Consultancy - Research On Youth

  TERMS OF REFERENCE Research of Obstacles Facing Refugee Youth[1] in Lebanon  1.         BACKGROUND The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, education, emergency food security, legal assistance, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors. We aim to provide high quality and innovative technical solutions to daily challenges of life in displacement that also offer protection and, where possible, create hope. The Norwegian Refugee Council established its presence in Lebanon during the early days of the war in 2006. In April 2007, NRC launched a programme on education in emergencies, providing catch-up classes and recreational activities to Iraqi refugee children and youth. In the fall of 2008, the program expanded to include further support to Palestinian refugee children and youth and in 2012 to respond to education needs of the Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese. Today NRC, offers quality education support to Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Iraqi children and youth.  The Syrian conflict, now in its fifth year, has resulted in large-scale displacement both within Syria and across the region. The latest estimates put the number of registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, at 1.2 million, with another 300,000 unregistered. In addition to that, Lebanon is hosting 425,000 Palestinians registered with UNRWA, and about 44,000 of Palestinian refugees from Syria. Current refugee figures available for Lebanon do not include data specific to youth 15-24 years old. Being a refugee has particular impacts on youth as it comes at a time of personal development, formation of identity and change. Many refugee youth and adolescents had to suspend their education without further ability to pursue formal or informal education opportunities, while in displacement. Others have had difficulties accessing professional development paths that would have otherwise be opened to them. But youth in displacement are not just victims – they are also agents, who participate in burden-sharing of common household requirements, and actively support their communities[2]. Well-tailored programming, services and creation of opportunities for refugee and host community youth could harness this positive potential and prevent social tensions, negative coping and risky behaviour. Refugee youth in Lebanon however have been one of the least serviced groups. Through focus groups conducted among the affected population, NRC has identified several challenges facing refugee youth, and key among them are related to legal status and education. For example, Syrian students or Palestinians from Syria, without education documents from their country of origin cannot sit for official exams, preventing them from continuing education above basic or secondary education. A range of perception studies show a rise in negative feelings and coping strategies among young people, including hopelessness and anger, use of drugs and alcohol and attraction to gangs and violent groups[3]. With rights restricted and very limited access to the legal work for Syrians and Palestinians, young people are vulnerable to exploitation in an unregulated labour market. In Lebanon, refugees face serious limitations in accessing their right to work. There are more than 70 professions that Palestinian refugees cannot access. For Syrian refugees, access to labour is even more restricted and limited a handful of mainly low skilled labour jobs. Donors have recognized the urgency of the challenges posed by the Syria crisis. A No Lost Generation strategy was adopted in 2013. However, this was not matched with desired funding levels, programming focus or vocal advocacy. The MEHE’s education proposal ‘Reaching All Children with Education’ (RACE) does not include a youth component – although this may change as a result of the recently announced review.  There has been limited research in Lebanon on the specific challenges, opportunities and consequences of a lack of larger-scale youth programming on youth themselves and host country. In order to improve NRC’s and inter-agency understanding of the main challenges and opportunities faced by Syrian and Palestinian youth and their peers in Lebanon, NRC will conduct a national research focusing on legal impediments to accessing rights for youth. The study will shed light on youth programming and inform the Syrian and Palestinian response with the aim of pushing for system changes and their inclusion in national plans. This research will also be a part of a larger comparative regional study with the same main focus, covering Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. 2.         