Capacity-Building Trainer on Local-Level Advocacy

Background of the Project

ALEF – act for human rights is implementing the WE’AM project (Working for Engagement, Acceptance and Mediation), funded by the EU and lead by OXFAM, which aims to address drivers of social and political tensions within and among communities in Lebanon. The project aims to contribute to a people-centered recovery of Lebanon, in line with 3RF and particularly Pillar 3 focusing on supporting a socially cohesive environment. Considering the multi-layered crisis and divisions that characterize the country, the project aims at leveraging multi-level (individual, community, national, policy and reform) responses that contribute to social cohesion, focusing on three key dimensions: drivers of tensions at the community level; conflict prevention processes and awareness raising; mainstreaming of community level social cohesion into programming, with particular focus on the EU. The WE'AM project seeks to address drivers of social and political tensions within and among communities in Lebanon by building on locally led solutions and responses and by developing and disseminating gender-responsive tools and methods for conflict prevention and resolution. By involving a variety of stakeholders – civil society, community groups, religious, political, media and private sector actors, donor community and the wider audience - with a participatory approach, the project will help building consensus and produce recommendations to mainstream social cohesion into EU community-based development programs.

As part of the project, a comprehensive capacity-building and mentoring package will be provided to women and youth groups, with the aim of empowering them to play active roles in their communities and building their capacities to identify and implement bottom-up initiatives and processes at a community level to reduce local tensions effectively.

As part of this package, ALEF will deliver one training session on local-level advocacy for each of 24 women and youth groups in the 12 project locations (Baddawi, Jabal Mohsen/Tebbeneh, el Mina; Fneidek, Mashta Hammoud/Mashta Hassan, Tikrit; Ein Remmeneh/Chiyah, Hay el Gharbeh/Ghobeiri; Barja; Saida; Baalbek, Deir al Ahmar). The session will aim to develop the capacities of 15 participants in conducting advocacy with local stakeholders and actors and to support them in promoting participation in local governance.

Background for the Consultancy

ALEF is looking for a trainer to deliver a series of 24 capacity-building sessions on local-level advocacy between November 2023 and February 2025 (8 sessions between November 2023 and February 2024 and 16 sessions between March 2024 and February 2025). The sessions are expected to develop the capacities of participants in conducting advocacy with local stakeholders and actors and to support them in promoting participation in local governance. This consultancy will be contracted and undertaken under the supervision of ALEF – act for human rights. The work should be delivered as follows:

• 24 sessions (each for 1 day) conducted in 12 different locations across Lebanon, with each location hosting 2 sessions.
• Each session targets 15-20 participants.
• Additionally, there are 12 mentoring and support sessions.
• Developing and contextualizing training material as well as reporting will be allocated a total of  9 days.

Total number of days:                    45 days

                Training sessions:             24

                Mentoring sessions:        12

                Preps & Reporting            9

Between November 2023 and February 2024, 8 of the 24 capacity-building sessions are expected to be delivered as per the above arrangements, totalling 15 days.

The workplan for the remaining 16 capacity-building sessions will be agreed upon with the consultant.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Revising ALEF’s existing training modules on local-level advocacy and add new material in order prepare a module that fits the context of the project, with special considerations for the local stakeholders involved.
• Arranging to travel  to the 12 project locations and travelling there on the training days.
• Delivering 24 capacity-building sessions addressed to women and youth groups who will be trained on local-level advocacy.
• Following up with the participants should they need any mentoring or support in implementing the material they learned during the capacity-building sessions.
• Reporting to ALEF on the capacity-building sessions, their evaluation, and their impact

Deliverables

• Training material for a 1-day session on local advocacy
• 24 capacity-building sessions
• 12 mentoring sessions
• 2 training reports (a first report in February 2024 and a final report once all sessions are concluded)

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in Human Rights or, Political Science, International Relations, Law, and/or related field experience;
• Minimum of five years’ experience in non-government organizations, public policy, government institutions, or organisations that focus on human rights;

• Experience in conducting local level advocacy and engaging with local stakeholders;
• Proven ability to communicate orally in a clear and concise manner;
• Strong training skills;
• Strong knowledge of the local context in Lebanon; and
• Fluency in English and Arabic.