Accountability Trainer for Local NGOs (Consultancy)

Cesvi started operating in Lebanon in 2001 in the livelihoods sector through emergency and development interventions. In 2010 Cesvi phased out from the country and came back in 2013 to respond to the spillover of the Syrian Crisis with emergency interventions in favor of vulnerable refugee families and hosting communities. Cesvi is currently consolidating its activities, by working closely with local partners, CSOs, local authorities and other stakeholders, as the interventions shift from an emergency approach towards a medium - term development one. The interventions are being directed at increasing resilience and self-reliance of both host and refugee communities, in line with donors’ recommendation, Cesvi strategy, and the Alliance2015 strategy in the country.

Cesvi Lebanon has received a grant from Unicef in the frame of the program “Vocational Training Program for Youth in Lebanon” to create livelihood opportunities in a conflict-sensitive manner, leading to more jobs, income, and resilient communities. In the phase 2 of this program, Cesvi aims to harness the potential of youth through skills development and creation of income-generating opportunities.

In addition, the program includes activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of local Community-based Organizations (CBOs) so as to enable them to address local needs in a more accountable and sustainable manner. To achieve this goal a methodology, based on the commitments set out in the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), is being employed.

The CHS is a set of commitments and quality criteria that are used as a guideline and measure to identify how accountable an organization’s work is. Organizations and individuals involved in humanitarian response can use the CHS commitments to improve the quality and effectiveness of the assistance they provide. The CHS also promotes greater accountability to communities and people affected by crisis: knowing what humanitarian organizations have committed to enables people to hold organizations to account.

Objective/purpose of the services:

The consultant will work with Cesvi directly under the UNICEF-funded project: “Vocational Training Program for Youth,” and will report to Cesvi MEAL and Capacity Building Officer. Within this program, the consultant will provide a two-day training on the following topic: Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).

Overview of the assignment:

Cesvi, in collaboration with AVSI, is leading the CHS/capacity building component for the CBOs partner of the project. Cesvi is a member of the CHS Alliance and, therefore, shares the importance of the Core Humanitarian Standard and is strongly committed to it and familiar to its tools and processes.

The capacity building effort undertaken by Cesvi is in line with the most recent and relevant developments in the humanitarian sector. The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016 brought significant attention to Localization. The Grand Bargain confirmed a commitment from the largest humanitarian donors and aid organizations to make sure national and local partners are involved in decision-making processes in any humanitarian response, and deliver assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles. Because local actors often have the best understanding of the context and acceptance by the people in need of assistance and protection, they are essential for an effective humanitarian response.

To achieve this, Cesvi has devised and engaged in activities aimed at increasing and improving the assistance delivered by local and national responders. In order to support CBOs in their growth, Cesvi is seeking a AAP trainer who will deliver a training session to CBO managers and staff with the goal to enhance their operative knowledge capacities on this matter.

Here is a list of recommended topics, based IASC Commitments to Accountability to Affected Populations:

LEADERSHIP/GOVERNANCE: Demonstrate commitment to accountability to affected populations by ensuring feedback and accountability mechanisms are integrated within the organization’s management structures.

TRANSPARENCY: Provide accessible and timely information to affected populations on organizational procedures, structures and processes that affect them to ensure that they can make informed decisions and choices, and facilitate a dialogue between an organization and its affected populations over information provision.

FEEDBACK and COMPLAINTS: Actively seek the views of affected populations to improve policy and practice in programming, ensuring that feedback and complaints mechanisms are streamlined, appropriate and robust enough to deal with (communicate, receive, process, respond to and learn from) complaints about breaches in policy and stakeholder dissatisfaction. Specific issues raised by affected individuals regarding violations and/or physical abuse that may have human rights and legal, psychological or other implications should have the same entry point as programme-type complaints, but procedures for handling these should be adapted accordingly.

PARTICIPATION: Enable affected populations to play an active role in the decision-making processes that affect them through the establishment of clear guidelines and practices to engage them appropriately and ensure that the most marginalized and affected are represented and have influence.

Scope of work:

The consultant/trainer undertakes to perform the services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity, and in line with Cesvi’s code of conduct. The consultant/trainer will:

•       Meet and coordinate with Cesvi throughout the collaboration.

•       Prepare and agree with Cesvi a suitable module/curriculum for the training.

•       Develop a daily plan for the training session.

•       Support Cesvi in the organization of the training session, whenever required.

•       Prepare a pre and post-test to be administered to the trainees on the topics of the training.

•       Conduct and facilitate the training session on AAP.

•       Provide technical advice and support to participants during the training.

•       Mark trainees’ improvement based on the pre- posttest results.

Deliverables:

1. Daily training plan
2. Training curriculum/module
3. Handout materials for participants
4. Power point presentation for training session (if applicable)
5. Background reading material for the participants.
6. Conduct and facilitate the training session on AAP
7. Pre and post-test of trainees

Timetable:

The trainer is expected to conduct the training between 22/9/2019 and 8/10/2019 (exact dates yet to be determined).

Training session: 2 days (each of the two days: between 9am and 6pm)

Specifications for the consultant:

Professional Qualification:

• Consultant must hold a university degree in Social Sciences or in any related field or must have a relevant background plus experience in humanitarian / development sector.
• Certified trainer is a plus.

Knowledge/Experience:

• He/she should have at least 3 years of experience working in humanitarian / development sector.
• Should possess a proven knowledge and expertise gained through similar assignments related to capacity building in humanitarian/development assistance.
• Actual member of training networks a plus.

Skills:

• Expert-Level Knowledge of international standards and best practices of quality and accountability for the humanitarian/development sector.
• Excellent writing and organizational skills, with high attention to details
• Excellent verbal, presentation, and listening communications skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality
• Ability to stay up to date with current news, trends and studies related to international standards and best practices of quality and accountability.
• Analytical and problem solving skills, willingness to collaborate in problem-solving.

Personal Attributes:

• Be honest, trustworthy, and respectful.
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity to needs of vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under tight deadlines.
• Take initiative and is open to continuous learning and constructive criticism