Community Mobilization Consultant

Title: Terms of Reference (TOR) – Community Mobilization Consultant

Project Name: Community Mobilization for Child Labor and GBV

Background Information

The Community Organization for Development and Empowerment-TCODE-INITIATE is a Nongovernmental, nonprofit, youth oriented organization based in Lebanon and dedicated to assisting vulnerable communities through youth inclusion and empowerment. While keeping youth at its focus of its mission, TCODE-INITIATE continually endeavors in creating comprehensive and inclusive programs aimed towards the empowerment of youth, and its concentric circles of influence.

In the process of delivering its Mission TCODE-INITIATE aspires to keeping its status as a hub for youth allowing them to: access a safe space, and acquire knowledge and access to a network of social and political influencers enhancing their social participation in decision making processes.

Objectives:

• Overall Goal: Enhance community understanding, engagement, and ownership of actions to reduce child labor, Gender based violence, promote gender equality, and strengthen child protection.
• Specific Objectives:
  • Facilitate the development of a comprehensive community mobilization strategy tailored to the project goals and the unique needs of the communities.
  • Lead on an inception phase that will advise on activities and strategies to approach community leaders.
  • Contribute to the strategies and activities to be done with the private sector
  • Develop INITIATE’s capacity on community mobilization.
  • Collaborate with the Child Labor and GBV Consultant and the Legal and Advocacy consultant to ensure alignment and synergies across various project components.

Scope of Work/Activities:

1. Inception Phase | Community Understanding & Strategy

• Community Analysis:
  • Analyze existing data/seek to inquire new data on the community's demographics, socio-economic conditions, cultural dynamics, and attitudes towards child labor, gender, and child protection.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Identify and map key community leaders, groups, organizations, potential partners, and influential individuals.
  • Establish collaborative relationships with local gatekeepers, community leaders, parents, religious figures, and relevant local authorities.
• Community Mobilization Strategy:
  • Develop a detailed engagement strategy in close consultation with INITIATE staff, the Child Labor and GBV consultant, the Legal and Advocacy consultant.
  • Outline communication channels, awareness-raising techniques, social mobilization events, and advocacy platforms suitable for the program.
• Training & Capacity Building

• Positive Parenting Workshops:
  • Work with the Child Labor & GBV Consultant to develop a curriculum focused on child rights, positive discipline, preventing child labor, gender equality, and GBV.
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to ensure effective knowledge transfer and adaptation to local context.
• Religious and Community Leaders:
  • Develop and implement sessions with religious figures, community leaders, local governance actors, CBO staff, and educators on community mobilization seeking their alliances and active participation
• Capacity building for INITIATE:

• Develop INITIATE’s capacity on community mobilization, providing a detailed manual on the subject.

• Advocacy and Awareness

Provide input to the Legal and Advocacy consultant, in the creation phase and implementation of the advocacy plan. Guide the design and implementation of community-driven awareness initiatives utilizing suitable channels (local media, events, theater, etc.), Ensuring messaging and activities resonate with the target audience and align with cultural norms.

• Work with the Private Sector:

• Support the assessment of private sector actors for potential partnerships.
• Provide input on how to promote a supportive learning environment for working children.

• Monitoring, Evaluation, & Adaptation *Assist in designing tools to measure community engagement, knowledge, and attitude change. * Collect and analyze data related to mobilization efforts. * Provide regular reports, recommendations, and support the adaptation of the strategy as needed.

Deliverables:

• Inception Report with needs assessment, stakeholder map, and initial recommendations.
• A comprehensive community mobilization strategy document.
• Community Mobilization Manual
• Progress reports and final report outlining successes, challenges, and recommendations.

Timeline:

• Develop a detailed work plan outlining timelines and key deliverables.

Expected Days of Engagement: An estimated 170 days from recruitment to end of 2026 ( with more emphasis on different stages in the program)

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in sociology, development studies, community organizing, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in community mobilization in similar contexts.
• Experience with engagement of community leaders, religious leaders, and local governance stakeholders is a must.
• Demonstrated success in participatory methodologies, training, and facilitation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, fluency in Arabic and English.
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of Lebanese communities, including Palestinian community.

How to Apply

Interested individuals should submit the following:

• CV highlighting relevant experience
• Cover letter outlining interest and suitability for the role
• A Financial and Technical Proposal

Applications should be sent to: [email protected]

Deadline for applications: 9/May/2024