Social Cohesion Adviser (Consultant) – EU-funded Strengthening Social Cohesion & Dispute Resolution Project (Sri Lanka)

Position description

British Council is seeking an experienced Social Cohesion Adviser to lead the technical design and delivery of key activities under the European Union-funded Strengthening Social Cohesion and Dispute Resolution (SSCDR) Project in Sri Lanka.

This is a senior technical leadership role and a member of the project’s Senior Management Team. The successful candidate will provide strategic and technical leadership on social cohesion across the programme and may be required to deputise for the Team Leader when required.

The position is based in Colombo with regular travel across Sri Lanka, particularly to the Northern, Eastern and Uva Provinces, and is subject to the conclusion of the relevant financing and contractual agreements.

About the Project

The SSCDR Project supports the Government of Sri Lanka in strengthening social cohesion, improving dispute resolution services and promoting inclusive economic development through collaboration with government institutions, civil society, communities and development partners.

The programme focuses on:

• Promoting inclusion and reconciliation
• Strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
• Supporting inclusive economic cooperation
• Improving opportunities for women and youth
• Building evidence-based policy and institutional capacity

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the technical design and delivery of activities under Result Areas 1, 3 and 4.
• Ensure a coherent and consistent approach to social cohesion across the programme.
• Provide technical advice on social cohesion, reconciliation, gender equality and inclusion.
• Support policy development and evidence-based programme implementation.

Programme Delivery

• Lead planning and implementation of assigned programme activities.
• Oversee technical quality, work planning and resource management.
• Develop Terms of Reference for consultants and service providers.
• Support civil society grant-making initiatives and provide technical quality assurance.
• Identify and manage programme risks and implementation challenges.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Contribute to MEL strategy and implementation.
• Support development of the Theory of Change and Logframe.
• Undertake monitoring visits and contribute to project reporting.
• Support learning workshops, case studies and Most Significant Change documentation.
• Contribute to technical and financial reporting to the European Union and other stakeholders.

Leadership and Representation

• Line manage Provincial Coordinators and the Community Engagement Manager.
• Support recruitment, mentoring and capacity development of project staff.
• Represent the British Council and the project with government, development partners and civil society stakeholders.
• Support strategic engagement with national, provincial and local stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy, political science, governance, law, international development or a related field.
• More than 10 years’ experience in peacebuilding, reconciliation, social cohesion and gender equality in Sri Lanka.
• Experience working with government, civil society, development partners and the private sector.
• Experience facilitating community engagement and capacity development initiatives.
• Strong understanding of gender-sensitive and inclusive development approaches.
• Knowledge of alternative dispute resolution principles and approaches.
• Experience leading and mentoring multidisciplinary technical teams.
• High proficiency in English and Tamil and/or Sinhala.

Desirable Experience

• Experience developing MEL frameworks and adaptive programme management approaches.
• Experience managing CSO grants and project budgets.
• Experience in inclusive local economic development and inclusive business models.
• Experience organising high-level policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working on European Union-funded programmes.
• Experience in development communications and advocacy

Application instructions

Interested eligible applicants can submit (i) their CVs (in no more than 2 pages), and (ii) a one-page covering letter (indicating an all-inclusive per day consultancy fee rate in Euro) by 23.59 Central European Time on Friday 3^rd July 2026. Please mention “Application for Social Cohesion Adviser/ SSCDR” in the subject of the e-mail.

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