Focus Group Expert

About Chemonics

Chemonics International is an international development company based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. Since 1975, we have worked in 150 countries around the world, and we are currently implementing 118 projects in 84 countries. Our main partner is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and we also work with foreign donors such as the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Global Fund. We have more than 4,000 staff in our project offices around the world, and more than 500 staff based in our headquarters in Washington, D.C.

1.  Project Background

The Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP) is a multi-year project funded by USAID to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence, primarily in Lebanon’s North, South, and Beqaa regions. Under Task Order No. 3 (TO 3), the project provides technical assistance to municipalities, civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and other entities to increase capacity and ensure sustainable impact in providing key essential services. The main objective of this 5-year task order is to support Component 3 (Capacity Building) of the CSP Program by delivering technical assistance to enhance the sustainability of CSP interventions under Component 1 (Community Stabilization Support) and Component 2 (Community Development Support), and if required, under future Task Orders.

2.  Summary of Position

The expert is expected to plan and moderate focus group discussion for beneficiaries of  CSP/TO3. It is expected that the expert conducts 3 focus group discussions that cover several CSP TO3 beneficiaries such as: Presidents of Municipal Council, Heads of Agricultural Cooperatives, Presidents of Administrative Committees of Non-Governmental Organizations, and university interns who work at CSP. The purpose of the focus group discussions is to gain more insights into the socio-economic changes that have affected Lebanon since 2019, and the required adaptations needed under technical assistance. The expert is expected to generate a qualitative report detailing the methodology used for the FGD preparation and facilitation and the overall findings.

3.  Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Plan for the Focus Group (FG)

• The expert shall meet with the CSP/TO3 team to understand the objective of the FGDs and their desired outcomes.
• Following the meeting with the CSP/TO3, the expert will:
  • Provide the CSP/TO3 with guidance on the selection criteria/profile of the FG’s participants in order to attain the required results and information.
  • Develop the FG moderation plan detailing:
    • Session’s methodologies and outlines
    • Key questions
    • Whether the session will be physical or online; and,
  • Share the FGD plan, membership and timeline with the CSP/TO3 for review, comments, and approval at least one week prior to the FG session.

Note: CSP/TO3 will be providing the expert with the needed documents to prepare for the FG discussions.

1. Implement the Focus Group Discussions:

• The expert will:
  • Moderate the FGD sessions that would include some 6-10 persons per group, and that shall last for 2 hours at a maximum.
  • Take notes of the discussion; and,  
  • Provide a FGD report to CSP TO3 that summarizes the results of the discussions for TO3 comments and feedback.

 Note: Shall the expert need a rapporteur to document the minutes of the meeting, during the FG sessions, s/he will be responsible for this as part of his/her daily honorarium.

4.  Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in market research, social work, communication or related field; or equivalent experience in moderating and conducting focus groups.
• 5+ years of experience in conducting focus groups, particularly with municipalities and local communities.
• Proven strong verbal and written communication skills and people skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across diverse sets of stakeholders.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.

 5.  Eligibility Criteria

 Interested individual experts shall have the capacity to enter a short-term technical assistance (STTA) contract and shall have a satisfactory performance record and record of integrity and business ethics.

 6.  Ineligible Experts:

• Government employees.
• Individual experts that appear on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Non-Procurement Programs.

   

7.  Location of the Assignment

The expert will be liaising with CSP TO 3 team at CSP offices in Sin-El-Fil. The trainings will be provided in a training venue to be determined later. The location of the FG could be the Beqaa, North Lebanon and/or South Lebanon.

8.  Reporting

The expert will be reporting to TO 3 Municipal and CSO Capacity Building Managers.

 Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants that can legally work in Lebanon will be considered for employment based on their qualifications without discrimination.