Masarouna Actors Mapping Consultancy

Masarouna

Actors Mapping

Consultancy Terms of Reference

Background

Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993. We provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by conflict, and we promote economic development, promotion of good governance at a local and national level, and women’s rights through our work with our partners. Oxfam also works with local partners to contribute to the protection and empowerment of marginalized women and men.

Oxfam in Lebanon is currently implementing the “Masarouna” project that aims to reinvent civic space by promoting the political activation and participation of young people (YP) and creating and strengthening alternative civic spaces, both online and offline. It also aims to strengthen connections between traditional CSOs and YP, acknowledging the generational gap as an opportunity rather than a challenge Masarouna identifies two main interlinked pathways to achieve the change.

Pathway 1 is focused on the direct influencing of decision-makers and society to address inadequate legislation and harmful traditional social and cultural norms through strengthened youth engagement.

 Pathway 2 is focused on strengthening civil society, reclaiming civic space and the formation of new partnerships and alliances. We will walk through the pathways in more detail in this chapter, identifying outcomes and activities that set the pathways in motion. Both pathways are not static or linear: they interact and influence each other and change in one pathway cannot happen without a change in the other.

Context

In Lebanon, civil society has played an important role throughout history. After the Civil War in 1990, the civil society sector continued expanding, with civil society organizations bolstering their modes of action to encompass human rights and advocacy efforts. Compared to other countries in the region, Lebanon’s legal landscape appears rather liberal, enabling the emergence of civil society organizations. The Lebanese Constitution includes a few articles related to public freedoms. Despite this liberal legal environment, the law attributes governmental authorities with large discretionary power used to prevent “illegal” assemblies. The country is classified as “civic space is obstructed” in the CIVICUS20 monitor.

Civil society in Lebanon is operating in a volatile political and security environment as well as dire socio-economic conditions. The political order that enshrines sectarianism as the basis of participation and representation hinders civil society to be an influential autonomous actor in policy-making, if not making it impossible. Overall, the social, economic and security situation has affected the civic space in Lebanon

However, Lebanese youth are politically active, but ambiguously: eager to participate in political processes and at the same time strongly disenchanted with Lebanon’s political system. Lebanon’s CSO landscape has seen and seen many youth CSOs, movements and individual activism. Defying censorship and expression control policies, youth activism has shifted to the internet and social media to influence public opinion and communicate youth complaints and demands regarding the country’s political and economic situation.

Recent years saw a continued and increased shrinking of civic space and freedoms The CIVICUS 2020 global monitor[1][2] concludes with an alert and warning on the civil society space in Lebanon.

Introduction to Required Services

Oxfam in Lebanon seeks the services of a consultant/consultancy firm, to complete a national-level actors mapping exercise that involves a comprehensive assessment of the political, economic, social, legal and other roles of the state, business and civil society actors, international actors and other key indirect influencers play (or not) to advance or limit the civic space in Lebanon. A particular emphasis should be placed on the role and position of young people and the enabling environment around them. The mapping should look into offline and online spaces, formal and informal groups and organisations including nascent, unstructured organisations, coalitions and movements as well.

Furthermore, the assessment has to unpack the various dimensions of the civic space at the level of each actor,  including 1) the regulatory frameworks, 2)Access to funding and resources, 3) administration and bureaucracy, 4) the safety and well-being of people, 5) access to information, 6) freedom of assembly, 7) dialogue and consultation, 8) access to justice and legal services, 9) legitimacy and accountability of civil society.

The ultimate   goal is to create more support for defending civic space and CSO work through:

• Increasing partners’ understanding of civic space and how we can shape and influence;
•  Increasing our ability to protect space and partners, including the digital space;
• Investing in strengthening and widening civic space for local actors;
  Adapting our ways of working to effectively shift civic space, including towards onlines paces;

This approach will be translated into interventions that will safeguard civic space at the heart of our work. Interventions  might include:

