Call for Partners ~ Community Mobilising Project

1. Context

forumZFD is an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), established in 1996. We are working in the field of conflict transformation in eleven countries in Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia. Get more detailed information about our organisation.

forumZFD in Lebanon

Since 2009, we have been working in a joint Civil Peace Service (CPS) Programme together with our local partner organisations in Lebanon. Located in Beirut, our 18 staff members are working in three different programmes: Dealing with the Past, Capacity Development and Community Mobilising. Beirut, Tripoli and the Beqaa Valley are the main geographical areas we worked in so far but the projects’ stakeholders/partners/participants come from all over the country and from all parts of the Lebanese society.

Vision

In accordance with our vision to empower communities and individuals “to work proactively and committed towards the acceptance and understanding of ‘the other’ and their needs”, all our projects are developed jointly and co-implemented with local partners. We mainly support our partners by training and mentoring their local project staff.

The CPS programme in Lebanon is realised together with the Civil Peace Service of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ-CPS) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Our Approach

Together with its partners forumZFD jointly develops local capacities within civil society and supports their projects for nonviolent conflict transformation to work toward change in attitudes, behaviour and structures. As forumZFD’s work is partner-focused, our role is to support local stakeholders in developing and implementing projects. Therefore our approach includes training, coaching, mentoring, development of manuals and handbooks as well as co-implementation of projects and activities. 

Our Theory of Change

We advocate for nonviolent conflict transformation on an individual, communal, and institutional level by strengthening networks of dealing with conflicts in a constructive, sensitive and responsible way. We encourage individuals and communities within the Lebanese society to reflect on how to deal with the past and support local partners through training, capacity development and mentoring to enhance processes toward a culture of dialogue, inclusion and social cohesion which will contribute to reducing tensions and conflicts in Lebanon.  

2. Objectives 

forumZFD is looking for partnerships with two local non-governmental organisations to develop a Community Mobilising Project through a participatory approach. Building on two previous projects, Future Together Now! I (2014-2019) and Future Together Now! II (2017-2020), the project aims at supporting civil society organisations to work towards improving relationships between different communities and establishing inclusive structures for conflict transformation, community development and relationship building through Community Mobilising.

In partnership with two local organisations in Lebanon, the project intends to work directly with Community Activists (CAs) on conflict transformation in their communities. The Community Activists and related communities will be identified and selected by forumZFD and the partner organisations, once the participatory design phase of the project is completed. Through training and mentoring, the project intends to equip Community Activists with the necessary methods and tools on Conflict Transformation and Community Mobilising in order to constructively and proactively address local conflicts. 

We require commitment, flexibility and openness from applicants for the design, implementation, and evaluation phase of the project. The design phase offers a mutual learning process and relationship building between forumZFD, partner organisations and other stakeholders to be involved through creating together a common understanding and developing shared interests. Therefore, a number of workshops and meetings are expected to take place in the first stage of the planning, with the aim to brainstorm, reflect and define the overall project design (defining activities, expected results, objectives, setting up a Monitoring & Evaluation plan, Risk Assessment). A Memorandum of Understanding will then be signed with the partners based on the collaboratively designed project. 

3. We offer 

• Training and mentoring for Community Activists and staff on conflict transformation skills and tools, community mobilising, participatory project management, and non-violent communication tools
• Organisational development according to the specific organisational needs in the field of Conflict Transformation and Community Mobilising
• A mutual learning experience and knowledge exchange between forumZFD and the partner organisation
• Networking possibilities with local and CPS organisations working in the field of Conflict Transformation

4. Requirements for interested CSOs

Financial Requirements

• Must be an officially registered organisation under the Lebanese laws and regulations with a registration number;
• A Bank Account under the name of the organisation;
• Has an established financial system which operates with legal invoices and financial responsibility for the potential project;
• Financial prudence, openness to feedback, transparency, and sound procurement practices.
• Spot checks: Your organisation should be ready to submit the invoices to forumZFD for controlling on a quarterly basis or as individually agreed to as well as to the auditor of forumZFD twice a year.

Profile Requirements

• Experience in project implementation for at least 2 or 3 years; 
• Work experience in the field of Conflict Transformation/peacebuilding/community development;
• Willingness and interest to include conflict sensitivity approach into strategic vision and organisational knowledge;
• Trustful relationships with and solid network within the community 

5. Time frame of cooperation

February 2021 – February 2022, with a possible extension of cooperation