Call for Expressions of Interest Participation in the REACH project "Strengthening Humanitarian Crisis Actors”

1. Context

The Bioforce Institute has launched a project to strengthen local and national actors' leadership and operational capacity to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of their responses to crises and the needs of affected communities. This three-year initiative, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), targets the following key stakeholders: 15 civil society organizations (CSOs), 20 local facilitators, and 120 members of sectoral organizations.

The project is structured around two main pillars:

• Specific Objective 1: Strengthening organizational development and peer learning among locally operating actors to improve responsiveness to community needs.
• Outcome 1: Enhanced organizational performance of targeted national and local CSOs.
• Outcome 2: Establishment of a locally driven, multi-stakeholder learning dynamic.

As part of Outcome 1, Bioforce is deploying its Taking the Lead (TTL) approach, which is designed to reposition local actors at the center of decision-making regarding their institutional and operational development. This methodology fosters a self-driven, inclusive capacity-strengthening process, enabling organizations to reflect on and analyze their individual and collective capabilities.

This approach is fully aligned with NEAR Network’s recommendation to invest in contextualized, demand-driven capacity strengthening for local actors rather than imposing standardized frameworks. The project will support local CSOs in designing their own institutional strengthening plans, ensuring that priorities are determined by their needs and strategic objectives rather than by external partners.

2. Purpose of the Call for Expressions of Interest

Through this Call for Expressions of Interest, Bioforce invites Lebanese Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to participate in capacity-strengthening activities designed within the project's framework.

Activities under Outcome 1:

Capacity-building support for local organizations in the Taking the Lead methodology

At the project's outset, a training session will be conducted for facilitators from the 10 selected CSOs to ensure a comprehensive understanding and effective use of the tools developed within the project. This training will equip CSOs with the necessary skills to independently conduct their organizational self-diagnosis, fostering greater ownership and sustainability of the approach.The session will target 20 facilitators (two per organization) and will serve as a key step in enhancing local leadership and institutional resilience.

Support for CSOs in Conducting Organizational Self-Diagnosis

To strengthen the ability of targeted Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to proactively prevent and respond to crises within their communities, Bioforce will provide structured support to the 20 trained facilitators in conducting self-diagnosis of their respective organizations. This participatory assessment will analyze each CSO’s institutional, operational, and technical capacities. The findings from this process will inform the development of tailored organizational development plans for each CSO, ensuring a strategic and context-driven approach to capacity strengthening.

Customized Support for the Implementation of Priority Organizational Development Actions

To facilitate the effective implementation of priority actions identified in the organizational development plans, the project will provide direct support to 10 Lebanese CSOs. With a total budget allocation of €75,600, the project will provide 180 days of on-demand expert support. This tailored technical assistance will address each organization's specific needs, reinforcing their ability to operate efficiently and sustainably in their respective contexts.

Activities under Outcome 2:

Two ephemeral Campuses to Train Staff, Strengthen Local Collaboration, and Foster Collective Learning

The Temporary Learning Campus is an innovative model designed to cultivate a shared learning culture and encourage humanitarian and development actors to collaborate more effectively. These campuses will offer a dynamic, interactive environment combining training sessions, workshops, side events, networking opportunities, marketplaces, and conferences—all within a flexible, high-quality, and inclusive learning space.

Over the course of the project, two Temporary Learning Campuses will be organized in Lebanon, open to employees of international and local organizations operating in the target areas. Each campus will last one week, and feature three intensive training sessions held simultaneously, diverse knowledge-sharing opportunities, including peer exchanges, and conferences addressing key sectoral challenges and priorities.

These campuses aim to strengthen local expertise, enhance coordination among actors, and foster sustainable partnerships in crisis response and development efforts.

3. Eligibility criteria

This Call for Expressions of Interest is open to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that meet the following criteria:

• Officially registered as an association with the Lebanese Ministry of Interior;
• Independent of any political affiliation;
• Non-profit organization;
• Legally established with a minimum of three years of operational experience;
• Employs at least ten permanent staff members;
• Manages an annual budget of at least €100,000.

Only organizations that fulfill all the above requirements will be considered for selection.