Consultant for Advocacy Training and Capacity Building for Marginalized Communities

1. Background

SIDC (Society for Inclusion and Development in Communities and Care for All) is an NGO dedicated to supporting marginalized and vulnerable populations, including people who use and inject drugs, individuals from diverse SOGIESC, vulnerable women, people involved in commercial sex work, and others at risk of social exclusion. The organization is committed to fostering inclusion, advocacy, and rights protection, particularly through capacity-building initiatives that empower individuals to champion their own communities' needs. 

As part of its ongoing project funded by TRŌCAIRE, SIDC is seeking a consultant to design and deliver a specialized advocacy training program for a selected group of 10 individuals from marginalized communities. This training aims to enhance the participants’ advocacy skills and empower them to lead community-driven initiatives addressing key societal issues such as stigma, discrimination, and access to basic rights and services.

The key outcomes of this advocacy initiative are as follows:

1. Empowerment: Ten individuals from marginalized communities will receive advocacy training to lead initiatives on issues like stigma, discrimination, employment, legal rights, gender equality, housing, social inclusion, and healthcare.
2. Capacity Building: A 4-day training, led by a consultant, will equip participants with the skills to design and implement advocacy strategies focused on marginalized populations.
3. Advocacy Initiative: The group will develop and execute a community-led advocacy project aimed at raising awareness and promoting inclusion.
4. Awareness Raising: The initiative will address challenges faced by marginalized groups, such as sex workers, LGBTIQ+ individuals, PWUDs, and PLHIV, to reduce stigma and foster inclusivity.
5. Sustainable Change: The project aims to empower these individuals as advocates, driving long-term social change and better rights protection through community engagement

2. Objective

The primary objective of this consultancy is to train a core group of 10 individuals from marginalized communities in advocacy strategies and equip them with the skills necessary to design, develop, and implement community-led advocacy initiatives. The training will focus on areas such as stigma reduction, gender equality, social inclusion, access to healthcare, housing rights, employment rights, and legal protections.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for: 

• Needs Assessment: Conduct a pre-training assessment to determine the specific advocacy skills required by the participants, based on their background and prior engagement with advocacy work.

• Training Design: Develop a comprehensive training curriculum tailored to the needs of the participants, addressing key issues such as:

• Stigma and discrimination
• Employment rights
• Access to legal rights
• Gender equality
• Housing rights
• Social inclusion
• Healthcare services access

• Training Delivery: Facilitate interactive and participatory training sessions preferably and most probably face-to-face, however given the current unstable situation in Lebanon and the possible unwillingness of participants to commute for safety reasons, this training can also be done virtually.
  • 2-day training with the participants on proposal identification, defining desired change, setting objectives, identifying target groups, planning activities, allocating necessary resources, budgeting, and branding, necessary to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to develop a comprehensive and effective action plan).
  • 2-day capacity building training on Community-Led Initiatives: Equip the participants with tools and methodologies to design and implement their community-led advocacy projects, ensuring sustainability and local ownership.
  • 3-day (Half-day) Mentorship & Follow-up: Provide post-training mentorship and support for participants as they initiate their advocacy initiatives within their communities, including guidance on the design, implementation, and evaluation of their projects.
• Reporting: Prepare a comprehensive final report on the training outcomes, including an evaluation of the participant’s progress, key lessons learned, and recommendations for future capacity-building efforts. Additionally, develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and impact of the training beyond its conclusion.

4. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Pre-training Needs Assessment Report
• Detailed Training Curriculum for the 2 workshops:
  • Advocacy Strategies
  • Community-led initiative implementation
• Training Delivery (Interactive Workshops)
• Training Materials (slides, handouts, resources, etc.) 
• Post-Training Mentorship Plan
• Final Report including:
  • Training outcomes
  • Progress and performance of participants
  • Recommendations for further capacity-building and follow-up actions
  • KPIs to measure the success and impact of the training beyond its conclusion

5. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be conducted in November 2024, if done face-to-face, in a conference room in an area free of threats and easy to commute to, and if done virtually through Zoom or Teams. The consultancy will also follow this indicative timeline: 

• Week 1: Needs assessment and curriculum development (1 Day)
• Week 2-3: Training delivery (4 Days)
• Week 3-4: Mentorship (3 half days)
• Week 4: Post-training mentorship and final report submission (1 Day)

The exact schedule will be agreed upon in consultation with SIDC.

1. Consultant Qualifications

The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications: 

• Educational Background: Advanced degree in social sciences, human rights, development studies, public policy, or a related field.
• Expertise in Advocacy: At least 5 years of experience in designing and delivering advocacy training, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations.
• Experience in Community-Led Initiatives: Proven track record in supporting or mentoring community-led advocacy efforts.
• Knowledge of Key Issues: Strong understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities, including stigma, discrimination, and barriers to accessing rights and services.
• Facilitation Skills: Demonstrated ability to deliver interactive and participatory training sessions.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Familiarity with and respect for the cultural context of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region, and experience working with diverse populations.

2. Reporting and Accountability

The consultant will report directly to the Executive Director and Project Coordinator of the ongoing at SIDC. Regular check-ins will be held to monitor progress, review deliverables, and provide feedback.

3. Payment Terms

The payment schedule will be based on the submission and approval of deliverables, as follows: 

As mentioned above in section 5, the consultant will be requested to work for 9 days (1 pre-workshop, 4 days’ workshop, 3 half days mentorship, and 1 post-workshop).