Consultancy: Research: New realities for queer individuals in Beirut post Port Explosion

Terms of Reference

- Research consultant-

Research: New realities for queer individuals in Beirut post Port Explosion

Background:

Beirut Explosion:

On August 4, 2020 at approximately 18h00 (Beirut time), a warehouse at the Beirut Port containing 2,750 tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded. After an initial explosion, a subsequent blast caused widespread damage, with reports of destruction more than 20 kilometres from the port area. 

To date, it was reported that:

• More than 200 people are reported dead with 7 people still missing, and over 6,000 injured.
• Some 40,000 buildings were damaged, with 3,000 residential structures seriously damaged.[1]
• Over 70,000 workers are estimated to have lost their jobs as a result of the explosions, with direct implications for over 12,000 households.[2]
• 178 public and private schools were damaged.[3]

The explosion impacted several neighbourhoods in Greater Beirut and adjacent quarters in the Mount Lebanon governorate. According to preliminary assessments, the most affected areas are[4]: 

• In Beirut governorate: Gemmayzeh (Saifi quarter); Karantina (also known as Khodr) and Mar Mikhael (Medawar quarter); Jetaoui (Remeil quarter); Gharb, also known as Karm El Zeitouni (Achrafieh quarter); Nouveau secteur, also known as Downtown, and Marfaa (Marfaa quarter); Bachoura quarter; Zqouq al Blatt quarter; Mazraa quarter; Moussaitbeh quarter; Ras Beirut and Ain Mreisseh sectors (Dar El Mreisseh quarter); and Minet El Hosn quarter 

• In Mount Lebanon governorate: municipalities of Bourj Hammoud, Bauchriyeh, Sin El Fil, Aamaret Chalhoub, Jdaidet El-Matn and Zalqa (all in Metn district) 

The explosion led to catastrophic destruction of residential houses, businesses, infrastructure, and the Port. Primary data from LGBTQ-focused CSOs and from queer individuals right after the explosion pointed to the impact of the blast on the queer community in Lebanon especially in terms of their access to safe spaces and their relationship with space.  In fact, the most affected areas by the blast (Mar Mkhayel, Gemmayze, Geitawi…) hosted large numbers of queer residents, and were known for their safe queer spaces and their overall reputation as the most queer-friendly neighborhoods in Beirut. These areas once offered an alternative platform for individuals with non-conforming gender and sexual identities and experiences to reinvent their own non-heteronormative discourses and to manifest and practice their gender and sexual identities and experiences, hence playing an important role in the political and social lives of queer bodies. This alternative that these areas provided to an otherwise hyper-heterosexualized city of Beirut made it possible for queer bodies to be visible, and gave them, by virtue of clustering, a sense of community protection and a platform for resistance against different forms of oppression they face.

Oxfam in Lebanon is implementing a European-Union (EU) funded project entitled: “Challenging Stereotypes, Providing Services, Convening, and Advocating: A multi-layer approach to promote LGBTI rights in Lebanon”. The project aims to meet three outputs:

• Output 1: Stereotypes of LGBTI individuals are challenged through different forms of “creative knowledge”
• Output 2: Access to safe legal, health, and MHPSS services for LGBTI individuals is facilitated
• Output 3: Rights of LGBTI individuals are advocated for through evidence-production and convening events

As part of this project, and in order to understand the new realities faced by queer individuals in Lebanon post-explosion, Oxfam is looking to conduct a research to map available and needed services and analyze the impact of the sequential crises on queers in Lebanon, including the impact of the physical and symbolic transformation of the affected areas on the relationship of queer individuals with public spaces and thereby their ability to gather, organize and resist.

The significance of this revision is to:

• Update the information on the needs and realities of the LGBTQ organizations and community members post-explosion
• Increase the level of awareness about the different forms of discrimination faced by queer individuals and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions
• Highlight stories and experiences of queer individuals in public spaces in Beirut and initiate a public debate about queer geographies, experiences and trajectories
• Use generated data in the development of advocacy tools and evidence-based policy products

To make sure these objectives are met, the methodology will be guided by the following research questions:

1. What is the impact of the series of crises Lebanon has been facing on queer individuals? Which factors are exacerbating/worsening the effect of these crises on different segments of the community and how? (i.e class, nationality, gender experience, sexual orientation, etc.). What are the challenges faced by queer individuals as a result of the crisis on the level of their general health, mental health, financial capacity, legal conditions and psychosocial settings? What are the most urgent needs of queer individuals that require immediate response?
2. Who are the current actors providing support and relief effort to queer individuals in Lebanon? What are the available services and resources and what are the gaps that need to be addressed?
3. How did the explosion impact the relationship of queer individuals with public spaces? How did queer individuals respond to the material and representational transformation of the affected area?
4. How do the physical transformation of the affected area and the alteration of its social characteristics change its function as a queer space? To what extent are reconstruction efforts accounting for voices from the community, and how? Are grassroots/alternate setups being put in place to allow the community to claim social, political and spatial rights in these neighborhoods?

