Contribute to Strengthening the Conflict sensitivity of the Bekaa Water Management Programme (BWMP)

1. Background

As part of Switzerland’s response to impact of Syria crisis on Lebanon, and within the scope of the Regional Swiss Cooperation Programmes2015-2018, and 2019-2022, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been engaged on water and sanitation – one of 4 program domains. Switzerland has been focusing during 2015-2018 on emergency assistance, sustainable solutions, sanitation systems, and other innovative initiatives to reduce the growing pressure on the region’s water supply, while improving water governance across the region, and provided access to safe water and adequate sanitation facilities for the most vulnerable populations.

In Lebanon, this included amongst others the BWMP, which aims at that “The most vulnerable people in the Bekaa Valley benefit from safe, affordable and equitable access to well-managed drinking water and sanitation services, and less water-related conflicts”, in its currents phase. The BWMP is implemented through the Swiss cooperation project office in Zahlé.

Already before 2019, but even more so since then, the need for increasing conflict sensitivity became obvious as the economic crisis is having a direct and immediate impact on the water sector as well as on water related conflicts. In this context, the decision was taken to enhance the conflict analysis and to prepare and integrate a Conflict Sensitive Project Management (CSPM) strategy with the following three goals:

• Strengthening vertical relationships: By demonstrating the ability of the government to provide for citizens’ water needs and doing so through stronger partnerships among national (e.g. Ministry), regional (e.g., Bekaa Water Establishment) and local agencies (e.g. municipalities) in the water sector.
• Strengthening horizontal relationships: to reduce the potential for water-based conflicts, by increasing civil participation in decision-making in the water sector.
• Strengthening cross-divide relationships: and enabling cooperation on water issues across political lines and other divides.

The Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation (SDC) has decided to outsource to a specialized Partner Organization activities related to the implementation of the CSPM strategy of its Bekaa Water Management Programme BWMP, which are detailed as follows.

1. General Objective

The general objective of this mandate is to support the SDC Project Team in the implementation of parts of its CSPM Strategy, with its overall goal to reduce water-related conflicts in the Bekaa Valley.

1. Tasks and Activities

Working around conflict:

• Provide input on assessment criteria for selected sites for technical assistance based on vulnerability and need.
• Provide input and guidance on conflict sensitive communication (in Arabic and English) of these criteria and the BWMP in general in the Bekaa area among municipalities as well as other stakeholders.

Working in conflict (minimum Do No Harm)

• Conduct 6-8 conflict assessments in local areas where the BWMP delivers technical assistance (solarizing of four water-pumping stations, three drinking fountain projects in 2022, potentially additional solarizing of pumping station, and more public fountain projects in 2023).

Working on conflict:

• Establish network of municipalities where water resources are more scarce, to ensure there is a mechanism to prevent water conflicts, or reduce its impact where they occur.
• Support dialogue and establishment of partnerships between municipalities and Bekaa Water Establishment to enhance capacities, and facilitate agreements leading to signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• Work with municipalities and unions to exchange lessons on crisis management, and capture these lessons in a practitioner’s guide.
• Provide support for the implementation of projects that provide a space for community members from different backgrounds, especially younger generations to meet together and have a role in water management.

1. Expected Results and deliverables

• Signed MOUs, min. 6
• Communication strategy for the BWMP
• Conflict analysis (reports) prior to technical assistance (mainly for solarizing water pumping stations)
• Practitioner’s guide
• Interim report
• Final report

1. Timeline of the mandate

The mandate shall be carried out in close coordination with the technical assistance of the Bekaa Water Management Programme of SDC, as it has to provide critical information to it. The mandate is planned for the duration from beginning August2022 until end July 2023.

1. Institutional arrangement

The partner organization will work under the overall guidance of, and report to the SDC project office in Zahlé.

1. Required Proposal Documents

• Cover letter with respective signatures and stamps
• Name and contact data of single person of contact
• Technical proposal with methodology, preliminary time schedule
• Financial proposal (Budget,timeline and Payment schedule)

• Proposed team with CV of each team member
• Company Profile
• Portfolio, experience record
• Reference list with similar mandates executed by the consultant, providing at least the following data:
  1. Name of company or organization, address and function of contact person
  2. Time, place and  results of execution of the mandate
  3. Short description of the provided services

1. Award Criteria

Criteria for awarding the contract are the following.

Required Profile of the Partner Organization

• Proven extensive competences, methodological skills and experience in peacebuilding, and implementing conflict-sensitive approaches. Profound knowledge of the Lebanese context in general, with a clear understanding of the social norms and systems of local governance in the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel areas, and its impacts on water.
• Knowledge about the water sector and governance (laws and practices).
• Strong communication facilitation, mediation and negotiation skills.
• Experience in working in the Lebanese context especially with governmental institution and municipalities.

Technical Proposal

• Methodology
• Schedule of activities

Financial Proposal

• Overall cost

1. Annexes

BWMP Programme Facts Sheet

BWMP time schedule