Communications and Advocacy Consultant

Communications and Advocacy Consultant

Terms of Reference

Background

With the support of the European Regional Development and Protection Programme for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (RDPP II), Oxfam and its partners Legal Agenda (LA) and Lebanese Observatory for Workers and Employees’ Rights (LOWER) are implementing a project titled “Promotion of decent work and sustainable business development in Bekaa, Lebanon.” In addition, the project will work very closely with the My Work, My Rights! Network, an informal group of local Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) that work on advancing decent working conditions in Lebanon.

The project aims to contribute to a decent and economically sustainable business environment for displacement-affected populations in the Bekaa by strengthening the linkage between the local civil society, the business development service (BDS) providers, and the MSMEs in Bekaa.

To achieve this overall objective, the project will implement activities under three main clusters:

• Cluster 1: Empower a local network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to influence practices and policies related to decent work;
• Cluster 2: Convene an informal network of private business development organizations and professionals with strong decent work capacities in Bekaa;
• Cluster 3: Improve working conditions and accessible decent job opportunities in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Bekaa.

Under activity cluster 1, the My Work, My Rights! Network is to finalize inclusive and gender-sensitive communications and visibility, and advocacy plans linked to three project outputs.

• Output 1.1: My Work, My Rights! Network’s governance structure, strategy, action plan and communication plan are developed.
• Output 1.2: My Work, My Rights! Network’s tools with integrated decent work agenda.
• Output 1.3: Network’s capacity on influencing tactics and policy development is developed.

Objective
Oxfam is looking for a qualified Communications and Advocacy consultant to support the My Work, My Rights Network by revising and finalizing the drafted communication and advocacy plans in a participative approach to ensure complementarity and standardization in messages, a strong online presence, and a set approach to influencing policy development. Planning should focus on organizsing members’ roles and responsibilities and standard procedures.

The objectives of the assignment include:

• Finalizing the communications and visibility plan, including updating the already existing draft plan for the Web Application launch, if still applicable, by revisiting its key points with the network members to update, elaborate and complete missing sections, as well as mapping roles and responsibilities, and creating a clear timeline calendar for dissemination of network’s products and social media posts.
• Finalizing the advocacy plan, including updating the existing Know Your Rights campaign plan by revisiting its key points with the network members to update, elaborate and complete missing sections as well as mapping roles and responsibilities.
• Integrating a capacity-building approach to finalizing the communication and advocacy plans with the network members to ensure the assigned members have the knowledge, awareness and skills to use their own capacity in implementation of the plans.
• Internal and external communication, including tackling unplanned communication activities (how does the network communicate internally and externally? Who? When? What? Why?) taking account of the communication committee, and updating its ToR as needed.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant is expected to submit the below deliverables:

• Final advocacy and communication and visibility plans/strategies based on four half-day workshops and any necessary meetings, briefings and/or debriefings held. Including:
  • Know your rights campaign final plan
  • Web-application launching plan
  • Calendar for online dissemination
• PowerPoint summaries of both plans in Arabic.
• Brief flow chart of roles and responsibilities and procedures to follow through the communication and advocacy plans, also tackling unplanned communication activities (example: mass dismissals in enterprise in Lebanon, how does the network quickly mobilize and what does it issue, and who leads?), This should be based on a resources mapping exercise with the members.
• Validation workshop and handover to network’s communication focal point.

The plans and the workshop delivery and materials are required in Arabic; however, a final report is to be submitted in English.

The consultant is expected to work closely with the Oxfam influencing team and the Project Manager.

Consultancy duties and responsibilities/scope of work

Facilitator’s main responsibility will be to:

Phase 1: (week 1)

• Kick-off & preparatory meeting: To attend a meeting with Oxfam to kick-off activities, where the consultant is provided background information and is expected to present and discuss methodology for delivery of objectives.
• Desk review of relevant project documents such as proposal, project communication and visibility plan, donor and Oxfam branding guidelines, log frame, reports, workplan, and issues of decent work and labour rights in Lebanon.
• Perform analytical assessments and reviews of available draft plans, tools, and activities for the purpose of identifying gaps and weaknesses as the basis towards wholesome consistent and standardized communication and visibility, and advocacy strategies and plans for the network.
• Submit a revised methodology after the desk review and assessments to  to achieve consultancy objectives

Phase 2: (Weeks 2 and 3)

• Plan and facilitate four half-day workshops to finalize communications and advocacy plans and strategies (if context permits, in person). The consultant should also account for any additional briefing and/or debriefing workshops if needed.
• Submit a short report after all the workshops (to include relevant data, lessons learned, success stories and minutes of the meeting).
• Engage with members of the My Work, My Rights Network on the finalization of the plans/strategies (virtual meetings, interviews, FGD etc.).
• Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of network members, including the steering committee and the media committee in relation to executing the plans and internal communication responsibilities.
• Provide recommendation on potential structure and focus over the coming three years, as well as an implementation plan for the first three years and advice on cost implications for such work

Phase 3: (Week 4)

• Share the draft communications and advocacy plans/strategies and implementation plan with stakeholders (the full documents and PowerPoint summary of the plans).
• Present draft plans at the validation workshop to the network members.
• Prepare final advocacy and communication plans/strategies, and handover to communication focal point within the network.

If workshops take place online, it is the responsibility of the facilitator to have the required software license for online video-conferencing programs like Zoom and ensure reliable internet access.

Qualifications and required expertise

Qualification & Skills Requirements:

• Holder of a university degree in media, journalism, law, political sciences, or an equivalent.
• A minimum of five years’ work experience in the areas of communication and advocacy, ideally with a focus on decent work and labour rights in Lebanon.
• Experience in conducting engaging online trainings/facilitation of workshops for local organizations.
• Expert knowledge and experience in digital platforms and social media handle.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of issues of decent work and labor rights in Lebanon.
• Extensive work experience and proven record in advocacy, policy, social campaign, strategic management.
• Excellent command of oral and written Arabic.
• Demonstrate experience of having undertaken similar assignments.
• Good communication and facilitation skills.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity to gender issues.
• Knowledge of the functioning of Oxfam and local partners is a plus.

Timeframe

Timeframe envisioned is between 22/11/2021 and 22/12/2021. Subject to extension if necessary.