Consultancy Strategy Development for Naba’a 2023-2025

1. Asmae’s Background:

Asmae-Association Soeur Emmanuelle ("Asmae") is a French international NGO and registered charity, specializing in child development. Independent, secular and apolitical, it is open to all. Founded in 1980 by Sister Emmanuelle, based on her experience with rag pickers in the slums of Cairo, Asmae continues its actions in line with the values and methods inherited from its founder: listening and proximity, pragmatism, taking account of differences, professionalism and reciprocity. Asmae's actions aims to support vulnerable children and their families through personalized and continuing support for local actors working in the fields of education and child protection. Asmae has been operating in Lebanon through local partners since 1986. Asmae is currently working with five Lebanese NGOs, operating in and around Beirut with some activities carried out in other parts of Lebanon as well. For this project, Asmae has one main partner directly implementing the project’s activities:

1. Nabaa`s Background:

A non-profit non-government organization, duly organized and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of Lebanon.

Naba`a is an apolitical, non-profit Lebanese organization that works with Palestinians and Lebanese communities. It aims to create an environment in which children and youth can develop and live in harmony, regardless of their religion, sex and nationality. Naba`a work to empower local communities and to enable their members to uphold their rights and build a better future for themselves.

The specific objectives of the consultancy include:

 1- In consultation with the Management team, prepare an inception report with a detailed step-by-step process, methods, tools, and timelines for the development and validation of the strategic plan.

2- Prepare the first draft of the strategic plan as per the scope below with the process and methodology defined.

3- Ensure that feedback is incorporated through reviews and validation exercises and final sign-off is obtained from the management team, program staff, and other relevant members.

1. 1. Scope of the consultancy

Following the development and agreement of the inception report and the strategic plan structure and process guide, the key components of the strategic plan will be:

1.  A contextual analysis of both secondary and primary data sources after a thorough stakeholder mapping: Review of existing secondary data that would provide a visual representation of the key problems, issues, barriers, and trends that Nabaa is prioritizing to address in the long term. Followed by participatory research that would provide a narrative on key issues, themes, problems, and possible solutions. This is important to triangulate with data derived from secondary sources. 
2. Gender and power analysis in separate sections: Of the issues, problems, and factors identified in the preceding paragraphs, what is the peculiar effects/responses from/by different gender groups? How power is manifested in our context and which power forms are related to Nabaa. context and interventions.
3. Problem statement and solution statement: Summarizing the context into two to three paragraphs as a problem statement and providing an equal length of solution statement underpinning how the organization will go about addressing the problems.
4. Theory of change diagram and narrative: A visual representation and narrative that illustrates what the organization thinks needs to change and how this can happen. It must include evidence-based Pathways of Change (problems and issues addressed through clearly articulated short-term, medium-term and long-term outcomes; key interventions; assumptions and goals) and one to two pages descriptive summary of the key components in the theory of change diagram and rationale for how the organization is going to work to bring about change.
5.  Intervention strategies: Detailed descriptions of intervention strategies. A record of the types of interventions (grouping missions/activities based on geographical/ thematic coverage) and the utilization of organizational values that Nabaa will apply to bring about change including recurring or one-off interventions.
6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan and Result framework: Outlines the key evaluation questions, what approach will be taken to answer these, and indicators to assess progress – with timeline and resources needed.
7. Staffing and Implementation plan: An organogram of the number and types of technical and operational human resources needed to implement the plan with a brief description of each program- especially the types of organizational and technical skills and Nabaa’s core values that are needed in the implementation of the strategic plan.  The strategic plan would need to be validated formally within the secretariat, with members and other direct stakeholders to be agreed upon with the management team. 

• 1. Methodology and process
• A literature review of internal documents including different project proposals, log frames, project reports, publications and evaluations to derive a descriptive narration of key problems, issues, barriers, and trends that the program is addressing including key strengths and lessons learned.
• A literature review of key external documents published by I/NGOs, members, UN agencies, and other sources.
• Stakeholders mapping and primary research with the first layer of stakeholders (including but not limited to staff, members, beneficiaries, civil society, and public experts) through qualitative methods and instruments such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) and consultative workshops (where required) to triangulate with findings from secondary data and also identify themes and potential solutions/strategies.
• Compilation of Theory of Change diagram with clear pathways of change, narrative, and other associated sections as mentioned above.
• Validation of program and organizational strategies through formal exercises/ consultations/ workshops and incorporation of feedback received.
• Review and adapt of existing program strategic guide, recent evaluation reports, and theory of change templates and finalize an overall strategy template in the inception report of the consultancy.
• Adaptation and application of modern-day strategy development tools and methodologies such as stakeholder analysis, power, and gender analysis, environmental and climate change screening and mapping tools, etc.
• Ensuring a participatory and inclusive process with the involvement of all stakeholders.
• Ensuring privacy and non-disclosure of sensitive data and information.

Deliverables:

• Inception report with process guide and strategic plan template and clear timelines.
• Finalization and agreement list of stakeholders and primary research tools.
• An organizational strategic plan with accompanying sections
• Validation exercise reports and track record of feedback incorporation.

Duration:   The consultancy will be for a period of one month starting November 8^th, 2022.

Qualification of consultant.

• Advanced degree in relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, international development, project management) with relevant work experience in development studies, social development with a strong experience in strategies, studies/assessments or equivalent.

• Strong writing and communication skills.

• Ten years work experience in social development

• Specific experience and expertise in the use of monitoring and evaluation in the strategic framework

• Experience of working in a Lebanese context is essential, especially in and around the Palestine camps, other field experience is desirable.

· Good understanding of child protection and Education / Vocational training in the Lebanese context

· Deep knowledge about Capacity Building approaches and CSOs’ work in Lebanon

 · Good analytical, critical thinking, facilitation, and writing skills

· Get the official authorization to work in Lebanon

 Language requirement:

· Excellent Arabic and English writing and communication skills are required