Consultant Capitalization Study

Intervention Summary

The project “Basic and Advanced Training on Sustainable Agriculture” is implemented by Amel Association International, in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) in Lebanon, and funded by the German Cooperation (BMZ).

The present project aims at improving food security and resilience of vulnerable women and youth in Bekaa and South Lebanon (overall objective). Particularly, the project aims at providing adapted basic and advanced trainings on organic gardening, implementation of micro-gardening in informal settlements and collective shelters, and awareness and community events for within both targeted communities (specific objective).

The direct participants of the project are 402 adults:

• 75 Syrian adults and 75 Lebanese adults living in informal settlements; collective shelters and villages in North Bekaa (Ersal / El Ain area)
• 75 Syrian adults and 75 Lebanese adults living in informal settlements; collective shelters and villages South Lebanon (Khiam area)
• 102 (51 Syrian, 51 Lebanese) vulnerable adults living in the caza of Baalbeck, Bekaa and South Lebanon governorates.

The adults participants are appointed by each of the 402 families targeted, following a gender-balanced approach and based on former knowledge in gardening and agriculture, availability and motivation.

The direct beneficiaries are 2 010 vulnerable children, youth and adults, accessing the micro-garden managed by the vulnerable adults or the income generated thanks to the training. The Indirect Beneficiaries are 6030 individuals who benefit from this initiative through the community days.

Activity 1.1 Recruitment of a team of Agricultural Consultant and trainers and conducting outreach to families to implement the project objectives and activities, in the different targeted areas

Activity 1.2: Procurement procedures needed to complete the different activities (purchasing the material for construction of family gardens) and other related administrative tasks (finalizing the authorization with the municipality) as well as improving the water supplies of the targeted families, by providing additional water tanks or increasing the frequency of replenishment of the existing tanks

Activity 1.3: a Training of Trainers organized for the staff working in the targeted area (Khiam-Marjayoun, Ersal-El Ain, and Saadnayel) on the practical construction of micro-gardens; soil and irrigation management in organic agriculture; seed multiplication, selection and conservation; pest and diseases identification and treatment. These training will then allow the staff to supervise the implementation of micro-gardens in North Bekaa and South Lebanon;

Activity 2.1: 300 individual gardens will be installed in Informal Settlements and Collective Shelters located in Ersal-El Ain area, and in Khiam-Marjayoun area, through 3 consecutive cycles (50 North-Bekaa and 50 South-Lebanon for cycle 1; 50 North-Bekaa and 50 South-Lebanon for cycle 2; 50 North-Bekaa and 50 South-Lebanon for cycle 3). Depending on the geographic location of the land, the gardens’ parcels will be delineated either by building blocks (50cm high), by wooden pallets structures or planted directly in the ground, and heightened by Wood Poles and Garden Fences (1m high). This will allow the parcels to be individual for each family and protected from animals while remaining easy to remove or modify. A mix of soils and fertilizer (compost or others such as “sawad”) will be brought and discharged in each parcel, to ensure the quality of the soil. Each garden will be provided with seeds and seedlings adapted to the fall/winter season (depending on the cycle) and based on the preference of each family (beans, cabbage, peas, radish, etc.).

Activity 2.2:  Each targeted site will benefit from a total of 4 days of training and 3 days of construction and coaching per month during 2 months, both in Amel centers of Ersal, El Ain and Khiam and directly in their living area (7 days per month, 14 days in total), covering the following topics: garden implementation and general introduction on organic agriculture; soil composition and management; sustainable watering and the agricultural calendar (selection of varieties depending on the seasons); seed selection  and multiplication, to allow each family to be self-sufficient after one agricultural season; disease identification and management; home-made organic pesticides and fertilizers. Each family will appoint one (or more) member(s) to attend the training, which will be delivered for the whole camp at once (collectively).

Each participant will benefit from an incentive from WFP, which will allow them to participate fully in the training. Specifically, each garden will be provided with quality soil and fertilizer  (compost or others such as “sawad”), as well as local heirloom seeds and seedlings (coming from an organic farm), which are seeds that can be selected and replanted for many years, unlike sterile industrial seeds that have to be bought annually. Beneficiaries will be trained to make their own fertilizer (compost, animal waste, etc.) and organic pesticides (macerations of garlic, tobacco leaves, nettle, etc.) that will allow these gardens to be both self-sufficient and cheaper, while also ensuring greater sustainability and health of the produce.  The training will be delivered in such a way that the whole community and all the trainers will be highly encouraged to participate in peer-to-peer training and mutual assistance. The center-based sessions will be organized jointly for Lebanese and Syrian beneficiaries, with a strong emphasis on social cohesion between the two communities. Gardening tools (rakes, shovels, composter, etc.), composters and organic pesticides will be distributed as shared resources in each site.  The follow up will be ensured by the four field coordinators (2 in the South and 2 in the Bekaa).

