Consultant To Develop Training Modules And Design, Organise And Facilitate Training Workshops Aimed At Strengthening Human Rights Capacities Of Grass Root Organizations In Lebanon

A.      Background and Introduction OHCHR and the European Union Delegation in Lebanon have signed an agreement to implement a project entitled “Assisting Lebanon in Implementing UPR and Recommendations Made by Other International Human Rights Mechanisms” aiming at assisting Lebanon in improving its implementation rate of accepted UPR recommendations and enhancing its record in providing timely reports to the treaty bodies. The project seeks to address longstanding gaps within the national legislative and policy framework on human rights protection, the low implementation rate of existing human rights laws and policies and delays in establishing human rights structure. The project includes activities related to organizing training programmes for grassroots organizations to conduct mobile campaigns across Lebanon to provide citizens with information on their human rights and mechanisms for the protection of human rights. This activity will capitalize on the existing expertise at the capital – Beirut to train and support grassroots organizations in remote areas to conduct and facilitate mobile campaigns and carry outreach programmes, in addition to help developing a package of information on human rights context in Lebanon and the newly adopted laws and their prospected impact on developing and protecting human rights in the country, that is accessible and easily disseminated. OHCHR therefore seeks to obtain the services of an individual consultant/NGO who can develop relevant interactive training modules and assist with the presentation of various regional training workshops within Lebanon based on the developed training modules. B.      Problem Statement The human rights situation in Lebanon is heavily linked to its fragile political situation. The country has experienced decades of protracted political uncertainty and stalled development, and while certain freedoms, such as freedom of expression and association are generally relatively well respected, human rights violations in civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres are evident. To overcome these challenges, Lebanon’s domestic human rights system must be strengthened, both by ensuring a solid legal and policy framework, as well as strong institutions to ensure implementation of its international human rights obligations. Lebanon enjoys the most vibrant civil societies in the region, with over 8000[1] registered civil society organizations (CSOs) of which nearly 50 are actively working in the field of human rights with varying degrees of engagement and resources. A great potential exists to strengthen support networks and information sharing between CSOs, and to build on their advocacy tools to call on the Government to effectively promote and protect human rights in the country. While several centrally located and well known CSOs are engaged in the UPR process, provide input to shadow reports to the treaty body committees, and communicate with special procedures, this is not often the case for CSOs located in more remote areas. To this extent, the project aims at targeting those CSOs that are working on human rights related issues. C.      Duties and Responsibilities The consultant shall review the available training modules and materials at OHCHR, develop, plan and organize four regional workshops, in addition to advising OHCHR on an awareness programme and related materials.  The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UPR project manager. D.      Scope of Work Study and assess the available training curricula at OHCHR with the view to design and develop a tailored training module and materials aiming at raising awareness around human rights in general and UPR process and recommendations in particular;   Organize and facilitate, in cooperation with OHCHR, four regional training of trainers (ToT) workshops to enhance capacity of 15 grassroots organizations around human rights in general and UPR process and recommendations in particular, in addition to the newly adopted human rights laws; Advise OHCHR with regards to an awareness-raising programme and related awareness raising-materials to be developed specifically for that purpose; Design and conduct follow up activities with the trained grassroots organizations aiming at increasing human rights awareness in the remote areas of Lebanon. E.       Expected Outputs and Deliverables The consultant shall:  Develop an interactive regional training module and material aimed at enhancing capacity of 15 grassroots organizations to contribute effectively to raising awareness around human rights in general and UPR process in particular in addition to the newly adopted human rights laws such as the law on the establishment of the national human rights institution including the national preventive mechanism and the law to access the information in addition to the newly amended laws related to gender based violence and rape;  In cooperation with OHCHR, identify trainers, a training venue and participants and develop, organize and facilitate four regional training workshops for 30 participants on human rights and UPR process in addition to the newly adopted human rights laws based on the regional training module and materials developed by the consultant. The