Advocacy Consultant

Role

Part of LHDF’s mandates is to advocate with its members on key and common topics of concern (aid effectiveness, localisation, accountability, coordination etc). However, given the rapid pace of contextual change in Lebanon, it’s been challenging for LHDF to recruit dedicated, committed and qualified resources to develop and operationalise in an effective and efficient manner with its governance bodies, its advocacy approach. LHDF is therefore seeking to contract an Advocacy Specialist consultant to support this effort.

The Advocacy Specialist consultant will be responsible for policy analysis and coordinating collective advocacy and communications initiatives for LHDF, reflecting member-identified priority issues. They will undertake research to develop evidence to underpin advocacy and coordinate

LHDF advocacy actions across members working with other NGO networks; engage effectively in the various fora available to LHDF to effect policy change; develop LHDF advocacy strategies; and deliver regular reports, analysis, briefing and position papers.

The period for the consultancy will be 8 months. The consultant will be hosted by Himaya (contractually) and will report to the LHDF Steering Committee, with the support of the LHDF Forum Coordinator.

Objectives

• Develop strategies, technical guidance and related policies and procedures.

• Identify international aid trends and donor priorities.

• Mentoring and supporting peer-to-peer learning and nurturing shared agendas.

• Ensure key learning is extracted from advocacy activities.

• Position LHDF in relevant forums, including with other NGOs, UN agencies and national authorities, facilitating its representation with support of LHDF Secretariat and Steering Committee.

Responsibilities and deliverables

• Develop LHDF advocacy strategy, coordinating with LHDF Coordinator, Steering Committee and LHDF membership.

o Deliverable: updated advocacy strategy, developing related monitoring and evaluation tools to assess progress against targets, shared with LHDF Steering Committee and members.

• Analyse socio-economic and humanitarian developments and trends in Lebanon and, when relevant, the region, informing LHDF Coordinator, Steering Committee, members and external partners, proposing amendments where relevant.

o Deliverable: weekly advocacy updates shared with LHDF Steering Committee and monthly advocacy updates shared with LHDF Plenary.

• Identify research opportunities and develop proposals with partners, developing terms of reference for research consultants.

o Deliverable: database of opportunities and proposals developed and shared with LHDF Steering Committee.

• Advise on and coordinate development of LHDF positions, briefings, research papers, policy analysis, etc.

o Deliverable: three policy papers every month, upon the delivery of the advocacy strategy, starting February 2022, on common topics of concern including: localisation, humanitarian-development nexus, coordination and accountability to local actors and affected populations, PSEA and local NGOs, local NGOs going regional, etc.

o Deliverable: tailored dissemination strategies developed (including the facilitation of at least one meeting per month with relevant stakeholders such as donors and humanitarian country team, and development of talking points).

• Liaise with external advocacy partners, including but not limited to ICVA, InterAction, Crisis Action, SIRF LHIF and academics such as AUB-IFI to identify advocacy and lobbying opportunities for LHDF and inform others’ plans.

o Deliverable: at least two meetings (bilateral or joint) with each one of the above- mentioned stakeholders facilitated, with the LHDF Forum Coordinator, during the consultancy period except with LHIF (frequency to be decided by both Steering committees) with the LHIF-LHDF.

• Convene dedicated advocacy meetings on a monthly basis (or more with the Steering Committee) and on ad-hoc basis with the members, keep member advocacy focal points informed of developments, and keep abreast of member advocacy activities (and opportunities for collaboration).

o Deliverable: one monthly advocacy meeting held with members (advocacy group) and one every week with the Steering Committee (reinforcing their capacities, in terms of advocacy).

• Roll out localisation agenda of LHDF.

o Deliverable: one desk review on existing initiatives/research/publications past, ongoing and future on localisation in Lebanon is shared with the Steering Committee and other relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy/Administration, development or related field.

• Minimum five years of relevant work experience in policy analysis, advocacy strategy, communications and research.

• Demonstrated capacity to develop and implement advocacy and communications strategies with clear Theories of Change.

• Experience and understanding of national coordination and NGO coordination mechanisms is highly desirable.

• Fluency in English language and Arabic specially for written skills (highly desirable).

• Previous experience working with national NGOs and international actors (UN and/or NGOs and/or donors).

• Knowledge of the Middle East and of the Lebanon context and its civil society.

• Previous experience working on humanitarian processes and trends.

• Previous experience in capacity building.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.