Proof of Concept Study

Description of the project

Phase 2 of the project capitalizes on achieved results, lessons learned and recommendations of the pilot phase to design an intervention that responds to the needs of the communities it serves and that ensures that all components and activities’ packages are designed following a community-based, participatory approach with target beneficiaries and communities. The target groups are Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian youth leaders and children living in most vulnerable communities (youth leaders: ages 18 and above, and children: ages 12 to 17).

War Child, Right to Play (RTP) and KNVB WorldCoaches (further referred to as KNVB) staff will facilitate project activities to ensure the development of all agents engaged in the process. Hence, to do so, the project Sports and Humanitarian Assistance (SaHA) Phase 2 will retain youth leaders that participated in Phase 1 and increase their capacity and skills in order to enhance and sustain the implementation on the field. The main aim of SaHA Phase 2 is to increase the capacity of engaged youth leaders, to support those who show leadership to develop themselves into peer educators and to increase the total number of active youth leaders, youth committees, and parent committees in two main regions in Lebanon, the Northern region (Tripoli and Akkar) and Southern region (Saida and Tyre).

SaHA Phase 2 beneficiaries

Youth leaders (310 total), ages above 18

1. 70 youth leaders continuing from Phase 1, of which:
   1. 30 youth leaders selected to become peer educators
   2. 40 youth leaders continue implementing activities 
2. 160 new youth leaders, trained on football coaching and life skills training. 
3. 80 new youth leaders, trained on community action plans and youth committees  and CP mapping

70 + 160 + 80 = 310 youth leaders

Children (3.950 total), ages 12 to 17

1. 3.450 children participate in football and life skills sessions led by youth leaders
2. 500 children participate in youth committee action plans

3.450 + 500 = 3.950 children 

Parents and caregivers (1.620 total)

1. 1500 parents and caregivers of the children will participate in      awareness sessions on topics requested during the needs assessment, and explaining the aim and goals of the project and being involve in some of the life skills activities.
2. 120 Parents/Caregivers will learn on how to form and lead a Parent Committee
3. 1500 + 120= 1,620

Proof of Concept Purpose

An important objective of phase 2 is the integrated SaHA approach in relation to regular humanitarian assistance or youth programs, with a focus on social cohesion. A proof of concept study approach (PoC) has been chosen, as a pragmatic way to independently assess the outcome of SaHA’s integrated football and life skills sessions in relation to increased social cohesion. A renowned and independent research institute is being sought out to carry out the work associated to this PoC in Lebanon, with oversight from War Child Holland. PoC research activities will be executed in liaison with implementing partners and in alignment with the project’s Monitoring & Evaluation framework. Data collected, analyzed and reported on for the purpose of the PoC should be action-oriented and contribute to the continuous improvement of project implementation at strategic intervals.

The project’s M&E framework has been designed with the objective to facilitate accountability and learning of all project partners. The PoC is an important element of the overall strategy and will involve partners in the validation of results. The final product will be due by November 2019.

Research question

This proof of concept study should answer the question: To what extent is social cohesion improved in vulnerable communities through sports and play (the Sport and Humanitarian Assistance approach).

The study should target stakeholders at the implementation level with a view to creating a user-friendly resource for adaptation of programming and use in similar contexts, as well as a strategic document at the policy-making level.

Goal: Improved Social Cohesion through sports and play to support peaceful co-existence in vulnerable communities

% increase in positive view towards other communities

Outcome 1: Children and youth have improved knowledge and life skills related to peaceful co-existence.

% improved knowledge of children and youth on intervention methodologies

% improved life skills of children and youth

Outcome 2: Children, youth, parents and caregivers are engaged in opportunities for exchange and cooperation to promote peaceful co-existence

% of youth and children who perceive that communities are more protective and inclusive

% of youth and children who indicate to have more trust towards other communities

Outcome 3: Access to safe inclusive spaces is secured

# children/youth participating in project activities in safe spaces disaggregated by gender / nationality / age bracket

Methodology

A mixed method approach, consisting of qualitative and quantitative research, which should include a desk-study and design phase in which existing data and information is used as a starting point for designing the proof of concept framework. This will be followed by a pilot-study into the outcomes of the approach, which will include a comparison group.  

Time frame in relation to expected outputs

12 April 2018

Proposal (budget, approach, planning, partner, key staff)

19 April 2018

Contract negotiated and signed

20 April 2018

Inception Meeting  with Consortium

14 May 2018

Review of the SaHA2 logical framework and M&E Framework

Completion of desk review and research design

31 May 2018

Submission of detailed plan for the baseline with:

• Timeline/schedule of activities
• Sampling framework (determine sample size for intervention and comparison areas)
• Detailed methodology of how to collect, triangulate and summarize the primary and secondary data of both quantitative and qualitative

25 June 2018

Completion of field data collection and data entry/analysis

Submission of First draft of Baseline report

16 July 2018

Submission of Final Baseline report based on Consortium feedback

16 July onwards

Research phase during implementation

January 2019

Intermediate presentation and feedback

June-July 2019

Submission of detailed plan for the end line

September 2019

Preliminary results report

November 2019

Final Proof of Concept report

Geographical focus:

SaHA works in two main regions in Lebanon, the Northern region and Southern region. WCH and RTP work in different regions of Lebanon. The KNVB implements in all regions in addition to the activities as done by WCH and RTP. Both regions should be included in the study to have relevance for all project partners.

To Apply:

Qualification of consultants

• Demonstrated experience in baseline study design, including sampling, applying a mixed methods approach, developing tools, developing data quality protocols and training enumerators
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Demonstrated experience in evaluation of Theory of Change and M&E Frameworks

• Knowledge and experience with child and youth development and/or life-skill development programs, building peaceful communities/social cohesion and psychosocial support is highly preferred
  • Fluency in English is mandatory and knowledge of Arabic would be a very strong asset
  • Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes
  • Experience with child-centered, participatory, play-based, sports methodologies preferred.

Desired contents of the proposal

In the proposal (no more than 10 pages) we would like to see:

• Suggested approach, methodology and practical set-up
• Identification of researchers and (local) research partners to be involved
• CV of key staff involved, and roles envisioned
• Indicative budget of total proposal
• Alignment with the timeframe as described above
• Demonstrated experience in the fields of Sports for Development, Humanitarian Assistance, Child Protection, Social Cohesion