• Documenting and Influencing: Influencing (e.g. on NGO laws, freedom of speech, etc.) to prevent the implementation of new restrictions on civic space and to ensure current rights are upheld. Use digital strategies (e.g. social media) for advocacy;
• Promoting positive narratives & public support: Building a strong public support base for CSOs to increase perceived legitimacy and avoid civil society to be seen foreign agents, strengthening links with constituencies. Contributing to positive narratives about the (value of) civil society and tackling defamation;
• Strengthen the resilience & protection of partners and learn from each other: Support partners to navigate and work around restrictions, incl. by using innovative digital strategies;
• Support  the ability of partners to manage civic space-related risks and crises, incl. on digital security, and to put protection measures in place (e.g. (digital) security, and well-being of staff, flexible, emergency budget for ad-hoc campaigning, legal fees);
•  Build movements & coalitions: Broaden/strengthen on- and offline coalitions and
  movements to ensure a stronger collective voice of civil society.
• Create political space: Open political space on topics we work on; take care not to close or take away space from our partners and local civil society

The end report should encompass recommendations on how to bring together the civil society, state and business actors as well as direct and indirect influencers and young people across their differences
and find common ground to work on better access to rights including sexual health and rights (SRHR). It will also propose different strategies, including online and
offline work, rooted in inclusion and accountability.

Scope of Services

The full scope of the consultancy mission involves:

1. Desk research/literature review: Detailed review of the project and supporting documents, including Project Implementation Plan (PIP), Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) among other relevant documents.
2. In consultation with Oxfam Governance and MEAL teams, suggest a mapping approach that involves consulting with Oxfam’s field offices, partner and network organisations and groups. The end result should include a comprehensive list of various actors the Masarouna programme is interested to work with and through
3. An examination of context and a comprehensive situational analysis that looks into the evolution of the civic space in Lebanon, with a concentration on the existence of spaces for SRHR.
4. A provision of recommendations on the diversity of actors to involve in Masarouna pathways 1 and 2 is referred to in the Background section.

Deliverables & Timeframe

Timeframe

Activity / Tasks

Details

Consultancy /days

Desk research/literature review

A detailed review of the project and supporting documents as well as existing research, mapping and analysis carried out under the project framework nationally and regionally.

3

Design of tools, and testing ‘if required

Including qualitative/quantitative tools for collecting baseline data, and mapping of WROs and feminist networks.

2

Inception report

Preparation and submission of an Inception report detailing the outline, timeline, and methodology applied for the baseline assessment

2

Fieldwork

Based on the sample and proposed tools, identify the outreach approach and complete the mapping

8

Analysis and Draft Report 

Comprehensive analysis of data collected, generating qualitative and quantitative baseline data for project indicators.

3

Final Report

Draft an analytical report and submit it for Oxfam’s input and sign off (consultancy firm then, to modify accordingly and submit a final draft of the report within the agreed timeframe)

2

Total working days (level of effort)

20 Days

Key Deliverables

Output

Timeline

1. Inception Report, including data collection tools and guides to be used.

Within 10 days of the contract signature 

1. De-briefing 

Within 5 days following completion of the fieldwork 

1. Draft Narrative Report 

Within 10 working days from completion of fieldwork 

1. Final narrative report in English,  and a PowerPoint presentation presenting all findings.

Within 5 days of receiving feedback and comments on the draft report 

Required Qualifications

The consulting firm/consultant(s) will have a team with combined expertise in gender equality and protection programming, with proven experience in undertaking surveys and baselines, and be adequately familiar with the local context. Team members will have 5-7 years of relevant experience in their respective areas of responsibility. The consulting firm/consultant(s) and team members will sign and abide by Oxfam non-staff code of conduct. The following will be used in assessing the qualification of the team members:

• Well-versed in Lebanon’s civic, with a good understanding of power dynamics, feminist approaches, and intersectionality ;
• Strong track record of experience and expertise in quantitative and qualitative research and evaluations ;
• Experience working with civil society and community-based organisations;
• A masters’ Degree (or equivalent degree/experience) in Gender, human rights, social sciences, development, or a related field is mandatory;
• Youth-focussed experience in the needs and aspirations of youth in Lebanon is an added value;
• Experience in using participatory and engaging workshop facilitation methodologies;
• Strong capacity in data management and statistics and compliance with data protection laws;
• Knowledge of SRHR, gender rights agenda and gender equality-related legal and policy framework.;
• Excellent communications skills in English and Arabic, including advanced English writing skills;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality written reports that analyse the data and information accurately and respond to research ask and questions;
• Knowledge on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) will be an added advantage.