Weather Proofing, Regional Market Assessment - CONS004 - UNHCR - Zahle Sub-office

Seven years into the Syria crisis, Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with over one million Syrian refugees, and around 20,000 refugees of Iraqi, Sudanese, Ethiopian and other origins, in addition to the Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.  There are no formal camps for Syrian refugees in the country, and refugees are living in hundreds of communities and locations across the country.

The refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field. The structure brings together over 100 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response and UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

The UNHCR operational response in Lebanon is one of the largest for the organization. Media attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors is high. Aside from the country office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has offices in Mt Lebanon, Qobayat, Tripoli, Tyre and Zahle.

Summary of the Weatherproofing activity (assessment, eligibility, distribution, kits, warehousing, transportation, partners):
Every year, the UNHCR partners go through an assessment process for all the tents in the informal settlements in Bekaaa. The process consists of scoring the conditions of every tent on the level of the material and the structure. Once scored, the tent will be eligible for a repair kit, or for none in case the tent condition is acceptable. The repair kits are of three categories (detailed info in Annex 01): 
New Arrival Kit (NAK Eligibility average: 1%): This kit is the largest, and designed to provide a tent of 4x5 meters for the newly arrived refugees. This kit can be obtained if the assessed existing tent scored very high. 
Medium Repair Kit (MRK Eligibility average: 20 – 25 %): This kit contains timber, wood panels and tarpaulins. 
Light Repair Kits (LRK Eligibility average: 30 -35 %): This kit contains strictly three tarpaulins.
After the assessments are all finished in a certain cadaster, the total eligibility of all kits calculated, and short messages of eligibility sent to all the beneficiaries, the partner will request the kits to be released for the warehouse according to a distribution plan previously approved. 
The distributions in every cadaster will be done consecutively in the settlements. All kits are purchased by Beirut Office according to the projected needs. Beirut Office warehouse delivers the kits to Zahle Field Office warehouse by several deliveries upon Zahle Field Office request.  
Summary of the “cash for weatherproofing” pilot project.
During 2017, Save the Children (SCI) conducted a pilot project “cash for weatherproofing”, where instead of delivering in-kind material kits to the beneficiaries, SCI made cash money transfers to the assistance debit cards of the eligible beneficiaries. 
Prior to the implementation of the pilot, SCI had conducted a small scale market assessment and then issued an analysis report for the implemented pilot (both documents are available in the Annexes)

Overall purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The geographic area of study is the Bekaa valley. The approach should consider the Bekaa division as two governorates: Bekaa and Baalback – Hermel. The Bekaa governorate is divided as follow:
Central Bekaa (Zahle):

• Aain Kfar Zabad
• Haouch Qayssar
• Ouadi Ed-Delm
• Zahlé Aradi
• Aali En-Nahri
• Hazerta
• Ouadi El-Aarayech
• Zahlé El-Berbara
• Aanjar (Haouch Moussa)
• Hoshmosh
• Qaa Er-Rim
• Zahlé El-Maallaqa
• Ablah
• Jdita
• Qabb Elias
• Zahlé El-Midane
• Barr Elias
• Kfarzabad
• Qoussaya
• Zahlé Er-Rassiyé
• Bouarej
• Ksara
• Raait
• Zahlé Haouch El-Oumara
• Chebrqiyet Tabet
• Majdel Aanjar
• Riyaq
• Zahlé Haouch El-Oumara Aradi
• Chtaura
• Maksé
• Saadnayel
• Zahlé Haouch Ez-Zaraane
• Dalhamiyet Zahlé
• Massa
• Taalbaya
• Zahlé Mar Antonios
• Deir El-Ghazal
• Mazraat Er-Remtaniyé
• Taanayel
• Zahlé Mar Elias
• Fourzol
• Mrayjat Zahlé
• Tcheflik Eddé Haouch
• Zahlé Mar Gerges
• Haouch El-Aamara
• Mzaraat Zahlé
• Tcheflik Qiqano
• Zahlé Saydet En-Najat
• Haouch El-Ghanam
• Nabi Ayla
• Tell El-Akhdar
• Zebdoul
• Haouch Es-Siyadé
• Nasriyet Rizk
• Terbol Zahlé
• Haouch Hala
• Nasriyet Zahlé
• Touaite Zahlé
• Haouch Mandara
• Niha Zahlé
• Zahlé

West Bekaa (and Rachaya):

West Bekaa:

• Aain Et-Tiné BG
• Ghazzé
• Lala
• Qelaya
• Aain Zebdé
• Haouch El-Harime
• Libbaya BG
• Raouda (Istabel)
• Aammiq BG
• Harimé Es-Soughra
• Loussa
• Saghbine
• Aana
• Jazira BG
• Machghara
• Sohmor
• Aaytanit
• Joubb Jannine
• Manara (Hammara) BG
• Soltan Yacoub el Aradi
• Baaloul BG
• Kafraiya BG
• Mansoura BG
• Souairi
• Bab Mareaa
• Kamed El-Laouz
• Marj
• Soultan Yaacoub Faouqa
• Chebrqiyet Aammiq
• Khiara
• Maydoun
• Tall Znoub
• Dakoué
• Khiara El-Aatiqa
• Ouaqf BG
• Yohmor BG
• Deir Aain Ej-Jaouzé
• Khirbet Qanafar
• Qaraaoun
• Zilaya
• Deir Tahniche

Rachaya:

