ToR - Care Economy Consultant

BACKGROUND

The ILO is implementing the We CARE project which aims to address the growing need for care in Lebanon and the increasing vulnerabilities faced by care workers in healthcare, education, and domestic work sectors. Since 2019, Lebanon has experienced significant socio-economic changes that have adversely affected working conditions of care workers who are often women, limiting progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 8, and 10.

The current phase of the project is focused on enhancing the capacity of care workers to protect their rights as workers and the project is working closely with workers’ organizations.  Improving the working conditions and promoting decent work for care workers requires improving the understanding of workers’ rights among the care workers themselves, as provided in relevant international labour standards, international guidelines, national laws and policies, and considering the local contexts as a first step. This will be the basis for the workers to formulate a set of minimum standards which they can use in their work to protect their rights. This can also be used as a collective advocacy tool to ensure their access to decent work.   

In this context, the ILO Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) is seeking to engage one national consultant to facilitate the process and support the development of an information brief[1] for 1) healthcare workers, 2) teachers in early childhood education and care, and 3) domestic work.  

OBJECTIVE

1. Develop an information brief[2] and a list[3] of priority demands for improving working conditions and realizing decent work for  three groups of care workers: healthcare workers, education workers (including nursery staff), and domestic workers.
2. Develop Awareness raising materials targeting care workers in Lebanon
3. Support trade unions in developing a care strategy to improve the working conditions of care workers, including domestic workers.

DELIVERABLES

1. Developing information brief:

1. 1. Desk review/ inception report: Conduct a research to gather information and develop a situational analysis of the working conditions of care workers with particular focus on the three sub-sectors in question.
   2. First draft of the brief: based on the inception report, develop and information brief for care workers with particular focus on the three groups of care workers in question. This brief will need to be developed based on international labour standards, international guidelines, and national laws and policies. Aiming to raise awareness on workers right as provided in International and National Laws in addition identify gaps in national laws specific to the workers in question.

1.3 Presentation: Upon receiving clearance by ILO, the consultant will prepare and deliver  a presentation of the information brief to a group of care workers (from the sectors of focus), with the aim of raising awareness and collecting feedback.

1.4 Final draft: the situational analysis and information brief documents will be finalized after incorporating all comments raised by ILO specialists, workers and unions.

Must be completed no later than February 20,2025

1. Develop a list of priority demands:

1. 1. Conduct at least three focus group discussions with the targeted care workers groups to gather basic information and obtain feedback on a list of priority demands.
   2. Prepare a consultation Report summarizing  the discussions held with key stakeholders and care workers,  highlighting their working conditions, key challenges and recommendations.
   3. Update the situational analysis and information brief by integrating findings from the situational analysis and the group discussions with care workers.
   4. Draft a preliminary List of Demands for Promoting Decent Work for the three targeted groups of care workers.
   5. Present and validate the updated situational analysis and the draft list of priority demands  with the targeted care workers groups and trade unions.
   6. Final the List of Demands for Promoting Decent Work for the targeted  care worker groups, incorporating feedback from workers’ organizations ILO specialists and project staff.

Must be completed to later than March 20, 2025.

1. Development of awareness raising materials (3) targeting care workers in Lebanon, for the groups of targeted workers
   1. Based on the brief and the list of priority demands in addition to the inputs and discussion with workers develop one awareness raining material content per group of care workers in Lebanon.
   2. Final version of the awareness raining material incorporating the feedback from ILO.
   3. Based on consultation with Trade unions provide a 2 pages including a plan of dissemination for awareness material and another for a content of a communication and advocacy campaign to improve perception on care work

Must be completed to later than March 30, 2025.

1. Develop a care strategy for Trade unions.

1. 1. Conduct Focus group discussions and bilateral meetings with both CGTL and FENASOL
   2. Develop an initial skeleton of the care strategy based on desk review and findings.
   3. Conduct four workshops to facilitate the discussion around the care strategy and support trade union leaders in developing it.