Activity 2.3: In addition to the two-month training cycle, the trainers will be available throughout the whole duration of the project to follow-up on the benefits of the trainings and on the continuation of the micro-gardens, with the support of Amel's Officer and Field Coordinator. Thus, after the end of each cycle, Amel teams will continue to visit each site at least twice per month to provide coaching, technical advice and support. Moreover, participants will continue to benefit from distributions of seeds, seedlings, agricultural raw material and water for the whole duration of the project. Concretely, after the completion of each cycle, each targeted location will continue to receive a minimum of 1 visit per month (half-day) by the agricultural expert and a minimum of 1 visit per month by the field coordinator until the end of the project (9 months for Cycle 1 beneficiaries; 5 months for cycle 2 beneficiaries; 2 months for cycle 3 beneficiaries). The first one will ensure the technical follow-up (repeating some points addressed during the trainings, help families to identify pests and diseases and to address them, answer questions, repair garden structure if needed, etc.) whereas the second will ensure the follow-up linked to the project (issues with e-card and money transfer, satisfaction focus group, management of the common tools, etc.). Moreover, the participants of cycle 1 will benefit from two other distributions of seasonal seeds and seedlings at the beginning of cycle 2 and 3, and participants of cycle 2 will benefit from a second distribution of seeds and seedlings at the beginning of Cycle 3.

Activity 2.4: At the end of each cycle, one community day will be organized in each site, to allow the inhabitants (the beneficiaries of the project or residents), in addition to other community members, to share their experiences and lessons learnt from their gardens, and will include collective activities that will foster social cohesion (i.e. a cooking workshop, a decoration workshop, garbage collection and recycling, etc.)

Activity 3.1: During the second phase of the project, as of January 2019, an advanced training will be organized for 102 participants through 3 cycles of 2 months each, with each cycle enrolling 34 participants. The training, delivered in the School-Farm of Saadnayel in 14 days per cycle, will allow beneficiaries to gain deeper theoretical and practical knowledge on topics related to organic agriculture principles (Botanic & Vegetal Biology Basics; soil and how to improve soil; fertilization management & organic fertilizers production; irrigation; rotation plan & farming design;  integrated pest and diseases management; pollination & seed production) as well as to train participants on broader topics (trees production, grafting, cutting, & pruning; food processing and nutrition; wheat and bread production; beekeeping and honey production; hygiene and use of plants for medicine or wellness, etc.). Prior to the implementation of the advanced training, Amel will contribute to the rehabilitation of this training facility, to enhance the learning conditions of the trainees. Particularly, the following equipment and supplies will be used to lightly rehabilitate this facility: computers, light informatic equipment, equipment and furniture for classroom, projection system for classroom, collective tools for advanced trainings, individual equipment for special advanced training (beeclothes, smokemaker, masks for pesticides spraying etc), renovation of the school's seed collection management room, renovation of the school's toilets and water drainage system. The BOQ, included in the budget document, details the item related to these different equipment and supplies. The training will target a total of 102 beneficiaries who have already attended basic trainings on micro-gardens (from South Lebanon or North Bekaa through Activity. 2.2 but also from previous Amel projects, including WFP FFT 2017) or having already significant agricultural knowledge and basic literacy level. The participants will benefit both from practical and theoretical sessions.

Activity 3.2: Considering the lack of qualified working force in Lebanon for organic agriculture exploitation, such trainings will reinforce their attractiveness and competitiveness on the agricultural labor market. Thus, after the training, the participants will benefit from a rich network to ensure their professional integration, follow-up, and internship opportunities for the whole duration of the project.

1. 2.     The Capitalization

2.1.            Capitalization Objectives

The overall objective of the capitalization is to document the success stories, best practices and lessons learned gained during the implementation of the project entitled “Basic and Advanced Training on Sustainable Agriculture” and to provide external appreciation of the project and lessons learned for its replication by Amel, its partners and other agencies involved in the livelihood and protection sectors.

2.2 Key research questions

The following are key questions that should be covered by the research. They are given as a guideline for the consultant to propose a methodology. New questions may arise throughout the research and should be discussed with the team in Amel.

Beneficiaries outreach and commitment

• Which processes should be used to outreach participants (vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households), to ensure their interest and benefit of the activities, and to avoid their drop-out (criteria for selection, mobilization activities…)?
• Which areas/districts in Lebanon are not currently outreached by livelihood/ food security activities?
• Which age group, social categories, gender are least targeted by livelihood/food security activities in Lebanon?
• Which categories of the population are mostly affected by food insecurity, lack of access to land and agricultural means of production and healthy products?
• What categories of the population could benefit the most from an individual family garden?

