Feasibility Study- BMZ / Consultant

Background and Rationale

Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita globally, with 1.5 million displaced Syrians, thousands of Palestinian refugees, and others. Over recent years, compounded crises—economic collapse, COVID-19, the Beirut Port explosion, and a cholera outbreak—have deepened vulnerabilities. Since October 7, 2023, the Israel-Lebanon conflict has caused the largest escalation since 2006, with over 3,000 deaths, 13,000 injuries, and over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs).

IDPs, forced to flee without essentials, urgently need assistance, as do their host communities. Refugees also face worsening conditions, lacking access to shelter and vital services. Older people, those with disabilities and individuals unable to flee remain at extreme risk amid ongoing violence, especially in densely populated urban areas prone to mass casualties.

These crises deepen vulnerabilities for both refugees and host communities, affecting their access to basic needs and mental and physical well-being. Findings from the 2022 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees (VASyR) show that among displaced Syrians, 90 percent of families need assistance to meet their basic needs, and more than half of the Lebanese population was reported to be living under the national poverty line in 2021. Older people are particularly vulnerable and especially affected by social isolation and mental health issues with 43% reported feeling exhausted, 39% anxious, and 36% depressed either every day or most days (HAI Needs Assessment 2022). Mental health is crucial for older people’s well-being and for them to actively participate in their communities. At the same time, the Lebanese Health sector especially mental health care is not age-inclusive; health facilities often lack essential knowledge. Government and civil society programs to support older people are often not accessible. The target group as well as service providers and caregivers often lack knowledge and awareness about older people’s rights and their specific needs and challenges. With the ongoing conflict challenging social cohesion in communities, the active participation of older people and community-based support structures become essential.

Amel Association International is a non-profit, non-sectarian local organization working in the health and protection sectors for 43 years. Amel currently runs 40 community, social and medical centers and 23 mobile teams, in the most vulnerable areas of Lebanon and has a strong presence and acceptance in the target locations. Amel has been collaborating with HelpAge since 2014 and became a member of the HelpAge global network in July 2020. With the support from HelpAge International, this project aims to establish and strengthen a so-called Ageing unit, a knowledge and capacity development hub for the rights and wellbeing of older people in Lebanon hosted by the Older People Program Department of Amel and.

 

The local partner Amel seeks to contribute to social cohesion and well-being of older people by improving access to age-friendly psychosocial services, inclusive community, and centre-based support and strengthening the capacities of both older people themselves as well as civil society organisations. Age-friendly structures and services are being developed to strengthen mental health, resilience and empower older people to advocate for their rights, e.g. through awareness-raising measures, older people groups, and intergenerational support. Through Amel’s Ageing Unit knowledge, advocacy and capacity development on the rights and needs of older people will be provided for state and civil society actors.

 

The project has been designed with one expected outcome and three outputs as below:

• Project goal: Older refugees, IDPs, and host community members actively participate in their communities and use age-inclusive mental health and protection services.
• Subgoal 1: Older people in BML and Tyr area have access to age-inclusive mental health care and the capacity to provide each other with peer-to-peer psychosocial and other support.
• Subgoal 2: Older people and their household members and caregivers in the BML area, are aware of ageing issues (e.g. healthy ageing), know how to advocate for older people’s rights, and have information on available support structures in the communities
• Subgoal 3: Civil society and government actors in Lebanon have increased capacities to strengthen the fulfillment of older people’s rights and improve the age-inclusiveness of their services.

The project, if approved, will be funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for 48 months and to be implemented in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and South Lebanon (Tyr). The project title is “Strengthening social cohesion and improving well-being and empowerment of older refugees, IDPs and host community members in Lebanon”.

2. Purpose, Objectives and Use

The purpose of the feasibility study is to measure the project’s attainability and success considering different conditions in the project areas, especially the situation of older persons, in particular the situation of older women, and the external environment among different stakeholders to be involved in the project. The study should also shed light on the existing and to be enhanced capacities of the target group and how they can participate effectively in the project.

 

The study itself will provide Amel and HAD solid information for the development of the project results matrix and proposal. It shall clarify prerequisites, opportunities, and risks in implementing the planned interventions and verify assumptions. The study shall provide concrete recommendations to improve the results matrix and sharpen its indicators as well as identify baseline values to ensure success or to avoid waste of resources.

 

3. Scope of Work

The feasibility study shall be conducted within four (4) weeks period in the project areas, namely in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and South Lebanon (Tyr) and include consultation with relevant stakeholders.

