CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: CONFLICT SENSITIVITY SUPPORT TO CSOs in Bekaa and Tripoli

About the Project:

The social stability context in Lebanon has rapidly deteriorated with the continuing economic crisis, political tension between power holders and the lack of an agreed recovery plan. While many of the young and educated Lebanese have left the country, competition over low skilled jobs continues to be a main driver of tension between the Lebanese and Syrian refugees. Inter-community relations have reached the lowest point since 2017. This was reflected in a survey that was conducted in the area of Bekaa, where according to respondents the presence of Syrian refugees has increased pressure on already limited resources leading 79.57% of Lebanese and Syrian respondents to define inter-communal relations as negative or very negative, the highest in the country. Similarly, perceptions of unfair distribution of aid as a driver of tension have also increased throughout the country.

While opportunities for meaningful interaction between the Lebanese and Syrian refugee communities have always been scarce, they have further shrunk as a result of extended lockdowns, closed public schools, re-focused civil society focus to respond to basic needs, among other factors. Thus, this project aims at

• Strengthening the capacities of active local organizations working on protection, education and livelihoods to integrate social stability into their work and pilot community initiatives, and
• Strengthening capacities and supporting youth and women led local committees and dialogue groups to implement initiatives in the community, which respond to locally identified needs and create opportunities for interaction and collaboration.

International Alert:

For over 30 years, International Alert has been working to build positive sustainable and inclusive peace and reduce violence by solving the root causes of conflict with people from across divides and with all parties to conflicts.  From the grassroots to the policy level, International Alert brings people together to build peace.

House of Peace:

Established in 2012, House of Peace enhances social peace in an inclusive and participatory way through shifting perceptions about reality, peace, self and the other; through supporting and connecting community-based initiatives and dialogue spaces; through advancing the principles of conflict sensitivity; and through voicing grassroots perspectives, stories and aspirations.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFLICT SENSITIVITY SUPPORT TO CSO

This training will feed into the design and implementation of community initiatives.

WHAT WILL CSOs GAIN FROM THE SUPPORT

This training is offered by House of Peace “HOPe” in partnership with International Alert. The training will allow representatives from civil society organisations to reflect on specific aspects of their programs from conflict sensitive perspectives and understand the intersections between development interventions and the local conflict dynamics, design and deliver developmental programmes in ways that do not exacerbate conflict (Do No Harm), but instead mitigate anticipated conflict and enable and strengthen peace. Participant CSOs will:

• Learn about Conflict Sensitivity and how to integrate it into their programme. An online training will be conducted that provides an introduction to conflict sensitivity over two days. A more in-depth conflict sensitivity training session will follow for two representatives of each selected organisation.
• Support to the development of initiatives by HOPEs – clarify how many days of support and if it is integrated as part of the trainings or additional
• Funding for one initiative, which will be provided by Alert for implementation in (three months) – clarify how Alert will pay drawing on the Partner agreement contract  
• Assistance with implementation as needed – clarify if by HOPEs
• Participation in reflection, learning and story-telling sessions supported by Alert to capture the results of the initiatives and consolidate learning on how to work on conflict sensitive initiatives in future.

SELECTION CRITERIA

CSOs from Central Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel and Tripoli area working on humanitarian and development programmes are invited to apply to benefit from Strengthened capacities in   social peace / conflict sensitivity programming. Organizations working on child protection, education and livelihoods are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants are expected to demonstrate their fulfillment of the following minimum criteria:

• Be legally-registered or in the process of registration as an NGO in Lebanon.
• Be established, operating and running activities for a minimum of two years. Organizations that have ongoing funded projects at the time of expressing interest will be given priority.
• Be willing to engage in initiatives that aim at enhancing social stability in their communities. 
• Target women and youth (between 16-29 years) with emphasis on gender representation and inclusion of both Lebanese host communities and refugees, including but not restricted to Palestinian, Syrian, Syrian-Palestinian, Iraqi, and Sudanese communities.
• Be working, or willing to work in coalitions and networks; including with organizations with different backgrounds and affiliations.
• Have implemented activities or provided services in the areas of in Bekaa or Tripoli area.
• Show commitment for the whole program period that ends in December 2022.
• Be willing to appoint a focal point for activities’ coordination.
• Be willing to allocate two staff members to participate in the capacity development and community initiatives over the period of the project.
• Have a minimum of three paid full-time or part-time staff members, and/or three board members to ensure transfer of experience and skills within the organization.
• Willing to sign an MOU for the period of the project.