Research consultancy under She Leads

Plan International is currently in the fourth year of implementing the She Leads project, a five-year gender-transformative program which aims to increase the sustained influence of GYW on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions. This project operates at national, regional, and global levels and involves working on three key levels: grassroots, community/civil society, and policy advocacy.In light of the ongoing crises in Lebanon, Plan International Lebanon and the She Leads program are committed to gathering data and producing recommendations that reflects the current realities, needs, and concerns of the Lebanese youth that have endured overlapping crises since 2019, culminating in the war that affected the entire country in 2024.  

Leveraging the project's broad network of partners and participants in Lebanon, the research will engage youth, humanitarian experts, and various women’s and youth organizations in a comprehensive data collection process, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies

1. Purpose of the Research

In alignment with Plan International and She Lead’s focus on youth meaningful engagement and gender equality, this research aims to assess the impact of the war that took place at the end of 2024 on the youth of Lebanon. The study seeks to understand how the war, amidst the ongoing political instability, economic collapse, and security concerns that the country has been suffering from sine 2019, has influenced the activism and future aspirations of Lebanese youth. Specifically, it will explore how the war and the challenges brought by it have affected their engagement in social movements and their aspirations regarding education, careers, and personal empowerment. The research will focus on the unique challenges faced by youth, with a gender-sensitive approach, and provide recommendations for policy and decision-makers to advocate for the status of youth in Lebanon.

          b. Research Objectives

• Examine the impact of the 2024 war in Lebanon on various aspects of youth life, including livelihoods, education, and mental well-being, particularly their sense of hope for the future.

• Understand how the war has influenced youth activism in Lebanon, particularly in areas of political participation, institutional representation, and gender equality.

           c.  Research Questions

• How has the war at the end of 2024 affected the educational opportunities and aspirations of youth in Lebanon?
• What are the mental health impacts of the war on youth and how have these factors shaped their sense of hope for the future?
• How has the political and economic instability in Lebanon, exacerbated by the war, influenced youth activism, especially regarding advocacy for gender equality?
• What barriers do youth in Lebanon face in participating in political processes, and how has the war and ongoing crises impacted their political engagement?
• How has the war and Lebanon's crises influenced the career aspirations of youth, particularly young women, and their access to employment opportunities?
• Have NGO, CSOs and youth initiatives affected youth activism and advocacy amidst the ongoing war? If so, how has this contribution/impact been?

Note: The research questions can be further adjusted based on feedback from recruited consultants.

Please refer to the attached for the full ToR