Researcher Consultant - Legal Aid

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 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.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND:
During the 2016-2017 period, two research reports were produced by CLDH in order to assess and analyze the impact of displacement on refugees and vulnerable host communities. The first one addressed the legal challenges encountered by refugees from Syria in Lebanon whereas the second one tackled the practice of torture. Both reports provided with widely covered inputs for long-term planning. In July 2019, CLDH conducted an inception report on Lebanon Torture Situation after Legislating law 65/2017 - “An inception study on the Law aiming at punishing torture”. With this project, CLDH seeks to further investigate the recommendations made from the above-mentioned reports and engage in interviews with key governmental stakeholders in Lebanon.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:

Ten years already passed since the launching of the legal aid program by CLDH, and through this study, CLDH seeks to document the impact of the legal aid program, and investigate on all challenges and obstacles faced by different target groups within the judicial system. More importantly, the research will seek to answer the below research questions:

• What are the financial barriers to access justice encountered by residents in Lebanon?
• What is the added value of having an inclusive legal aid program in Lebanon?
• What are the average legal fees in criminal and civil courts?
• What are the gaps in the legal services provided in Lebanon?

This research will explore and focus more on vulnerable groups and their access to justice, and how the legal aid component can help poor and vulnerable groups to claim their rights and access justice and gain more confidence in the judicial system

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

We expect the consultant to follow a mixed method approach in their research. The research should also draw a comparative conclusion towards the above-mentioned studies. It will draw on the following sources:

Desk research: Review of CLDH reports and data and other relevant online sources to complete the assessment.

Key informant interviews: Interviews will be conducted to gather in depth information from key stakeholders

Focus group discussions: to gather in depth information

Surveys: Surveys should be conducted with and collected from old beneficiaries/inmates who received legal services from CLDH/Nassim in addition to a wider community including Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

DELIVERABLES:

Within Ten days from signing the agreement the consultant should submit an Inception Report, which clearly defines the research methodology and questions. It should mention research target and the clear set of data collection tools that will be used, including the questions used in interviews/focus group discussions/surveys.

A draft Research report to be submitted within 10 days of completion of the data collection for review and comments from CLDH. The review and feedback of the report could be more than one round depending on the quality of the report and the extent to which the comments and suggestions from first round have been incorporated.

A Final Report to be submitted after incorporating the comments of CLDH. The report should be written in English, 20-25 pages excluding annexes, consisting of:

• Cover page
• Table of contents, list of acronyms, abbreviations and list of tables and charts.
• Executive summary of key findings and recommendations – 3-4 pages.
• Background information and context analysis.
• Methodology with clear explanation of sampling and limitations, selection of key informants / FGD participants and data analysis approach.
• Research findings, analysis, with associated data presented, where appropriate in clear graphs or charts. The findings can include subsections for each research criteria.
• Conclusion and Recommendations.
• Appendices which include data collection tools

The report should be submitted electronically in a Word document and google doc. The consultant is responsible for English editing of the final report which should be well formatted. The report will be credited to the researcher and potentially placed in the public domain at the decision of CLDH.

All printed and electronic transcripts of interviews and surveys taken during the assessment and any equipment received from CLDH for the purpose of the study should be submitted back to CLDH. Furthermore, all information generated during the study will be the sole property of CLDH and is subject to submission to CLDH along with the final report, prior to the end of the contract.

AUDIENCE:
The primary audience of the research are policy and decision makers, Human Rights NGOs, and the Lebanese and international community at large.

DURATION:
The duration of the assignment is from February to April 2020.
Location:
The selected consultant will work remotely and is expected to attend weekly meetings at CLDH office in Dora, Lebanon.