Project Strategist

BACKGROUND:

The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization based in Beirut. CLDH was established in 2006 by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily), which has been actively combating arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and impunity for gross human rights violations since 1996.

CLDH’s comprehensive initiatives include advocacy, public mobilization, rehabilitation for victims of torture and families of enforced disappearances, and the provision of pro-bono legal services for vulnerable groups. CLDH currently operates from four offices located in Zalka (Headquarters), Dora, Tripoli, and Baalbeck. 

PROJECT PROFILE – “Safe from Slavery”:

“Safe from Slavery” is a 6-month project funded by the Embassy of Germany in Lebanon. Its primary objective is to provide assistance to Migrant Workers and Migrant Domestic Workers residing in Lebanon. These individuals, who are subjected to the sponsorship system (Kafala), face conditions akin to modern-day slavery. They represent one of the most vulnerable populations in the country, enduring insecure employment and widespread labor abuses.
Migrant Domestic Workers, predominantly women from African and Asian nations, are particularly susceptible to intersectional violence resulting from the intersection of gender and racial discrimination. Moreover, Migrant Workers often lack access to legal aid support, both within and outside detention centers.

The project aims to advocate for significant changes and enhance the protection of the rights of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon. This will be accomplished by supporting the establishment of legal frameworks that adhere to human rights standards and by improving access to justice and quality protection services.

The project encompasses three main outcomes:

1. Ensure access to Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) services and medical care.
2. Empower Migrant Workers through legal assistance and improve their access to justice.
3. Encourage Parliamentarians and Civil Society Actors to commit to eliminating the “Kafala” system within the next two years.

The project will be implemented on a national scale in Lebanon, with services provided at CLDH centers in Beirut-Mount Lebanon and North, as well as interventions in detention centers. Some activities will also be conducted online.

Job Profile:

The Project Strategist directly reports to the Project Focal Point.

The Consultancy Agreement is intended to last until December 31, 2023. Renewal may be considered based on the availability of funds and performance evaluation.

The Project Strategist will be responsible for the advocacy aspects of the above-described project, collaborating with CLDH’s Communications Department, researchers, and other relevant team members.

The consultant will be tasked with the following main objectives:

a. Conduct a thorough review of existing literature, laws, and regulations related to slavery in Lebanon, including international conventions and treaties.

b. Identify and analyze the various forms of slavery prevalent within the country and their underlying causes.

c. Assess the current efforts made by the government and relevant organizations in combatting slavery.

d. Develop a coherent and feasible National Action Plan with clearly defined strategies, targets, and timelines to address and eliminate slavery.

e. Formulate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the implementation and progress of the Action Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature, reports, and data related to slavery in Lebanon, both domestically and internationally.
• Organize ten consultation meetings with key stakeholders, including civil society, UN agencies, Parliament members, lawyers, and employment offices. Submit comprehensive Minutes of Meetings.
• Coordinate the publication of a position statement following the consultation meetings, highlighting the position of civil society, parliamentarians, UN agencies, and relevant stakeholders on amendments to the Labor Law, outlining challenges, obstacles, and recommendations.
• Prepare a comprehensive National Action Plan (NAP), inclusive of clear objectives, actions, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Present the NAP to key stakeholders for feedback and incorporate relevant inputs on the event of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (December 2) and submit an Activity Report afterward.
• Finalization: Prepare the final version of the National Action Plan incorporating all the necessary revisions.

Qualifications:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Law, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, or related fields.
• Excellent knowledge of the situation of Migrant Workers in Lebanon.
• Experience in conducting advocacy actions.
• Experience in organizing meetings and managing relationships with stakeholders.
• Proficiency in digital skills, including the use of Microsoft Office.
• Advanced organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent reporting skills.
• Fluent in both spoken and written Arabic and English.