 

Data gathering should be done by both qualitative and quantitative methods, including e.g. through Focused-Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KII), Surveys, and Desktop Research. These data gathering activities will involve different stakeholders in the project areas such as older persons themselves, the Protection Sector, Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), and local municipalities.

 

The consultant will be responsible for planning and implementing the feasibility study, including forming and leading the feasibility study team, if required. Close consultation with Amel and HAD at every step is required. The consultant will receive the initial results matrix and project design at the beginning of the assignment. The study has to be conducted in line with relevant donor guidelines for project implementation and requirements for a feasibility study.

 

In detail, the consultant will be responsible for:

1. Developing detailed study design including a timeline covering phases and processes of implementation, research techniques, sample, and methods used in each phase. The research design needs to be approved by Amel and HAD.
2. Review of the initial impact matrix, including indicators for project overall objective (impact), project objective (outcome), and specific objectives (outputs) as well as assumptions.
3. Elaboration on a detailed sector analysis, including but not limited to:
   1. Analysis of existing laws, policies and government programmes and structures (on all levels) in support of older people, with a special focus on the protection and health sector as well as the human rights situation for older people in Lebanon.
   2. Activities, programs, and initiatives of other donors / implementing organizations with a view to possible synergies and collaboration and existing agreements.
   3. Appreciation of the necessity of the project in the light of the analysis.
4. Elaboration of a detailed socio-economic target group analysis, including but not limited to collecting data on the target group of older people (age, gender, sex, disability, etc.) and a specific focus gender aspects
5. Elaboration of a detailed institutional analysis including on the ageing unit and related stakeholders, including but not limited to:
   1. Stakeholder Map
   2. Recommendations for the institutional set-up
6. Elaboration of detailed risk analysis, including political, socio-economic, logistical, and environmental risks for the programming as well as mitigating actions that lie within the scope of the project. In relation to the ongoing Lebanon-Israeli clashes, how might further escalations affect the implementation of the project? Given the amount of destruction and evacuation, which project regions are feasible for implementation? What measures can be taken to ensure the  effectiveness and relevance of the project?
7. Elaboration of situation analysis or context analysis in the project areas on a micro-, meso- and macro level. Guiding questions: What is the (baseline) situation in the region, the country?
   1. What problems have been identified for the target group (on a micro- meso, and macro level)? What are the causes for these and what impact do they have on the living circumstances of the target group?
   2. What needs as well as capacities of the target group to improve their situation with a specific focus on gender have been derived from the analysis of problems? How has this been/is this being determined?
   3. What are the background and the previous history of the planned development measure and the rationale for the desired impact?
   4. What other contextual factors, such as conflict dynamics, must be taken into account and how?
   5. Are there any alternatives to the planned project or to component parts of it?
8. Elaboration of which components, if any, are missing in the project concept to sustainably achieve the planned objective; which planned components are rather unsuitable and why? Do the assumptions on impacts and sustainability on which the project concept is based seem reasonable and sustainable for the project concept; how should they be adapted, if necessary?
9. Elaboration on developing qualitative and quantitative indicators that measure the changes for the target group and are Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timebound (SMART)? Which findings and data from the study are recommended as a baseline to be incorporated into the project logic? How can the impact and results of the project, including the created structures, be sustained?
10. Collection of baseline data and assessment of the baseline situation. The baseline assessment must focus and provide necessary information on the project’s expected results.
11. Elaboration on the capacities and ideas of the older people groups for own initiatives and their participation in local governance where they could influence local policy makers to establish policies, programs, and services for the benefit of the older persons.
12. Review of local organization (Amel)
    1. What skills and experience (institutional, technical, personnel, financial capacities) does Amel have and how are these relevant to the project? What is missing?
    2. What measures are needed to strengthen Amel capacity?
    3. What stake/ownership does Amel have in the success of the project?
    4. What is the relationship between Amel and the target group and other actors (legitimacy)?
    5. Are there any convergences or conflicts of interest? How can the interaction be improved?

The study shall look into the attainability of the project objectives in terms of its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, following the OECD DAC evaluation criteria  and the BMZ criteria and their respective guiding questions.

3. Methodology

The methodological design of the feasibility study and establishment of baseline data will be proposed by the consultant and must include a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods such as literature review, data collection, and analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus groups discussions, key informant interviews, and workshops. The choice of method must consider the needs and capacities of the different target groups and stakeholders.

