Qualitative Data Collection Consultant

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and is at work in over 40 countries.  In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC provides income and livelihoods support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities in Akkar, through its Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Program. The objective of the program is to assist vulnerable households in the most affected areas of the Akkar District in meeting their essential needs and increasing their self-reliance; this is expected to ultimately lessen the use of negative coping strategies for survival. Interventions included unconditional cash assistance, financial management training, cash for work, vocational training, and job referrals through a livelihoods center. The main target groups were newly-arrived Syrian refugees, as well as acutely vulnerable registered and unregistered Syrian refugees and Lebanese households. Overview of Consultancy The IRC is seeking a consultant to conduct focus group discussions (FGD’s) in Akkar as part of the endline evaluation of the livelihoods component of the program. The objective for these FGD’s will be understand how the program has 1) helped increase access to the labor market and income earning opportunities, 2) enabled beneficiaries to feel more self-reliant, and 3) impacted social cohesion between Syrian and Lebanese communities. Additional feedback on how the program could be improved in the future will also be collected. The selected consultant will conduct FGD data collection with beneficiaries of Cash for Work (CFW) and Vocational Training (VT), and Job Referrals (JR). FGD participants will be selected randomly prior to the field exercise to reduce selection bias in data collection. In total the consultant will lead 10 FGD of 6-10 people in the following categories: Participants of Cash for Work 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female and 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female Participants of Vocational Training 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female and 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female Job Referrals 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female and 1 mixed Lebanese and Syrian female Mixed activity for Social Cohesion FGD 1 Syrian female, 1 Syrian male, 1 Lebanese female, 1 Lebanese male Tasks and Deliverables A draft of the FGD questions will be provided to the consultant which he/she will then work closely with ERD staff to finalize. A tape recorder and staff to be used as note takers will be provided but the consultant will ultimately be responsible for collecting and analyzing the data as well as writing the final report. The consultant will be expected to run a short workshop with select ERD staff to review findings prior to the report finalization. Transportation and accommodation in Akkar will be provided. The final report will highlight how the program 1) helped increase access to the labor market and income earning opportunities, 2) enabled beneficiaries to feel more self-reliant, and 3) impacted social cohesion between Syrian and Lebanese communities. It will also include a lessons learned section on the program from the program participant’s perspective. List of deliverables: FGD plan, consisting of:  (a) final FGD guides [if changes are necessary], (b) final sampling strategy [if changes are necessary], (c) final list of selected FGD respondents; and (d) final data collection plan / timetable. Final processed data, in both Word and Excel formats (using agreed-upon templates). Final report of 10-15 pages. All deliverables must be approved by the IRC M&E Manager before considered final. Proposed Timeframe Activity Estimated number of days Finalization of FGD plan 2 Data collection (in Akkar) 6 Data processing and analysis 4 Preliminary report review workshop(in Akkar) 1 Final report writing 3 Total number of billable days 16 Consultant Qualifications The IRC-ERD program seeks a consultant with the following minimum qualifications: At least two years of proven experience leading research and/or qualitative data collection processes for program monitoring and evaluation; Arabic and English fluency; Prior experience working with NGOs in the humanitarian sector in Lebanon is a strong plus