Stakeholders Mapping & Advocacy Consultant

  1.    Introduction: LECORVAW is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a stakeholders mapping and develop an advocacy strategy.   The Women’s Access to Justice in the MENA region project Phase 2 is a 3 year project implemented by LECORVAW in partnership with Oxfam GB and five other NGO partners in Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen and Egypt. It is designed to build upon the successes of Phase 1 (April 2011 – March 2014). The key problem this project will address is the limited and inequitable access of poor and vulnerable women to justice. The underlying factors are described in more detail below. 1)     Limited capacities of women to claim their rights due to limited ability to make well informed decisions related to one’s rights and limited affordability of legal services and litigation for women. 2)     Women are socially deterred from accessing the judicial system. 3)     Formal and informal justice systems are perceived as gender biased/ discriminating against women. 4)     Limited impact of CSO advocacy on women’s rights and access to justice. 2.    Designed by Oxfam GB and partners, the project seeks to work at the personal, community and systemic levels while fostering stakeholders’ engagement and influencing decision makers at all levels. According to the theory of change the Project seeks change at different levels that will cumulatively create an environment in which women are able to claim their rights through the judicial institutions PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY: The principal objective of the assignment is to design a participatory advocacy strategy, but it’s expected that the consultant will work on the below components: Stakeholder mapping, including community leaders, focusing on national and local stakeholders engaged in judiciary and legal reform in Lebanon, with primary focus on women’s access to justice. Power Analysis Development of advocacy key themes / messages and plan 3.    Key Tasks: The selected consultant will undertake the following tasks: Task 1: Conduct a stakeholder mapping, which will include: List of critical stakeholders related to judiciary and legal reform. Key issues for stakeholder analysis. Current levels of engagement judiciary and legal reform. Civil society participation and representation. List of community leaders, their influence and power. Task 2: Undertake a power analysis, which will include: Stakeholders’ degree of importance and influence. An analysis identifying key concerns and interests of each stakeholder group. Identification of the current position of the various stakeholders in the reform process:  are they champion, floater or blocker? Adapt stakeholder/power analysis Identify who the key decision-makers are on the reform process and who is influential with them and what their positions are as this will then guide the influencing, negotiation and advocacy strategies provide advices on the key stakeholders’ mapping and power analysis Task 3: Develop advocacy strategy targeting various stakeholders groups   Facilitate consultation with specified stakeholders and beneficiaries to identify priority areas and sector appropriate mechanisms for advocacy. Coordinate with LECORVAW team on identifying key messages and themes. Create and disseminate advocacy messages targeted to various stakeholder Groups. Draft a complete advocacy strategy which should include: clear objectives, messages, allies/partners/stakeholders, and implementation plan.     4.     Key Deliverables:  The consultant should submit the following key deliverables: A final report of the findings the stakeholders mapping and power analysis, which will include the following: -          List of primary and secondary stakeholders: who are they and what are their functions? -          Profile table for stakeholders including their agendas, interests and influence. -          Relations and power dynamics. -          A stand-alone section for identified community leaders, their influence and power.   Final complete advocacy strategy which should include: clear objectives, messages, allies/partners/stakeholders, tools and implementation plan. 5. Job requirements: Previous experience with stakeholder analysis, power mapping, and social analysis; Previous experience in the legal system in Lebanon Previous experience in conducting advocacy plan addressing the Lebanese legal system and specially the Sunni court. Knowledge of issues related to gender equality and women’s rights in the region; Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic skills are an asset; Ability to write concise, readable and analytical reports and understanding of public communications Knowledge of issues related to legal protection and Personal Status and Family laws across the region is an asset. 6. TIMELINE: LECORVAW expects the fulfilment of the mentioned tasks within a period up to 30 days starting from the day the contract is signed.   7. GOVERNANCE & MANGAGEMENT OF THE BASELINE SURVEY: The Consultant will directly report to the WAJ project manager. The Consultant will work closely and in consultation with the LECORVAW team in Lebanon.   8. BUDGET: The budget will be discussed up on proposal          Payment will be done in two instalments