Consultany For Psychosocial Project

 Context The Syrian crisis has led to massive displacement of population into the country during the last 4 years. The situation is still tense, with scared resources to welcome refugees and political instability. As the Syrian Crisis is in its fourth year, the number of Syrians seeking refuge in other countries has reached an unprecedented scale. Currently 25% of the population in Lebanon is refugee/displaced, the highest worldwide compared to its population size. 85% of registered refugees (around 1.2 million) live in 182 localities in which 67% of the host population is living below the poverty line. This sudden and dramatic increase in population has exerted a lot of pressure on the country’s infrastructure and institutions with serious repercussions on the country’s economic stability. Prior to this crisis, Lebanon was already hosting half a million Palestinian refugees; the pressure on the Lebanese government and local population is very high.   In April 2015, the United Nations Security Council declared that the international community has to help Lebanon in its efforts to host more than 1 million refugees from neighboring Syria. The Security Council also expressed concern over border violations including the presence of terrorists and violence extremist groups in Lebanese territory. Since the beginning of March 2015, the government of Lebanon, through the General Security Directorate is enforcing entry regularization among refugees entering from Syria. The Lebanese government has also asked the UNHCR to stop the registration process hence new refugees and new born babies cannot be registered anymore and refugees that arrived after January 2015 have been unregistered. This means it is now much harder for Syrians to enter the country, while those residing in Lebanon are also facing difficulties in renewing their residency or having access to humanitarian aid or public facilities. This situation will place an increased economic strain on the families, and in addition to the expected  decrease in basic assistance due to low funding levels, an escalation in negative coping mechanisms (such as begging, child labor, child marriages, sexual services for food/accommodation, petty crime, etc.) might be witnessed.       pre- existing vulnerabilities among the Lebanese society. Refugee populations have in many cases settled in areas inhabited by impoverished and vulnerable Lebanese communities further stretching limited or non-existent sources of income and public services at the local level.    As the Syrian crisis is now protracted, with unprecedented number of civilians affected by the constant violation of the Humanitarian laws, there is little perspective for the refugees to return to their home country.  The Syria Crisis Response Conference which took place in London in 2016 clearly intends to address the humanitarian needs of this protracted crisis, by setting up consistent multi years response tackling current issues, considering the evolution of needs and the and the necessity to provide the refugees from Syria with some perspectives and ensuring the social stability in Lebanon.  The spillover of the Syrian crisis into Lebanon compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities among the Lebanese society, especially in areas where the level of social infrastructures is not developed or strong enough to cope with.     First challenge is the reduction of the aid available to tackle basic needs: in 2015 and first semester of 2016, only 56% of the funding requested were allocated to the humanitarian response to the Syrian Crisis in Lebanon.   This led to decrease in basic assistance provided to the refugees, and therefore to an escalation in negative coping mechanisms of most vulnerable households, (such as begging, child labour, child marriages, sexual services for food/accommodation, limitation of movements due to transportation costs, etc.).   What is more, if (un)conditional cash assistance is the main relevant way to respond most basic needs of registered poorest refugee families, level of indebtedness is a key factor for explanation of vulnerability In the long lasting crisis, and needs to be monitored constantly. As weather conditions are also very harsh in the winter, access to proper shelter conditions is a main priority as well.  Most vulnerable Syrian refugees are mainly settled in small shelter units (SSU), collective shelters (CS) or informal settlements (IS).      London Syrian Crisis Conference focuses as well on the education and health services provision, which need to be upgraded in terms of quality and provided in a more sustainable way, as no return to Syria is realistic in the next upcoming years. According to the 2015 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees (VASyR), 27% of households among the Syrian displaced population count at least one member with a specific need: chronic disease (13%), permanent disability (3%), temporary disability or another issue. 70% of displaced households reported a child needing care in the month prior to the survey   The main objectives of the requested consultancy mission is to: Analyze the Psychosocial Support interventions and measure the impact of the intervention, making relevant recommendations and suggestions to ensure best practice is taking place. Capitalize on the existing program and harmonize interventions by designing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols, that follow international guidelines and are adapted to the mission’s current interventions. Interested candidates should submit in English: 1. A technical offer with (5 pages max): Understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR): development of a problematic and formulation of questions, which the offer proposes to respond to The methodology and tools proposed for the consultancy The timetable showing the details for the completion of each consultancy phases. The proposed schedule should include time for briefing and debriefing on the mission and as much as possible at headquarter. 2. A financial offer including a budget with detailed sections (fees, other costs) 3. An updated CV 4. References   pre- existing vulnerabilities among the Lebanese society. Refugee populations have in many cases settled in areas inhabited by impoverished and vulnerable Lebanese communities further stretching limited or non-existent sources of income and public services at the local level.     As the Syrian crisis is now protracted, with unprecedented number of civilians affected by the constant violation of the Humanitarian laws, there is little perspective for the refugees to return to their home country.  The Syria Crisis Response Conference which took place in London in 2016 clearly intends to address the humanitarian needs of this protracted crisis, by setting up consistent multi years response tackling current issues, considering the evolution of needs and the and the necessity to provide the refugees from Syria with some perspectives and ensuring the social stability in Lebanon.  The spillover of the Syrian crisis into Lebanon compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities among the Lebanese society, especially in areas where the level of social infrastructures is not developed or strong enough to cope with.   First challenge is the reduction of the aid available to tackle basic needs: in 2015 and first semester of 2016, only 56% of the funding requested were allocated to the humanitarian response to the Syrian Crisis in Lebanon. This led to decrease in basic assistance provided to the refugees, and therefore to an escalation in negative coping mechanisms of most vulnerable households, (such as begging, child labour, child marriages, sexual services for food/accommodation, limitation of movements due to transportation costs, etc.). What is more, if (un)conditional cash assistance is the main relevant way to respond most basic needs of registered poorest refugee families, level of indebtedness is a key factor for explanation of vulnerability In the long lasting crisis, and needs to be monitored constantly. As weather conditions are also very harsh in the winter, access to proper shelter conditions is a main priority as well.  Most vulnerable Syrian refugees are mainly settled in small shelter units (SSU), collective shelters (CS) or informal settlements (IS).     London Syrian Crisis Conference focuses as well on the education and health services provision, which need to be upgraded in terms of quality and provided in a more sustainable way, as no return to Syria is realistic in the next upcoming years. According to the 2015 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees (VASyR), 27% of households among the Syrian displaced population count at least one member with a specific need: chronic disease (13%), permanent disability (3%), temporary disability or another issue. 70% of displaced households reported a child needing care in the month prior to the survey