• Aain Aarab Rachaiya
• Bakkifac Rachaya
• Kaoukaba Bou Arab
• Mhaiydsé Rachaiya
• Aain Aata
• Beit Lahia
• Kfar Denis
• Nabi Safa
• Aain Rouha
• Biret Rachaiya
• Kfar Lichki
• Rachaiya
• Aaqabet Rachaya
• Dahr El-Ahmar
• Kfar Qouq
• Rafid Rachaiya
• Aayha
• Deir El-Aachayer
• Khirbet Rouha
• Selsata (Mazraat Deir El-Aachaiyer)
• Aayta El-Foukhar
• Haouch El Qinnabé Rachaiya
• Majdel Balhis
• Tannoura
• Bakka
• Helouet Rachaiya
• Mdoukha
• Yanta

North Bekaa (Baalback – Hermel):

Baalbeck:

• Aadous
• Chmistar
• Kfar Dabach
• Qaa Jouar Maqiyé
• Aain Baalbek
• Dar El-Ouassaa
• Kfar Dane
• Qaa Ouadi El-Khanzir
• Aain Bourday
• Deir El-Ahmar
• Kharayeb El-Hermel
• Qarha Baalbek
• Aain Ej-Jaouz Baalbek
• Deir Mar Maroun Baalbek
• Khodr Baalbek
• Qsarnaba
• Aain El-Barnaya
• Douris
• Khreibet Baalbek
• Ram Baalbek
• Aain Es-Siyaa Chadoura
• Fekehe
• Kneisset Baalbek
• Ras Baalbek Ech-Charqi
• Aamchki
• Hadath Baalbek
• Laboué
• Ras Baalbek Es-Sahel
• Aaynata Baalbek
• Halbata
• Maaraboun
• Riha
• Arsal
• Ham
• Majdaloun
• Saaidé
• Arsal Outskirts
• haouch El-Dehab
• Maqné
• Sbouba
• Baalbek
• Haouch En-Nabi
• Mazraat beit Mchaik
• Serraaine Et-Tahta
• Bajjaje
• Haouch Er-Rafqa
• Moqraq
• Slouqi
• Barqa
• Haouch Snaid
• Mousrayé
• Taibet Baalbek
• Bechouat
• Haouch Tall Safiyé
• Nabha Ed-Damdoum
• Talia
• Bednayel Baalbak
• Haouche Barada
• Nabi Chbay
• Taraiya
• Beit Chama
• Haour Taala
• Nabi Chit
• Temnine El-Faouqa
• Bouday
• Harabta
• Nabi Osmane
• Temnine Et-Tahta
• Brital
• Hizzine
• Nahlé baalbek
• Tfail
• Btedaai
• Iaat
• Ouadi El-Aaoss
• Yahfoufa
• Chaaibé
• Jebaa
• Qaa Baalbek
• Yammouné
• Chaat
• Jenta
• Qaa Baayoun
• Youmine
• Chlifa
• Zabboud

Hermel: 

• Charbine El-Hermel
• Maaysra El-Hermel
• Ouadi Faara
• Ras Baalbek Ouadi Faara
• Hermel
• Michaa Mrajhiné
• Ras Baalbek El Gharbi
• Zighrine
• Hermel Jbab

The above-mentioned cadasters should be regrouped according to the existing market centers of each group of cadasters (determining the cadaster containing the main shops and suppliers that other cadasters depend on).

Present a historical/existing Analysis of the Syrian crisis context (based on a desk review activity). The analysis should focus on how the Syrian crisis and the Syrian refugees have already affected the market of wood and tarpaulins in the recent past years. This should form the base of the projection and estimated future influence.
Shape a qualitative and quantitative approach for the research market assessment analyzing: 

• Proximity to market.
• Proximity to market.
• Material availability in the market: suppliers by categories.
• Transportation cost.
• Available material specs and prices.
• Scalability.
• Possibility of material prices changing.
• ATM map.

Questionnaires for refugees (sampling method statement must be approved by UNHCR).

• Focus group discussions with different stakeholders (sampling method statement must be approved by UNHCR).
• Map the local suppliers in Bekaa and assess their capacity to supply/provide materials based on a large cash operation.
• Establish an inventory of the existing prices of the kits components materials as listed in the Annex 01 in Bekaa.
• Present a supply-chain understanding as well as a supply/demand mechanism with some anticipation (simulation during crisis time or a bottle neck effect).
• Submit an analysis of the transportation cost and the average cost/time/distance between informal settlements and local suppliers. 
• Draw a clear picture on the refugees’ expectation in the field of Shelter and their real needs as well as their perception, the lessons-learned, etc.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis on the future “Cash for Weather Proofing” strategy.
• Present a list of recommendations to improve the piloted cash modality, institutional arrangement, and the overall management model.

Outputs and Deliverables

• All deliverables should be submitted as indicated in the Gantt chart in the Annex 05. Deliverables will be commented by the UNHCR within four working days or considered directly as approved once the four days period has elapsed without any comments.The list of deliverables is as follows: 
• An Inception Report: September 21st.
• Analysis plan: September 28th.
• A Methodology and a Survey Road Map (and details implementation plan): October 5th.
• A Report on the data gathering (survey and other): October 19th.
• A First draft: October 31st.
• A final Draft (will turn to be the final report upon the integration of the UNHCR comments):  November 14th.
• A list of interviewees and Focus Group Participants: November 22nd.
• A Map of the equipment & materials suppliers in Bekaa: November 22nd.
• A price list of all materials and specs (including fire rates when available) related to the study (Minimum and Maximum): November 30th.
• Two PowerPoint Presentations (Midterm and final one): October 24th and December 14th.
• A list of the Main Stakeholders and decision makers in Bekaa: November 14th.
• Regular progress reports: bi-weekly
• Three FGDs with different groups of stakeholders (refugees, suppliers and local authorities): before December 1st.