Quantitative Data Collection for Intergenerational Perspectives on Social Contract Study in Lebanon

Berghof Foundation is implementing a research project entitled “Intergenerational Perspectives for a Renewed Social Contract in Lebanon”, funded and in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). The project seeks to investigate citizen-state relations and societal expectations across generations using a comprehensive analytical framework inspired by the “3Ps” of the social contract theory; namely, Protection, Provision, and Participation.
This research emerges from the need to explore how Lebanon’s multiple crises—economic collapse, governance failures, and social fragmentation—have shaped intergenerational perceptions of legitimacy, justice, and governance. The research design combines qualitative and quantitative methods. A large-scale quantitative survey will generate nationally representative data across four generational cohorts, contributing to evidence-based analysis and policy dialogue.
2. Objective of the Assignment
Berghof Foundation is seeking a qualified surveying firm to implement the quantitative data collection component of a nationwide research study exploring intergenerational and intersectional perspectives on the future social contract in Lebanon. The selected firm will be responsible for conducting structured face-to-face survey, co-designed by BF, WFD and the Advisory Body, targeting a representative sample of respondents across suggested generational cohorts and in all eight Lebanese governorates. The survey instrument captures citizens’ perceptions, grievances, expectations, and aspirations regarding state-society relations, including but not limited to the 3Ps framework. The collected data will generate critical empirical evidence for analyzing legitimacy gaps, shifting civic values, and evolving demands across generations, ultimately informing both academic discourse and policy recommendations on state-building and inclusive governance in Lebanon.
3. Scope of Work
The selected firm will be responsible for:
•    Reviewing and refining the finalized survey instrument and supporting its operationalization in the field;
•    Translating and digitizing the tool using appropriate software, ensuring the use of inclusive and conflict-sensitive language (e.g., KoboToolbox or similar);
•    Recruiting and training a gender-balanced team of enumerators with regional representation;
•    Pre-testing and piloting the tool in diverse geographic and demographic contexts with attention to local sensitivities in data collection;
•    Conducting representative survey of up to 1,600 face-to-face interviews, distributed across:
o    Four generational and age group :
1.    18-24 – 385 respondents
2.    24-38 – 385 respondents
3.    39-53 – 385 respondents
4.    54+ – 385 respondents
o    Eight governorates, with further stratification by nationality, gender, sect, and urban/rural setting to be further discussed and refined with BF and WFD; 
•    Ensuring full compliance with ethical research standards (to be agreed with BF and WFD), including informed consent, confidentiality, cultural considerations, and secure data handling;
•    Conducting continuous quality assurance throughout the process, including supervision, data cleaning, and coding;
•    Submitting anonymized and cleaned raw datasets in Excel or CSV format, along with a summary report of the findings.
4. Timeline
The total duration of the assignment is seven weeks after contract signature. The tentative schedule is:
•    Week 1: Inception: Tool orientation, digitization, and enumerator training
•    Week 2–5: Data collection - Field work
•    Week 6-7: Data cleaning, validation, and final deliverables
5. Expected Deliverables
The selected firm will be expected to submit the following deliverables:
1.    Finalized and translated survey tool, including:
o    A revised version of the structured questionnaire (approx. 40 questions), refined in coordination with the BF and WFD. 
o    A professionally translated Arabic version of the tool, ensuring clarity, neutrality, and contextual relevance
2.    Enumerator training materials and a training completion report, including attendance and evaluation summaries
3.    An updated fieldwork plan and implementation schedule, detailing regional deployment, quotas, and logistics
4.    A cleaned and anonymized dataset in Excel or CSV format, with clear labeling and internal consistency
5.    All relevant ethical documentation, including:
o    Enumerator consent protocols
o    Data protection measures
o    Risk mitigation procedures, especially for vulnerable groups or sensitive localities
6.    A final technical report (8–10 pages), summarizing:
o    Sampling execution and demographic breakdowns
o    Field challenges and quality control strategies
o    Key operational observations and data trends
o    Preliminary insights emerging from the quantitative data, to support early analysis by the research team
o    Primary data analysis 
o    Including citations and bibliography 

. Required Qualifications
To be considered for this assignment, the applying firm must demonstrate the following:
•    Proven track record of 5 to 10 years in designing and implementing large-scale, quantitative surveys in Lebanon, including conflict-sensitive research and experience managing complex, multi-site data collection processes;
•    Documented experience working with diverse demographic groups, including—but not limited to—youth, elderly populations, women, and socially or economically marginalized communities;
•    Operational capacity to deploy a qualified and gender-balanced team of enumerators across all eight Lebanese governorates, with logistical coordination and local access mechanisms in place;
•    Demonstrated proficiency in digital data collection platforms, including KoboToolbox or similar software, with prior examples of managing digital surveys at scale;
•    Established systems for ensuring data integrity and ethical compliance, including supervision protocols, informed consent procedures, and data protection mechanisms aligned with international research standards;
•    Strong references from previous assignments with international NGOs, research institutions, or policy-oriented organizations, ideally involving studies of political, social, or governance dynamics in Lebanon or the MENA region.
•    Written and verbal fluency in Arabic and English
7. Evaluation Criteria
Criteria    Weight
Technical approach and field strategy    30%
Relevant experience and past performance    25%
Staffing and geographic reach    20%
Cost proposal    15%
Ethical and quality assurance measures    10%
8. Proposal Submission Requirements
Interested firms must submit a comprehensive proposal package including the following:
1.    Technical Proposal (5-7 pages), clearly outlining:
o    Understanding of the assignment and its objectives
o    Proposed methodology and implementation strategy including fieldwork plan and implementation schedule, detailing regional deployment, quotas, logistics, etc.
o    Sampling and fieldwork approach
o    Quality control and ethical assurance mechanisms
o    Team composition and roles, including gender balance and geographic coverage
2.    Financial Proposal, in USD, detailing all costs inclusive of enumerator fees, travel, training, translation, data processing, and applicable taxes. Budgets must be clear, itemized, and aligned with the scope of work.
3.    CVs of key personnel, including the field manager, data analyst, and team supervisors, along with a brief enumerator recruitment and training strategy that ensures regional and demographic representation.
4.    Proof of legal registration and eligibility to operate in Lebanon, along with documentation of at least three comparable survey assignments conducted in the last five years.
5.    Three client references, including names, affiliations, contact details, examples of similar work.
6.    Workplan and availability confirmation, including a tentative timeline for key activities (tool finalization, training, fieldwork, data cleaning, and reporting), and a statement confirming readiness to mobilize immediately upon contract signature.