Consultancy

Creating Safer Space (CSS) is building effective communication routes, knowledge base and collaboration between researchers, practitioners and policymakers to ensure unarmed civilians are included and recognised in protecting themselves and their communities from violence across the world.

CSS sits in a unique space which welcomes researchers and practitioners from affected countries to share their knowledge and skills, build capacity and join global advocacy efforts to create safer space amid violence.

We recognise the huge gap between growing need and stagnating capacity in civilian protection and use our network to get UCP and community protection evidence into the hands of those who need it, and to ensure that affected communities have the opportunity to participate.

By collaborating with members of the Creating Safer Space network you can get help and support to ensure UCP and people from affected communities inform your research and policy. For enquiries and further information, you can either contact the expert directly or email creating-safer-space@aber.ac.uk.

Please note: Consultancy contracts are concluded directly with the experts and (if applicable) their organisations, rather than with the Creating Safer Space network itself.

Creating Safer Space members’ expertise includes these five areas of expertise:

The CSS Model

Training in using the CSS Model for community-centred, participatory
research, evaluation, and engagement in protection, peacebuilding, and other
fields.

Research and Evaluation

  • Design and implementation of bespoke research projects on UCP and community self-protection, based on the tested CSS Model.
  • Training in specific CSS-tested methods for UCP-related research (quantitative and qualitative), with a special focus on creative and participatory approaches.
  • Participatory evaluation of UCP interventions and community self-protection experiences.
  • Research ethics and safeguarding.
  • Funding bid writing support and advice.

Facilitation, coaching and mentoring

  • Facilitation and design of workshops, meetings, and co-production of knowledge processes on UCP and community self-protection.
  • Coaching and mentoring individuals or teams working on UCP research, evaluation, or community engagement.
  • Writing workshops and coaching for practitioners and community researchers, to get their ideas published.

Education and learning

  • Learning and training materials, curricula and courses (for organisations, schools, universities, etc.).
  • Teaching delivery in UCP-related topics.

Policy and implementation advice

  • Policy advice on the role of UCP in areas such as civilian protection, peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, atrocity prevention, social cohesion, resilience, climate change preparedness, and many more.
  • Planning and support in implementing CSS recommendations in organisations and communities.
  • Country or regional expertise on Africa (esp. Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Sudan), Latin America (esp. Colombia), the Middle East (esp. Palestine/ West Bank), and Southeast Asia (esp. Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines).

Exhibition

You can hire the Creating Safer Space exhibition and accompanying activities
and events.

EXPERTS

Luke ABBS

Title 3 text Contributions of grassroots organisations to the implementation of unarmed civilian self-protection strategies...

Rachel JULIAN

Areas of expertise: Rachel is professor of Peace Studies at Leeds Beckett University, UK, and...

Berit BLIESEMANN DE GUEVARA

Areas of expertise: The CSS Model;Research and evaluation; Facilitation, coachingand mentoring; Exhibition. Berit is professor...