Objective of the consultancy

Oxfam is looking for a research consultant with strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies to support the team to carry out the research. Specifically, the consultant is expected to support in:

• Developing/validating the methodology of the research;
• Developing data collection tools
• Clean the collected data;
• Analyze the data;
• Write up the report.

Expected Deliverables

Based on the above expectations the consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables:

• Written methodology (including sampling methods, ethical considerations, possible limitations)
• Data collection tools
• Cleaned database (qualitative, quantitative)
• Report with findings and recommendations (including consolidation/synthesis of the results from different sources)
• Final revised report - number of revisions depend on the quality of the submitted document

Timeline and expected number of days

The consultant is expected to provide the deliverables within a period of 30 days that extends between November 1st 2020 and February 28th as per the below preliminary timeframe:

Activity                                                                   Expected number of days             Deadline

Development and validation of methodology                        3                                                               End of October 2020

Development of data collection tools                                      3                                                               First week of November 2020

Phase 1 of data collection                                                          5                                                               End of November 2020

Data cleaning                                                                               2                                                               End of November 2020

Report write up (based on phase 1 of data collection)         4                                                              First week of December 2020

Phase 2 of data collection                                                          5                                                              Mid-January 2021

Data cleaning                                                                                2                                                              End of January 2021

Report write up                                                                            6                                                              End of February 2021

TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS                                           30                                                          

Consultant qualifications:

This consultancy should be led by a person (or persons) with:

• Prior experience working on research specific to LGBTQ issues and public spaces;
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research;
• Excellent communications skills in English, including advanced writing skills;
• Strong communication skills in Arabic are preferred;
• A familiarity or direct experience working in Lebanon or in the Middle East broadly, is preferred;
• Flexibility to provide support;
• Availability to start immediately

Payment and instructions for interested consultants

Payment will be done in two instalments, 30% upon contract signature, and 70% upon Oxfam’s approval of the final report.

Note that payment will be made based on the budget in the offer (not based on actual expenses incurred by the consultant). No receipts will be requested from the consultant towards the end of the contract. 

CODES OF BEHAVIOUR:

The process will be directed by Oxfam’s guidelines for the ethical conduct of evaluations and research, guiding the team of consultants through careful consideration of the key ethical implications at every stage of the harvest. These guidelines are available at this link: http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/undertaking-research-with-ethics-253032 

SHARING AND USING FINDINGS:

The final report will be shared internally with Oxfam staff and affiliates. It will also be shared externally with relevant actors and organizations. Generated data will be used to inform Oxfam’s programmes in Lebanon.

DISCLOSURE:

Although free to discuss with the authorities on anything relevant to the assignment, under the terms of reference, the consultant is not authorized to make any commitments on behalf of Oxfam. All data collected as part of this consultancy belongs to Oxfam and public dissemination of the data and findings and recommendations can only be done with the written consent of the Oxfam.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI):

Oxfam invites EOI from individuals, with the experience and skills described above. The EOI must include:

1. A CV for the consultant;

2. A maximum 2-page document outlining similar previous consultancies (along with an explanation of the purpose of the consultancy, who the contracting authority was)

3. Up to 2 extracts of previous reports done in the same area as the subject of this consultancy. Oxfam will use the reports/parts of reports provided for no purpose other than to assess the qualifications of the applying consultant(s);

4. A one-page budget of the offer, covering all major anticipated costs (see section above on what costs should be included in the offer);

Please submit the EOI and other documents by October 30th, 2020 at the latest, to  Lebanonprocurement@oxfam.org.uk and naouad@oxfam.org.uk with “Research Consultant” in the subject line.

All questions or clarifications of a technical nature are to be sent to Nizar Aouad at naouad@oxfam.org.uk

[1] OCHA, Beirut Explosion SitRep 5.

[2] Ibid.

[3] OCHA, Beirut Explosion SitRep

[4]https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/emergency-operations-centre-beirut-assessment-analysis-cell-analysis-affected-areas