LLWB/UK: Consultant, to conduct a study on the challenges of women in specific economic sectors

About the Program:  

LLWB, in partnership with UK Embassy in Lebanon aims to facilitate and increase female representation on the boards of organizations, syndicates, universities and public entities and institutions (Such as ministries and or national machineries and or public institutions) promoting gender equality and diversity in decision-making positions.  

In this program LLWB will work closely with four selected institutions (for this iteration: Public entities and institutions (Such as ministries and or national machineries and or public institutions) 

In brief, LLWB will work alongside institutions to foster more inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive environments by mainstreaming gender across all levels of governance. LLWB and institutions will also work on embedding women's leadership including on boards  as a core value of institutional culture through this program. 

Scope of Consultancy:  

To further explore the situation of women on boards in specific sectors in Lebanon, LLWB is seeking to recruit a short-term consultant to undertake a mapping and analyses of the women on boards of at least 2 specific ecnomic sectors in Lebanon  such Pharmaceutical , health care , retail , tourism, energy , construction and real state  , creative industry and media ...), the types of institutions existing in the sector, the main challenges facing having women on the board of directors of specific sectors.  

This activity will focus specifically on 2 economic  sectorsaiming to analyze the representation of women in leadership positions within these sectors.  

Through a combination of data collection tools, combining, desk research, stakeholder consultations, and focus groups,  LLWB intends to generate a publishable comprehensive report detailing the status of women on the boards of at least 2 specific economic sectors such as Pharmaceutical, health care, retail, tourism, energy, construction and real state, creative industry, agri food and media ...  the main challenges remaining and the main Practical recommendations and SMART Recommendations to have more women on boards. 

The primary objective of this mapping exercise is to identify the number of women serving on the boards of the companies of the sectors selected, their roles, and their representation as a percentage of the total board composition. Additionally, LLWB seeks to assess the level of gender diversity and inclusion using a clear methodology within specific sectors such Pharmaceutical, health care, retail, tourism, energy, construction and real state, creative industry and media ... leadership structures. This mapping activity will involve mixed research methods, including desk research, surveys, calls, and meetings with responsible stakeholders that the selected consultant will lead in collaboration with LLWB. 

These efforts will be directed towards gathering pertinent data, identifying key findings, and formulating recommendations for the parliament, the government and the relevant ministries and or Civil Society to enhance gender diversity and inclusion in specific sectors ' leadership roles. 

Ultimately, the comprehensive report produced from this mapping and analyze initiative will serve as a valuable resource for adoption at the national level. It will inform policy decisions, guide organizational practices, and advocate for greater gender equality and representation in corporate settings throughout Lebanon. The study findings will be validated by LLWB and deliberated in a consultation meeting and launching meeting with various stakeholders. 

The research/study should include and not limited to: 

• Inception report outlining methodology and work plan and timetable of the consultancy assignment. 
• Meeting with LLWB Executive director and Project Manager to discuss methodology and outcomes. 
• Collect data about a specific sector (to be selected with LLWB support) sectors could include such Industries, Pharmaceutical, health care, retail, tourism, energy, construction and real state, creative industry and media ...in Lebanon from a gender and inclusive perspective and the type of nominations and or advancement of the board members in each of them.  
• Include clear variables such as selection and nomination and or elections of board members of a specific sector , monitoring the role of board members in KIIs and or Survey disaggregated by sex and age and number of mandates as the aim of the study is to measure the number of women on boards in a specific sector and how board members women and men were selected. 
• Prepare, lead and conduct an anonymous potential survey/sample to be discussed with all relevant stakeholders to have a national overview focusing on quantitative data related to the main challenges for having women on the boards in specific sectors as per the type and categories, sex, age, disaggregated data on women and men on boards and number of mandates by sex, age and disability is needed. 
• Conduct at least 10 Semi-structured key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders (Sample to be discussed with whom) to explore more in detail and in a qualitative approach the mapping and updated literature review and survey and quantitative and qualitative outcomes, identifying gaps, challenges of having women on Boards in specific sectors.  
• Present final publishable report for LLWB review, and once the reviews are finalized and amended, the consultant presents the findings during a validation meeting and a launching meeting. 

Submit an article of half a page in English and one article in Arabic to describe the impact and potential impact of the mapping and analyses with quotes and recommendations that could be used in media and LLWB publications. (of maximum 250-300 words each) 

Timeline:  
The expert is to submit a time frame for implementing the women on board mapping and analysis for public institutions in Lebanon within the period September 2025 – November 2025. 

Required Qualifications:  

Applicants must hold an advanced degree in social sciences, socio-economic sciences, gender studies, political sciences, public policies, law, or any other relevant field. The following qualifications are required. 

• At least 10 years of work experience in conducting research and studies with private and public institutions.  
• At least 10 years of qualitative and quantitative research methodology with public sector institutions.  
• Proven experience in gender transformative and inclusion research and studies 
• Robust knowledge of public institutions' work, and robust knowledge and previous experience in leading research in the Private sector 
• Proven experience in the CSOs sector and the various methods of advocacy that could be used to amend legislation with multiple stakeholders be it: public sector, private sector, government, parliament commissions, CSOs including NGOs, syndicates, media, Academia and schools.  
• Proven experience in law making, and law amending; 
• Proven experience in collaborative work 
• Excellent public speaking, communication, diplomatic abilities. 
• Excellent Arabic and English written and English skills, French is a plus. 
• Ability to produce a report in English and in Arabic is required. LLWB will select the individual consultant most suitable for the assignment, considering the proposal submitted by the applicant, experience, financial offer and availability. 

Deliverables:  

• Inception report outlining methodology and work plan and timetable of the consultancy assignment. 
• Meeting with, Executive director and MP to discuss methodology and outcomes and expected results.  
• Collect data about all women on board in at least 2 specific economic sectors in Lebanon and draft a report on the boards of these institutions from a gender and inclusive perspective and the type of nominations and or advancement of the board members in each of them. 
• Survey, questionnaires and qualitative and quantitative data collection tools used for the research to be shared in raw data, as well as shared in analyzed form with LLWB Project Manager and the Executive Director. 
• Draft research including updated literature review on the women in boardrooms of a specific sector, quantitative and qualitative analysis methodology used and main recommendations and research mapping outcomes, identifying gaps, challenges of having women on Boards in specific sector. 
• Final publishable report for LLWB review in English (in word and pdf , with clear consent forms in PDF for all type of data collected) and once the reviews are finalized and consultant amends the draft, the consultant to also present an executive summary in English and Arabic versions (in word version and pdf version ) and presentation of the study in Arabic (PDF and PPT format). 
• Consultant to present the presentation and study on Validation meeting and launching meeting. 
• Submit an article of half a page in English and one article in Arabic to describe the impact and potential impact of the mapping and analyses of the research on women in specific sector, boards in Lebanon with quotes and recommendations that could be used in media and LLWB publications. (of maximum 250-300 words each) 

With this call for proposal, LLWB requests interested express to express their interest and send a cover letter with clear commitment to conduct the study. The expert needs to send a financial proposal covering all the above deliverables and ensure that MOF certification is needed. Note: Failing to provide these documents will lead to a deduction of the withholding tax (8.5%) as per the Lebanese Law.