Short Term Consultancy Service - Context Analysit For Lebanon Programme

Purpose of the Consultancy The purpose of the study is to map what is presently happening within the framework of the Diakonia prioritized thematic areas in the three countries where civil society can play a critical role for change through advocacy. The analysis should identify which are the key processes, questions and challenges within the coming three years with a bearing on development, who are the main actors and whether there is a role for Diakonia to play in these processes where we can add value based on our resources, expertise and experiences. Based on the findings, Diakonia in the Middle East shall be able to take strategic decisions for the future direction in its programmatic development within the countries and across the region. The intention is not to evaluate the present work, nor to confirm our partners’ proposed project ideas.  Nor shall the studies do in-depth analysis of government reform plans. The studies should stay on a concrete level and aim to inform us in each area on what is going on in society and inform and guide us where we could play an active role. Scope of the consultancy The analysis on country strategic level will identify the most crucial and decisive processes and challenges in the current context with a bearing on developments in the coming years. It will be presented as one integrated analysis that contains the same three layers of analysis as the global strategy: General context: identifying the most important developments in the country in relation to the following thematic areas: democracy, human rights, gender equality, conflict and justice and social & economic justice. In countries selected for humanitarian work an analysis of the humanitarian challenges in the context will also be included. The analysis will include major trends, opportunities and risks, including trends regarding roles to play and environment for civil society organisations. The analysis will incorporate the very first steps of mainstreaming of gender, conflict and the environment . Development context: identifying major trends, opportunities and risks in development and the donor context. Here it is also important to look at what other similar organizations (development organizations with similar goals, “like-minded organizations”) are already doing. Where would Diakonia’s intervention make a difference? Where has Diakonia a comparative advantage and value added? Also, the analysis on this level includes an assessment of trends with a bearing on resource mobilization. Internal analysis: assessing how well Diakonia Country Offices are  organized, financed and otherwise resourced to meet the challenges, foreseen demands and risks as well as opportunities in order to achieve what we want