Workshop 1: focused on explaining the care economy and the context in Lebanon including the findings from deliverables 1 and 2

Workshop 2: Focused on facilitating different sessions on what is care strategy for and defining the key elements to be included in the care strategy for TUs

Workshop 3: Focused on facilitating different session to jointly draft key sections of a care strategy for Lebanon

Workshop 4: validate the final draft, and Facilitate discussion on the operationalization of the care strategy and the role of each trade union/ syndicates .

1. 1. Submit a first draft of the care strategy for revision by the ILO
   2. Presentation of the Final version of the strategy to be validated and adopted by both trade unions during a joint meeting.
   3. Submit Final draft of strategy after incorporating comments and feedback received during the validation process.

Must be completed no later than May 15 2025

Detailed Description of roles and responsibilities

The consultant will work closely with the National Project Manager of the We CARE and under close technical guidance of the Senior Specialist on Gender Equality and Non Discrimination, the Senior Specialist of Workers’ Activities, and ILO ROAS Decent Work Team.

All Submissions are required in both English and Arabic languages. The Consultant must be based in Lebanon.

The consultant will be responsible to submit deliverables in both EN and AR languages , in addition to:

1. Desk Review and Analysis

• Conduct a desk review of international and national standards, existing reports, frameworks, and policies related to decent work for targeted care worker groups.
• Familiarise themselves with the ILO tools on care work including relevant ILS[4]s.

• Include Minimum Standards section, aligning them with ILO conventions (C98, C189, C190) and the ILO’s 5R framework and national laws and policies.

• Analyse the current working conditions of care workers in Lebanon, including vulnerabilities, gaps, and challenges, based on project documents and available literature.

1. Stakeholder Engagement

• Present the minimum standards to the care workers who are part of FENASOL and CGTL to raise awareness on their rights as provided in international and national laws and policies.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders, including workers' unions (e.g., FENASOL, CGTL), relevant employers' organizations, care worker representatives, and relevant government bodies to understand and identify main issues and recommendations for advancing decent work for care workers.
• Conduct virtual or in-person consultations to gather input and validate the needs and priorities of care workers, with a focus on developing a list of priority demands.

1. Development of a List of Priority Demands

• Draft a set of Priority Demands by care workers in healthcare, education, and domestic sectors.

1. Presentation and Finalization

• Present the draft list of priority demands to key stakeholders for feedback.
• Revise and finalize the Priority Demands document based on stakeholder feedback, ensuring they are practical, context-specific, and in alignment with international labour standards.

Deliverables will be considered final once approved by the ILO .

Detailed Description of roles and responsibilities of the ILO

• Introduce the consultant: Organize introductory meetings with relevant specialists at the ILO and constituents (FENASOL CGTL)
• Provide Feedback: Review submissions and provide comments
• Technical support: Provide relevant project documents and guidance through meetings with relevant specialists
• Logistics related expenses for the workshops and meetings

PAYMENT

Three instalments will be paid upon completion of the following deliverables subject to the clearance and satisfaction of the ILO.

First instalment 20% upon the submission of deliverables 1.

Second instalment 40% upon the completion of deliverable 2 and 3.

Third instalment 40% upon the completion of deliverable 4.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Law or Labor Studies, or Public Policy, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in developing policies, national frameworks and advocacy with focus on gender equality, economy, labour rights, social protection.
• Previous experience working with care workers and trade unions
• Understanding of ILO care economy concepts
• Understanding of ILO conventions, decent work principles, and gender equality frameworks.
• Experience working with trade unions and care workers of the listed sectors.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to facilitate consultations and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Consultant must speak fluently Arabic and English and must be based in Lebanon

Languages

Excellent command of English and Arabic

Core Values

• Respect for Diversity.
• Integrity.
• Professionalism.
• Ethical conduct.

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues.
• Accountability.
• Creative Problem Solving.
• Effective Communication.
• Inclusive Collaboration.
• Stakeholder Engagement.
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies

• Substantive experience and record of accomplishment in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Good knowledge of ILO and the UN system.
• Demonstrated analytical and technical skills in managing development projects/Programmes.
• Ability to introduce new approaches and strategic innovations.