Junior Researcher for Multiple Themes

1. Objectives and desired results
   1. General objective

The objective of the assignment is to generate evidence and foster dialogue that supports increased gender representation in municipal governance through legal reform, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy.

• 2. Specific objectives
• Analyze the gendered impact of the 2025 municipal election outcomes.
• Examine the effectiveness and limitations of current legal frameworks.
• Identify barriers to women’s participation at the municipal level.
• Organize roundtables to validate findings and build advocacy momentum.
• Formulate actionable and context-sensitive recommendations for reform.
  3. Anticipated results

• Support in producing a high-quality, evidence-based analytical report.
• Stakeholder-driven validation and consensus on key findings.
• A final set of recommendations for improving legal and policy frameworks to support gender inclusion.

2. Description of the assignment
   1. Planned activities

The junior researcher will contribute to the assignment using a participatory and data-driven approach, under the supervision of the senior researcher and in collaboration with national and local stakeholders.

Assignment preparation

• Conduct a preliminary review of relevant documentation (laws, election data, CSO reports).
• Participate in kick-off meetings with partners, and take minutes as needed.

Phase I: Desk Research and Methodology Design

• Support the analysis of Law 25/2008 and Law 44/2017 through summary briefs or annotated notes.
• Contribute to the mapping of gender equity initiatives and past electoral outcomes.
• Assist in the design, localization, and translation of tools for interviews and FGDs.

Phase II: Field Data Collection

• Assist in field work, including:
  • Coordination and communication with stakeholders and participants
  • Logistical and technical support during sessions
  • Note-taking and transcription of interviews and FGDs

Phase III: Data Analysis and Report Writing

• Support in compiling qualitative data and initial coding or thematic summaries.
• Contribute to drafting background sections and incorporating field findings into the analytical report.

Phase IV: Stakeholder Validation and Engagement

• Assist in organizing and facilitating roundtable events with key stakeholders.
• Provide logistical and communication support before and during the sessions.
• Document and synthesize feedback from roundtables for integration into the final report.

Post-assignment follow-up:

• Participate in internal and external debriefings.
• Provide support in preparing presentation materials and summarizing findings for dissemination.

1. 2. Anticipated deliverables

Deliverables

End date

1. Contribution to inception report and tool development

T0 + 2 weeks

2. Fieldwork preparation support

T0 + 2 weeks

3. Fieldwork support and transcription

T0 + 5 weeks

4. Fieldwork summary notes

T0 + 5 weeks

5. Contribution to Draft Analytical Report

T0 + 7 weeks

6. Roundtable Preparation Support

T0 + 9 week

7. Final Input and Debriefing

T0 + 10 week

1. 3. Coordination

The Junior Researcher will work under the guidance of a Senior Researcher, who will provide oversight on methodology, supervise analysis, and lead high-level stakeholder engagement and final synthesis of policy recommendations.

A launch meeting shall be held 3 days after the contract award has been notified.

Close collaboration must take place with Senior Researcher from assignment preparation right up to completion. Furthermore, regular exchanges must take place with WEHUB Project Manager and WEHUB Components Coordinator on assignment progress and any difficulties that may be encountered.

3. Place, duration and terms of performance
   1. Implementation period: August – October 2025

1. 2. Start date: August 1st  , 2025

1. 3. End date: 31 November 2025

1. 4. Effective duration per assignment: 15 Days

1. 5. Schedule/programme:

The provisional programme for assignment implementation is as follows:

Activity

Place

Period

Duration (man/days)

Expert 1:

Desk review, tools, & fieldwork preparation

Remote

Week 1–2

3 days

Data Collection Support

In field

Week 3–5

4 days

Data Analysis & Reporting

Remote

Week 6–7

4 days

Roundtables & Validation

In field

Week 8–9

2 days

Final Reporting

Remote

Week 10

2 days

Total

15 days

4. Required expertise and profile
   1. Number of experts per assignment: 1

1. 2. Profile of the designated expert(s) responsible for contract execution

1. Qualifications and skills:

• Holder of a postgraduate university degree in gender studies, political science, public administration, or equivalent experience in the field.
• Excellent qualities/capacities in:
  • Communication
  • Teamwork and interpersonal skills
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Analysis and reporting
  • Problem identification and resolution
  • Decision-making and taking initiatives
• High proficiency in written and spoken English.

2. General professional experience

• Professional experience of at least 2 years in the field of gender, governance, or electoral reform.
• Experience working in Lebanon or the MENA region.

3. Specific professional experience

• Track record of conducting gender-sensitive research and assessments.
• Experience designing and facilitating stakeholder consultations.
• Familiarity with Lebanese legal and political systems.

5. Assignment reports

A final report aligned with the deliverables section must be submitted in English. It should include an executive summary, methodology, key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

6. Monitoring-evaluation

Performance indicators

Deliverables

Immediate effects

Intermediate effects

Verification sources

Contribution to inception report and tool development           

Background data and annotated resources compiled; input provided on tools    

Senior researcher integrates junior input into final methodology 

Inception report

Fieldwork preparation support           

Logistical arrangements and stakeholder outreach completed       

Field activities conducted efficiently and on schedule          

Communication logs; preparation checklist

Fieldwork support and transcription           

Qualitative data collected and transcribed      

Rich and context-sensitive data available for analysis     

Transcripts; field notes; attendance sheets

Fieldwork summary notes   

Observations synthesized and submitted        

Data informs draft analytical report

Internal feedback

Contribution to draft analytical report

Drafting support and field insights incorporated

Supports senior senior researcher’s analytical writing and evidence base    

Draft sections, analysis notes, comments from senior researcher

Roundtable preparation support           

Events prepared and documented effectively

Stakeholders validate findings and provide feedback         

Agendas, invitations, minutes, participant feedback forms

Final input and debriefing       

Presentation materials and annexes prepared         

Support final dissemination and reflection        

PPT slides, debriefing notes, annex documentation

7. Practical information

• Working Language: The working languages of the assignment will be Arabic and English or French. Deliverables will be submitted in English unless otherwise requested.

• Meetings: Regular coordination meetings (online or in-person) will be held with the contracting authority and relevant stakeholders throughout the project period. A launch meeting will take place within the first 3 working days following contract signature.

• Criteria:

• • Specialization: Humanities (Social Studies, Political Science, International Affairs, Economics, Law, History, etc..)
  • Degree: Master’s degree or BA with ate least two years of experience.

1. Evaluation

The best value for money is established by weighing technical quality against price on a 60/40 basis. The quality of each technical and financial offer will be evaluated in accordance with the following award criteria and the weighting:

CRITERIA

WEIGHTS

Requirements and experience

60

Portfolio

(15)

Technical Field Knowledge

(15)

Experience Capabilities

(15)

Proposed delivery timeline

(15)

Price

40

Tenders will be appraised and given a score of up to 100 points according to these criteria.

NB:

• Only tenders with scores of at least 45 points on technical evaluation qualify for the financial evaluation.
• No other award criteria will be used. The award criteria will be examined in accordance with the requirements indicated in the Terms of Reference.