4. Process

The feasibility study will be conducted following the process below:

• Signing of contract and the development of inception report by the consultant after preparatory meeting with Amel and/or HAD staff. The preparatory meeting will include a review of the initial impact matrix developed by Amel and HAD.
• Conduct feasibility study in the field by the consultant wherein necessary data can be gathered through Focused-Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KII) and surveys, and desktop research.
• Presentation of the initial findings/draft report (including initial recommended impact matrix with SMART indicators and baseline values) by the consultant for review and comments/input by Amel and HAD.
• Submission of the final report, including the final recommended impact matrix and baseline values.

5. Outputs and Deliverables

In the course of the evaluation, the consultant shall deliver the following:

• Inception report
• Guide questions for Focused-Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII), Surveys, etc., as methods of data gathering
• Raw data gathered through FGD, KII, and surveys
• Draft evaluation report (max. 25 pages) for comments and approval by Amel and HAD
• Final evaluation report (max. 25 pages), with recommended impact matrix, based on tasks 2-11 as mentioned above, no later than one week after reception of comments on the draft report
• Summary result as contained in the Executive Summary of feasibility study outlining the OECD/DAC criteria as provided. The evaluation report shall follow the following structure:

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Concept
• Objective
• Methodology
• Study Team
• Findings (OECD DAC Criteria, risks)
• Conclusion
• Recommendations (OECD DAC Criteria, risks)
• Annexes

6. Qualification and experience required

This feasibility study consultant should have following qualifications:

• A bachelor degree in relevant field such as Sustainable development, sociology, economics; master’s level degree is an advantage.
• Knowledge, expertise, and experience in doing evaluations or feasibility studies for development cooperation, especially projects related to community development, empowerment, mental health and protection.
• Knowledge, expertise, and experience in formulating quantitative and qualitative data research, applying OECD DAC[1] evaluation criteria (relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability)
• Preferably experience with the requirements of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
• Knowledge and skills in technical report writing, having good analytical skills.
• Knowledge and experience in social enterprise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and reporting skills in English. Arabic is an advantage
• Knowledge/experience related to ageing topics will be an added advantage.
• Ability to meet deadlines and respond to requests and feedback provided timely and appropriately.

. Management of the Feasibility Study

Amel Association International, with support from HAD, shall have the responsibility of giving the overall direction of the feasibility study. The consultant shall conduct the study in close coordination with the staff of Amel based on the agreements stipulated in the signed contract.

Amel and HAD shall provide the consultant with necessary project documents such as the initial impact matrix, narrative and budget drafts, BMZ guidelines as well as lessons learned and evaluation reports from previous Amel projects as well as assisting the consultant in the identification of stakeholders and other needed information related to the conduct of the study in the project areas. Amel’s Project Coordinator shall act as the point person whom the consultant consults/coordinates throughout the course of the study.

Budget

The Consultant shall provide:

1.  financial proposal under four (4) main lines: (a) professional fees, (b) administrative fees, (c) field visit costs, and (d) all other necessary costs. All costs during the preparation meetings and related expenses during home-based works shall be on the charge of the Consultant.
2. A narrative proposal (max. 3 pages excl. Annexes) briefly describing their overall approach, timeline and showcasing relevant experience with similar work.

Permissions

The consultant is responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions to implement the data collection at the respective level.

12. Ethics and vulnerable group protection

The consultant is obliged to respect the following ethical and beneficiary’s protection requirements:

• Fair and inclusive: The consultant should seek the views of various stakeholders: older people with and without disabilities, their families, civil society organizations, community, partners, and government actors and be able to identify and address potential conflict of interest and unequal power relationships. Special efforts should be made to make the research process older people- centred and sensitive to protection, age, gender, and inclusion mainstreaming.
• Conflict of interest: The consultant must demonstrate the necessary independence and declare any conflict of interest and potential biases, including bias towards any of the stakeholders, target groups, types of research methodologies or approaches, social, political, or religious prejudice.
• Based on rights and ethics: The consultant must respect the rights and dignity of participants as well as comply with relevant ethical standards and HAD and Amel Policies and Code of conduct. The research must ensure appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation, a process of free and un-coerced consent and withdrawal, and confidentiality and anonymity of participants. The informed consent of each person (including persons with disabilities) participating in data collection should be documented.

                                                               

Please submit your proposal until 22nd of December to olderpeople@amel.org