            Construction of family gardens

• To what extent a family garden, using sustainable/organic techniques, contributes to improve food security of the targeted household?
• What are the average yields that such family garden can ensure, and its impact on direct food consumption income generation, and nutrition standards of the targeted household?
• What are the necessary tools and equipment needed to run an efficient and productive family garden?
• What are the most needed/adapted/requested types of crops and varieties to run an efficient and family garden?
• What alternatives to family gardens could be considered, to reach the same overall objective?
• How sustainable are the family gardens built within this project?
• Are the families able to continue the gardens after the project ends, and are they eager to do so?

Provision of Basic and Advance Trainings on sustainable agriculture

• What agricultural knowledge and know-hows are mostly needed to run an efficient and productive family garden?
• What would be the reasonable time period / number of sessions for providing participants with needed skills for organic gardening?
• What are the specialties or topics, within the agriculture/food security/environment scope that could be included in such training to benefit the participants?
• Are the participants encouraged to share the acquired knowledges to their peers / other community members and are they doing so?
• How this project benefits or not to a wider circle than the participants themselves ?

• What types of VET are recommended for youth in Lebanon?

Work-related experience and employment

• What are the main field of employment recommended in each of the 26 districts in Lebanon?
• What are the opportunities for work in sustainable gardening/farming in the targeted areas (north Bekaa, central Bekaa, south Lebanon)?
• How can civil society contribute in the creation of internship and job opportunities for vulnerable people in Lebanon?
• How engaged are employers (landlords, farmers, and shop owners….) in creating internship and job opportunities for qualified agricultural workers in Lebanon?
• What role do the relevant ministries play in creating internship and job opportunities for vulnerable people in Lebanon?
• What is the best procedure to organize internships for youth benefiting from the VET?

Recommendations

What can be improved in the activities currently covering the livelihood/food security sectors, in particular those organized by Amel Association such as:

• Training on sustainable agriculture
• Construction of family gardens
• And other activities

2.3.            Audience

The audience of this capitalization is Amel Association International and its partner Buzuruna Juzuruna, as well as other key stakeholders in the civil society such as NGOs, INGOS, UN, donors, and Ministries.

2.3.            Methods

The capitalization study will be done according to the OECD/DAC criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, and through desk research and meetings and interviews with relevant people.

In order to prepare the capitalization, the research team/researcher should work in collaboration with the following actors:

1.         The Food Security Coordinator, the project’s Field coordinators and the Agricultural Experts at Amel, who will facilitate linkages with the project partners and team and provide all needed documents, data and information linked to the program.

2.         Civil Society actors engaged in the Livelihood/Food Security Sector

3.         Members from the UN entities and other donors related and investing in the livelihood/food security sectors

4.         Farmers and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs in the targeted areas, as well as participants of the project

5.         Other socio-economy experts to be identified by the consultant

3.     Implementation Information 

3.1.            Amel Contact

The consultant will work closely with Amel’s Food Security Coordinator and Program Coordinator. 

3.2.            Location

North Bekaa (Ersal, El Ain), Central Bekaa (Saadnayel) and South Lebanon (Khiam) 

3.3.            Deliverables

• A Capitalization plan detailing tasks, timelines and roles
• A draft report in English (with findings, data analysis,  analysis for FGDS) to be revised by Amel
• A final report in English incorporating Amel’s comments
• Organize a workshop to present the capitalization study

Analysis of all survey findings will be done with gender, age and urban/rural lenses. All findings will be segregated accordingly.

3.4.            Deadlines

 Deadline for consultant bidding: June 15th 2019.

• Deadline for consultant selection: June 22th 2019
• Deadline for contract signature: June 24th 2019
• Deadline for finalizing capitalization plan: June 30th 2019
• Deadline for the draft report: September 6 th 2019
• Deadline for the final report: September 13rd 2019
• Deadline for delivering the workshop: September 30th 2019

3.5.            Logistical Support

The consultant will be responsible for the logistical planning for the meetings, and interviews.

1. 4.     The Consultant

4.1.            Role and Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Designing a capitalization plan
• Interviewing key stakeholders in the food security and agriculture field
• Reviewing the relevance of the project’s activities with the LCRP 2018
• Finalized data collection tools and instruments
• Reporting on findings and analysis
• Implementing a workshop to represent the capitalization

4.2.            Consultant’s Qualifications

 Amel seeks an experienced consultant with the following qualifications:

• Fluency in Arabic and English
• Knowledge and/or experience in the livelihood field
• More than 5 years of experience in project evaluation or the equivalent in M&E expertise, including collecting and analyzing data from interviews, surveys, FGDs, etc.
• Experience in working with NGOs
• Strong communication and writing skills
• Research and evaluation methods and data collection skills
• Ability to be flexible with time and work schedule
• Attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines 

Amel invites all interested and qualified candidates to submit a resume, a brief proposal for the capitalization study (including tasks, timeline and a tentative budget) and a letter of interest, clearly explaining how their experience meets desired qualifications by June  15th 2019 to:

Lucas Wintrebert
Food Security Coordinator – Amel Association International
foodsecurity@amel.org