OBJECTIVES The consultant shall work under the overall direct guidance of NRC Lebanon Education Specialist and report to Education Programme Manager in the North. The Consultant will also will also liaise closely with NRC’s Advocacy and Information Adviser and Media and Communication Officer. The objective of the assessment is to gather evidence and offer analysis of the challenges faced by refugee youth in Lebanon due to legal impediments to accessing their rights. This research should inform NRC’s youth programming in Lebanon and support NRC contribution to concrete policy discussions about the response to the specific needs of youth and adolescents. It should also feed into a regional youth research conducted in Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. The primary outcomes of the research will be: (1)   up to date data and analysis related to challenges and opportunities faced by youth in Lebanon, taking into consideration social and cultural specifics of the different refugee youth groups. This will be through mapping of needs, responses and gaps in youth programmes as well as specific barriers including legal obstacles to youth access to rights, donor focus on primary education that prevent youth from continuing education and meaningfully contribute to their communities; and (2)   concrete policy and programmatic recommendations that address unmet youth needs. 2.         EXPECTED DELIVERABLES Desk review on the state of the current global, regional, and Lebanon-specific policy/peer debate on youth in displacement.  A kick-off workshop for key stakeholders[4] in coordination with NRC to share the purpose of the research and incorporate feedback. Detailed field research methodology and work plan adjusted to the findings of the desk research and  feedback form the workshop Research Document, containing evidence and analysis on: Distinct issues faced/raised by youth from Syria as well as Palestinian youth in Lebanon due to lack of opportunities/barriers to rights; Coping mechanisms adopted by refugee youth with case studies of both positive and negative consequences and examples of best practices; Policy report in English and Arabic summarizing the key challenges/ barriers to accessing education for refugee youth along with key recommendations for youth programmes. Country-specific workshop in Lebanon for sharing initial research findings and concrete feedback. 3.         PROGRESS PLAN Delivery dates: Milestones: 1st July 2015   Share desk review on the state of the current global, regional, and Lebanon-specific policy/peer debate on youth in displacement Mid-July 2015 Organize a kick-off workshop for key stakeholders in coordination with NRC to share the purpose of the research and incorporate feedback End July 2015 Share detailed field research methodology and work plan adjusted to the findings of the desk research and  feedback from the workshop End August 2015 Share research document (as described above)   Share policy report in English and Arabic (as described above) Mid-September 2015 Attend the youth regional workshop in Amman and present outcomes of the Lebanon research 30th September 2015 Organize a country-specific workshop in Lebanon for sharing initial research findings and concrete feedback. 4.         SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will: Ensure that research methodology is in line with regional research. Verify the suggested methodology and workplan with the Education Specialist and Education PM. Conduct overall coordination of the assessment project as per agreed methodology and work plan. Ensure consistency in quality of data collection, analysis and compilation. Identify and hire the research team Establish and coordinate the work of research team and/or data collectors Liaise with the regional research coordinator and team. Prepare progress and other reports as required. Actively and timely assist with identification of policy opportunities for changing and influencing policies affecting youth Coordinate with support to NRC AIA/MCO in developing a series of youth-led communications materials, e.g. case studies, short videos, photo essays etc. 5.         QUALIFICATIONS Proven related experience, preferably from refugee/IDP education/youth projects in complex emergencies and in Lebanon; Experience and understanding of Tertiary Education sector, preferably in development or emergency contexts; Practical experience in conducting research/assessments in Humanitarian or Development contexts; Experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and narrative reporting; Experience of management of projects to deadlines; Significant understanding of complex emergencies and crisis contexts; Demonstrated management and leadership skills; Fluency in the English language; proficiency in Arabic language is a plus; Political and cultural awareness and experience of working where insecurity is a major issue; Computer skills. 6.         WE OFFER Commencement: June 2015 Contract period: deliverables are expected by 30th September 2015. Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s general directions Duty station: North Lebanon. [1] Refugee youth being both Palestinian and Syrian. [2] Refugee Youth: Agency and Aspiration: Transforming attitudes in humanitarian aid organisations, Oxford University: Refugee Studies Center (2015) [Available at: http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/policy/refugee-youth-agency-aspiration] [3] At-Risk Youth: American Near East Refugee Aid, January 2014 and Situation Analysis of Youth Affected by the Syria Conflict: UNFPA, UNESCO, UNICEF, Save the Children, UNHCR, April 2014 [4] These stakeholders will be identified by Education PM with assistance of AIA, and could include Lebanese NGOs, relevant UN agencies, government actors such as MOSA, MEHE, research centers in country or abroad etc.