Committee Facilitator

Background: The conflict that began more than three years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families, in rented accommodation, or informal settlements. As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating. The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing humanitarian and longer-term development needs alike.   Mercy Corps is working with UNHCR on a protection project to develop local community based self management structures among the refugee population which will be linked with municipal owned protection safety committees to strengthen institutional capacity and facilitate group relations between Lebanese and Syrian communities. Mercy Corps will establish three of these committees located in the Zahle/Baalbeck regions in coordination with the CSMC task force, MOSA, and UNDP.       Purpose / Project Description: The Committee Facilitator will work closely with the Project Manager to oversee the formation, training, and meetings of these committees. These committees will meet on a monthly basis, and the Facilitator will communicate regularly with committee participants, have a solid understanding of the local context, and develop trainings and a community participatory assessment process with the Project Manager. It is anticipated that these groups will become self-sustaining throughout the course of the year, as the project will end December 31.       Consultant Objectives: Develop a strong understanding of the conflict dynamics and protection concerns of each local community Maintain the inclusive and participatory nature of the committee selection and discussions Empower trusting relationships within communities to develop awareness of protection concerns and local solutions to respond to them   Consultant Activities: The Consultant will: Consult regularly with the Project Manager, who is also in contact with MOSA, UNHCR, and UNDP Co-facilitate municipal protection committees with some interpretation in three locations on a monthly basis Write summary reports of each meeting Co-facilitate refugee committee meetings with APM and protection monitors in same three locations on a monthly basis, until teams can facilitate on their own Give input or co-develop agendas and training material with Project Manager (option of co-training) Guide committees through participatory community needs assessment Guide municipal protection committees through small joint projects   Consultant Deliverables: The Consultant will: Write monthly reports of his/her work and the progress of these committees Translate the results of three community needs assessments Support committees in developing ideas for local solutions to protection risks and small projects to meet community needs Apply Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy and follow Do No Harm Practices Attend regular team meetings and training workshops; Other tasks as required.   Timeframe / Schedule:  Initial contract of three months with possibility of extension through 2015 Current end of project is December 31, 2015 The Consultant will work closely with: Project and Assistant Project Manager Protection Monitoring teams and select ROVs       Mandatory: 1)Please mention the title "Committee Facilitator" in the subject of the email 2) Applicants to submit the daily rate based on the days of consultancy duration 3) Applicants are requested to submit a Biodata form that includes a list of consultancies provided in the last 3 years with a proof of remuneration (invoices, receipts....) 4) Submit a list of 3 references names, emails & phone numbers of previous clients. Applicants MUST provide the mandatory information otherwise their APPLICATION WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.