Call for Consultancy - Researcher - “REFORM: Towards a strengthen quality response and inclusive and dignified durable solution for GBV survivors in Lebanon” Project

ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality

“REFORM: Towards a strengthen quality response and inclusive and dignified durable solution for GBV survivors in Lebanon” Project

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Researcher

Position: Researcher

Requirement: Desk review, research design and writing skills

Project: “REFORM: Towards a strengthen quality response and inclusive and dignified durable solution for GBV survivors in Lebanon” Project

Time frame: May – July 2022  

Duration: 4 months

Location: Lebanon

Type of consultancy: Research-based consultancy

About the project

ABAAD intends, through this project, to strengthen national systems capacities to enhance protection and mitigation of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls in Lebanon among Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities, and to contribute to supporting vulnerable groups in displacement situations to be capacitated and empowered to move out of dependency on aid and choose a durable solution, as appropriate.

ABAAD conducted a Rapid GBV Assessment in Syria within the scope of the partnership between NCA, ABAAD, and GOPA-DERD. The assessment was published in January 2019 with the aim of understanding the reality of GBV perpetrated against women and girls. The assessment collected information from Syrian specialists providing direct services to local communities, thus capturing both, community perceptions (through second-hand information on behalf of the communities, as well as first-hand information through the service providers themselves, all of whom are locals), and service provider attitudes and practices, which would further reflect capacity building needs. The assessment report concluded that while the patriarchal Syrian society in itself presents different types of GBV in both socio-political and family spheres, however, displacement and war conditions have exacerbated the risks to women and girls. Across all surveyed governorates, the most at-risk categories, as reported by different service providers were: minors, mostly girls (45%), followed by women (41%), then individuals with disabilities (14%). The assessment report further outlines the main types of GBV against women and girls in Syria which are Child Marriage, Sexual Violence, Physical/Domestic Violence, among others. In light of this prevalence of different GBV types among the Syrian communities, it is important to understand the drivers of GBV that Syrian communities are at risk of before they seek refuge to best design prevention & response GBV programming in addressing contributing & risk factors. Furthermore, such baseline can inform behavioural change mass communication messaging in addressing misconceptions related to refugees & displacement.

  As such, under this project, ABAAD proposes to conduct a study on social norms and drivers, in addition to COVID-19 and economic crisis, attributing to GBV among Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

 Overall goal of this assignment

The overall goal of this assignment is to conduct a qualitative research study on social norms, drivers and COVID-19 attributing to GBV among Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The study will consider social norms and drivers in addition to impact of COVID-19 on GBV in Syria as a benchmark against which any changes of social norms and drivers of GBV in Lebanon, would be compared and analysed. The study will explore as well the shift of gender roles and family dynamics within the context of the Syria Crisis, as a possible causality, or not, to the increasing trends of GBV against women and girls, and will include a focus on pre-departure situation and analyse this in light of the return of refugees to Syria. The study will inform programming of ABAAD & GBV actors in Lebanon for the next three years.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant/s shall conduct the necessary key tasks including but not limited to:

• Design a research on social norms, drivers of GBV and impact of COVID-19 and identifying potential entry points and areas that can be targeted during different phases of the programme.
• Conduct a desk review on social norms around GBV and contributing factors, shared interests, concerns, grounds and values with the purpose of identifying potential points of entry and analyze all relevant documents, existing material, and similar initiatives.
• Conduct data collection for research following developed methodologies and tools
• Draft the research in a document that includes methodologies, conclusions, findings and recommendations

Expected Outputs

• A research plan that includes the data collection methods and relevant valid questionnaires for the various FGDs, meetings and interviews
• Desk review of similar studies in Jordan & Iraq
• Valid data collected from different resources and through the use of the appropriate methods.
• A draft document of the research annexed with all the tools and instruments used to collect the data and analyze it.
• Presenting the research results to RDPP and ABAAD
• A discussion with RDPP and ABAAD to examine the recommendations and available options and take matching actions.

Guiding Principles & Methodologies

The specific technical methodology shall be detailed in the research plan that will be presented by the consultant/s as an initial output. Nevertheless, to ensure a valid process, all activities relating to the consultancy, including data collection, meetings, interviews, etc. shall be governed by the following principles and methodologies:

• Conduct the research consultations and key informant interviews and meetings
• Conduct a desk review of the existing documents and similar initiatives, in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq
• Develop data collection tools that are culturally sensitive and that can be used to assess the targeted topic and solutions without making interference in the daily lives of the respondents.
• Be culturally sensitive and take into consideration the delicate issues that the programme addressed and always preserve to avoid conflicts and strengthen tolerance, solidarity and collaboration.
• Comply with all applicable human research regulations and ethical conducts related to human research
• Respect for all stakeholders, team members and participants of the consultancy.
• Adhere to the core principles and values of RDPP & ABAAD.
• Adopt the “Do No Harm” principles and the protection from all physical, mental and emotional harm.
• Methods and results should have scientific validity.
• Capitalize on social and moral values
• Hold accountability paramount

Timeframe

The consultancy will start in May 2022 and shall be carried out during 4 – month period ending June 2022 reflecting to the preliminary time frame below:

Research proposal

 2 May 2022

Inception Report

15 May 2022

Data Collection

20 May 2022

Submission of first draft of the research

30 June 2022

Feedback ABAAD/RDPP

15 July 2022

Submission of final report

31 July 2022

Deliverables

• Research proposal
• Inception Report prior to start of the research which includes the detailed methodology, work plan, and resources required.
• A draft document of the research annexed with all the tools and instruments used to collect the data and analyze it.
• Final report incorporating feedback from ABAAD and RDPP teams.

ABAAD’s Responsibilities

ABAAD will oversee the consultancy and ensure smooth operation through the following:

• Identify, hire and coordinate with the consultant/s.
• Oversee all logistical and contractual arrangements with the consultant/s.
• Examine and approve key deliverables according to the terms of reference.
• In collaboration with RDPP, provide documentation and institutional support to the consultant/s.
• Facilitate access to key stakeholders and to information needed to carry out the consultancy.
• Coordinate, schedule and organize all relevant meetings, group discussions and other related events and activities under the consultancy.
• Provide support to conduct the designated data collection including FGDs, key informant meetings and interviews, and other related activities.
• Financially cover all logistics incurred by the research activities, meetings, transportation, or any other related expense
• Ensure that all key stakeholders are kept informed of the general proceedings of the process.

Qualifications & Required skills

• Advanced university research degree in a relevant field (sociology, social psychology, behavioral social sciences, behavioral economics, anthropology, etc.) or a registered research institute\company.
• At least 15 years’ experience in research with a focus on topics such as social values, social norms, in-group norms, social learning and behavioral game theory.
• Extensive experience in working in the field of Gender-based Violence, with the public and civil sectors.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in issues related to the rights of Women, human rights.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills and a proven experience in facilitating collaboration among audiences from different cultural backgrounds.
• In-depth knowledge of the civil sectors in Lebanon and preferably in the region as well. 
• Proven record to adhering to the core principles and values of ABAAD; in particular, is respectful of and nondiscriminatory to any differences in gender, religion, nationality, culture, disability, sexual orientation or social status.
• Proven expertise and knowledge in applying human research regulations and all the ethical conducts related to human research and in compliance with local and international institutional review boards (IRBs).
• Strong analytical skills and writing skills and the ability to synthesize information and draw findings and practical conclusions, and consequently make recommendations through well-written reports.
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English although the documentation should be submitted in English.
• Self-management skills and a capacity to work independently and produce high-quality products.
• Immediate availability for the period indicated.