regional workshops must be designed to have a train-the-trainer focus and outcome in order to enhance training capacity in the respective grassroots organizations;  Prepare a report on the outputs of and responses from the participants attending the regional training workshops; In consultation with OHCHR, and guided by the outputs and responses from the regional training workshops, adapt the regional training module and materials as developed by the consultant into national training modules specifically meeting the needs of grassroots organizations in the remote areas of Lebanon respectively; Advise OHCHR on an awareness-raising programme and awareness-raising materials in support of the regional training activities to be used in training initiatives. Submit a final comprehensive report detailing the progress of activities, achieved outputs and relevant deliverables. F.       Indicators to Evaluate the Consultant’s Performance Performance indicators are:  The quality and timely delivery of the described tasks in the present terms of reference so as to ensure the successful development of the training module and materials, the organization of four regional TOT workshops (within Lebanon) and the presentation of the final awareness-raising programme and materials to OHCHR; The submission of periodic progress reports summarizing the services provided and progress made as per OHCHR request; The submission of a final comprehensive report detailing the achieved outputs and deliverables. G.     Contract and Duration 30 working days spread over 3 calendar months. The successful candidate should be able to take up her/his duties as soon as the contractual documentation has been finalized. H.     Duty Station Beirut with several travel to remote areas in the Country. I.        Qualifications University degree, preferably advanced level, in law, human rights or directly related social sciences;  At least 5 years relevant and professional experience including extensive knowledge of training with regard to human rights, and UPR process; Knowledge of the legal systems as well as socio-economical and geo-political drivers in Lebanon will be highly desirable;  Proven quantitative and qualitative research and drafting skills;  Proven and extensive experience in the development of training curricula and materials;  Proven ability and experience in leading and facilitating training workshops on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;  Multidisciplinary skills and the ability to communicate effectively;  Ability to work both independently and as part of a team;  A high standard of professionalism;  Ability to engage in regional travel within Lebanon as the consultant may be required to travel internally; and  Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken) with excellent drafting and communication skills. J.        Application Interested parties must submit the following documentation:  A comprehensive curriculum vitae including three contactable references (certified copies of qualifications may be requested from successful applicants);   A detailed implementation plan/ technical proposal in accordance with the scope of work, expected outputs and deliverables provided for herein. Financial Proposal that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs. The submitted plan will be evaluated in terms of the quality of complete coverage of all aspects of the terms of reference, timeliness in relation to research, analysis and production of a draft report as well as compliance with qualifications as provided for herein. K.      Required Expertise and Submission Evaluation All applications will be assessed against the following criteria: Requirements Weight Education of the consultant Minimum first university degree, (preferably advanced level) in law, human rights or directly related to social sciences 15 Capacity, expertise and experience of the consultant At least 5 years relevant and professional experience including extensive knowledge of training with regard to human rights, and UPR process;   15 Understanding of the activities requirements/objectives Sound understanding of requirements reflected in the presentation of reviewed literature 15 Knowledge and experience in development of training materials Proven and extensive experience in the development of training curricula and materials 15 Training experience Experience in leading and facilitating training workshops 10 Value for money The value that OHCHR will receive from the consultant 30 L.       Payment Schedule In full consideration for satisfactory completion of services as provided for in these terms of reference and subject to receipt of requested progress reports as provided for herein, OHCHR shall pay the consultant: 20% upon signature of contract and approval of the inception report;   30% upon completion of the regional training module, completion of the 4 regional training workshops and submission of the regional training workshops report; and 30% upon presentation of the awareness raising pogramme and relevant training modules and materials. 20% upon submission of a final and comprehensive report detailing the achieved outputs and deliverables. M.    Applications Deadline The deadline for submission of applications is date 6 October2017. Applications should be submitted to OHCHR through the following e-mail address: shojeij@ohchr.org. [1] Mapping Civil Society in Lebanon – Beyond 2015