cover the main sections of the TOR:

 

  • An analytical framework
  • The stock take of CGIAR research in FCAS
  • Operational Capacity
  • Prioritization and recommendations for CGIAR in the future
  • Annexes to the report will show the data sets used in this review, including a breakdown of what each Centre is doing.

 

These recommendations will cover research priorities, partnership, funding sources and on operational capacity. PPU will also organize a CGIAR webinar in which the consultant will present the report and discuss the findings. The consultant will prepare an Inception Report after one week of starting the assignment which will set out a methodology and timeline for the completion of the assignment.

 

 

4. Timeline

 

The assignment will run over two months, from May to June 2025, with the final report due by the end of July 2025.

 

 

5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

 

  • Quality of Work: The consultant's work will be assessed based on the submitted deliverables' accuracy, completeness, and quality.
  • Timeliness: The consultant will be evaluated on their ability to meet deadlines and milestones as outlined in the timeline.
  • Client Satisfaction: Feedback from project stakeholders and team members regarding the consultant's professionalism and effectiveness.

 

 

Benefits

 

All applications must be submitted online by clicking the 'Apply' button below. If you require assistance or face challenges in submitting your application, please email smo-bidding@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line. Please note we will not accept applications through this email. 

 

Please ensure that your resume and cover letter are in English and do not contain your marital status, age, or photograph. Documents provided in a language other than English will not be considered.

 

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.