Application for 2023 Membership to Lebanon Participatory Grant Making Panel

Background:

           The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization based in Beirut. CLDH was created in 2006 by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily), which has been active since 1996 in the struggle against arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and the impunity of those perpetrating gross human rights violations.  CLDH monitors the human rights situation in Lebanon, fights enforced disappearance, impunity, arbitrary detention and racism and rehabilitates the victims of torture. CLDH regularly organizes press conferences, workshops and advocacy meetings on human rights issues in Lebanon and collects, records and documents human rights abuses in reports and press releases. CLDH team on the ground supports initiatives aimed at determining the fate of all missing persons in Lebanon.  CLDH regularly follows up on numerous cases of arbitrary detention and torture in Lebanon in coordination with Lebanese and international organizations, and with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention WGAD and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.  CLDH currently has 4 offices: Dora, Zalka, Beqaa and Tripoli.

Program Profile:

     Free to Be Me (F2BM) is an inspiring and innovative program that puts rights holders in the driving seat, while supporting the LGBTQI+ movement to an impactful and sustainable fight for its rights. In Lebanon, a vibrant LGBTQI+ scene would lobby and advocate for economic and social justice. Despite progress, challenges prevail in a highly restrictive legal environment. F2BM gives a voice, leadership and bounding to a community of qualified activists fighting to advance a common agenda in Lebanon. The Community of Action (CoA) fosters the growth of grassroots organizations and knowledge-sharing within the community. The program will encompass: i) tailored organizational capacity-building, ii) targeted individual skills development iii) micro-project funding allowing community impact and learning through action. F2BM is piloted by a project team hosted by and benefiting from an organizational support, from the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH), designated as the host organization (HO). The program directly benefits 10 grassroot organizations, a minimum of 15 activists and, indirectly, contributes to uphold the rights of the whole community in the region.

Introduction

CLDH is calling for SOGIE experts to apply and be part of the Grant Making Panel of the grant selection team. The Grant Making Panel consists of a number of country SOGIE experts to assess project proposals, organizational / initiatives capacity to deliver the project, and select winning ones. The panel will include two members of the host organizations (CLDH), two country experts and one member of F2BM global consortium partners. The assessment procedure will be guided by well-defined criteria which differ per requested funding amount, but include the required contribution to fulfilling the localized Theory of Change (ToC) and Plan of Action that were developed by the community of action  (CoA) members  in 2022.

The Purpose of Free To Be Me Grant-Making:

The purpose of the grant making is to create a mechanism to support LGBTQI+ grassroot organizations/ initiatives of the Community of Actions (CoA), that are working on different mandates at local level. The Panel will help sustain and enhance access to resources to support the LGBTIQ+ movement by providing financial and non-financial resources for LGBTQI+ organizations/initiatives.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Country Grant-Making Panel

The role of the country grant-making panel is to review grant proposals submitted by the CoA and decide on these grant applications in line with Free to be Me’s priorities and principles.

Lebanon Free to Be Me (F2BM) Grant Making Panel members will have the following responsibilities:

• Participate in (online) trainings (2 days training) – Date to be determined
• Attend one annual in-person or virtual meeting.
• Take an active part in online discussions, e-mail exchanges, and at least 75% of online meetings.
• Lead and conduct grant-making processes, including:
  • Encourage LGBTQI+ initiatives and collectives to apply for funding
  • Review submitted proposals for funding and provide input
  • Make collective decisions on funding proposals (decisions of the GMP are final pending ratification from the Steering Committee) based on priorities set by the CoA
  • Recommend grantmaking priorities and provide input on ITF strategy as relevant.
• Adhere to Free to be Me’s confidentiality and conflict of interest policies at all times.
• Strictly adhere to Free to be Me’s confidentiality and conflict of interest policies at all times.
• Elect Co-Chairs for their grant cycle.

Time Commitment

For this position, the members of the country grant making panel must be able to commit to the following:

• Participate in mandatory on-line training (3 hours) each year
•  Review up to 10 applications (including technical review, scoring and providing feedback) over three (3) days in the annual grant-making cycle.
• Grant-making panel members will be appointed by the Country Coordination Team for a one-year term.

Essential Qualification

• Knowledge, experience and direct involvement with LGBTQI+ movement in Lebanon
• Proficiency in English and Arabic
• Experience in managing and reporting on grants
• Experience in working in a diverse environment that includes donors
• Experience in being a member of Grant Making Panel is a plus

Conflict of Interest

Members of the F2BM Lebanon Grant Making Panel must state if any conflict of interest in relation to applications that have been submitted or are expected to be submitted by organizations where they are members, staff, board or they are affiliated to.

Compensation

Country Participatory Grantmaking panel members will receive a remuneration of 3000$ for the one-year grant cycle.  Members also receive travel expenses, including per diem, to attend country Participatory Grantmaking panel meetings.

Selection process

The Host Organization, with the support of the Participatory Grantmaking panel Technical Working Group will select five (5) members to serve as country Participatory Grantmaking panel members. When selecting candidates, every effort will be made to ensure diversity across LGBTI identities, and representation from further marginalized groups within the LGBTI community.