“ABAAD/DIA – Baseline, Mid-Year and End-Year study”

PROJECT NAME
Psychosocial support, protection and economic empowerment for women and girls affected by the protracted Syria crisis in Beqaa, North and Mount Lebanon areas in Lebanon.

ABOUT ABAAD
ABAAD – Resource Center for Gender Equality, is an UN ECOSOC accredited organization that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. ABAAD is a women-led and supported organization that works on three pillars: (a) Direct Services, (b) Capacity building and resource development, and (c) Advocacy and policy reform. ABAAD, since its establishment in 2011, has been identified as a leading actor on gender equality in the region and as a reliable reference and partner by the local, regional and international entities that promote gender equality, peace building and sustainable development.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Lebanon has been facing multiple crisis since 2020; from socioeconomic deteriorations, to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Blast (August 4 2020). The collective impact has increased women and girls’ vulnerabilities and risks of gender based violence (GBV). Rates of GBV incidents have been reported to have increased globally and in Lebanon during the imposed lockdowns and quarantines; with survivors’ access to lifesaving holistic protection and prevention services hindered. The port blast has exacerbated the already spiraling socioeconomic condition of the country; increasing survivors’ risks. To cope, households have resorted to negative coping mechanisms; which include: forced/early marriage of girls, children partaking in worst-forms of child labor, increase use of corporal punishment with children, and domestic abuse.
To address this, ABAAD is implementing a 12-months project that aims at improving access of women and girl survivors of and/or at-risk of GBV to holistic prevention and response services in Lebanon’s North (Tripoli), Bekaa (Baalbek), and Mount Lebanon regions. The project’s outcomes, outputs, and activities are as follows:

Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Syrian refugee women and girls and vulnerable host community women and girls in the project are better protected against violence and abuse. (target: 80% of women and girls accessing safe spaces are feeling better protected)
Outcome 2: Refugees and vulnerable host communities’ social protection is enhanced. (target: 80% of women and girls who participated in the programme reported an improvement in their psychosocial well-being)

Outputs:
Output 1.1 Women and girls have access to holistic and quality response services (including case management and mental health). (target: 180 women and girls)
Output 1.2: Emergency safe shelters for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and their dependents (children) are provided in Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and North locations. (target: 75 women and girls)
Output 2.1: Women and girl GBV survivors have improved access to quality engendered psycho-therapy and psychosocial support (PSS) services. (target: 150 women and girls)
Output 2.2: Syrian refugee women and vulnerable women from host communities have received upskilling training and referrals to job counseling. (target: 144 women)
Output 2.3: Men with abusive behaviors have improved access to quality engendered psycho-therapy or PSS services. (target: 90 men)

Activities

• Holistic case management services to women and girl survivors or/at-risk of GBV at ABAAD’s 3 Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS).
• Individualized mental health (MH) services provided to survivors at ABAAD's 3 WGSS.
• Emergency safe sheltering ay ABAAD’s midway house (MWH) to GBV survivors.
• Implementation of Basic Life Skills Program (BLSP) Psychosocial Support activities (PSS) to women and girl at ABAAD’s 3 WGSS.
•  Implementation of awareness sessions and sensitization sessions on GBV core concepts, referral information, on protection laws, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) to women and girls at the 3 WGSS.
• Implementation of upskilling cycles and training support to women and girls at the 3 WGSS.
• Implementation of Anger & Stress Workshops for men in the WGSS Bekaa.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide baseline, mid-year, and end-year studies of the above mentioned project. The baseline study should provide starting point values of the project in regards to set logframe. The mid-year review will be to assist ABAAD in conducting amendments to activities based on emerging and evolving needs and feedback from community members. The end-year evaluation will assess the impact of the entire intervention and report on the achievement of the results as stated in the narrative and logframe.

METHODOLOGY
The consultant is expected to propose specific methodologies they will use in the reports to be submitted to ABAAD Lebanon for approval. These should demonstrate the use of mixed methods approach in arriving at findings and ensure data quality. Details on sampling strategy and quality assurance measures should be included in the inception report. In addition, the three reports should elaborate on data collection methods, tools and timetables for the studies. The consultant must ensure compliance with the Programme’s Core Principles below throughout the development of the development of the baseline study:

 A Gender-responsive approach (GRA)
 Inclusiveness
 Do no harm
 Accountability

DURATION

• The baseline study is expected to be completed by January 28, 2022.
• The mid-year study is expected to be completed within April 29, 2022.
• The end-year study is expected to be completed within September 2, 2022.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
 The main reports expected to be delivered include:

• Inception report prior to start of the research which includes the detailed methodology, work plan, and resources required.
• Baseline report that provides baseline values as per the set indicators.
• Midline Report that reflects on the baseline values and determines progress.
• End Year Report that reflects on the previous reports and determines the impact of the project.

 All reports should include detailed description of methodology including data collection tools and strategies, and approach to include core principles as described in the ToR.
 All reports and data collection tools should be submitted to ABAAD for approval.
 The consultant shall hold validation workshops with ABAAD throughout the consultancy period.
 A presentation shall be provided upon the completed of the draft and final baseline, mid-year and end-year reports, separately.
 All raw data collected, interview transcripts, and summaries shall be provided to ABAAD.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
With support from ABAAD the bidder will lead the process of:

• Study design, methodology, planning and quality control procedures;
• Reviewing existing information, preparing outlines, including study objectives, research questions, and development of sampling methodologies;
• Finalizing: (1) work plan and checklists (2) questionnaire(s), (3) guidelines;
• The consultant will finalize the topics for assessment in consultation with ABAAD (the extent and rigor of this assessment will depend on the study objectives and the result framework outputs);
• The consultant will guide and provide required technical support to the field teams for carrying out interviews and gathering information from different stakeholders; and
• The consultant will remain responsible for the entire study maintaining the highest level standards and quality and for producing the final survey reports.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Experience
 In depth knowledge and experience on research methods;
 Experience working within the local Lebanese context;
 Experience working on baseline studies; and
 Previous evaluations relating to GBV, youth and gender studies is advantageous
General competencies
 Fluent in both oral and written English and Arabic
 Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills;
 Displays cultural, gender, religion, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
 High level planning, organizational and time management skills;
 Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure; and
 Excellent analytical and report writing skills.

Qualifications
Post graduate degree/s in fields such as Development studies, Social Sciences, gender related studies.