Field Protection Research

Research into community self-protection and coping strategies Oxfam Lebanon Programme Oxfam in Lebanon is looking for a consultant to carry out a study on self-protection and coping strategies among vulnerable populations in Lebanon. As part of its humanitarian programme, Oxfam works in North Lebanon, the Bekaa and the South. Oxfam is committed to supporting women, men and children, living in poverty, to claim their rights to sustainable livelihoods, to basic social services, to life and security, to be heard, and to an identity.   Purpose This research aims at understanding how choices, perceptions, behaviour and motivations, of Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrian refugees in Lebanon, influence their experience of displacement, their level of safety and ability to protect themselves, and their capacity to access livelihoods .  This will help Oxfam and partners to  adapt and develop its programmatic strategy and interventions to the specific needs of target population, and derive policy recommendations to contribute to public work to ensure affected people’s voices are heard and experiences made visible.   Methodology and Process The research method will be qualitative research. Acknowledging that there is considerable ‘assessment fatigue’ amongst refugees and many studies to date have been largely extractive with little direct feedback on findings to the original interviewees, the methodology will need to tailor to this specific situation.  The methodology will also need to take into account Oxfam’s commitment to ethical data collection and active participation of beneficiaries.   Timeline: Oxfam is expecting the completion of the consultancy tasks as described  over a maximum period of 8 weeks starting as soon as possible and no later than 15 February 2015 and ending on 15 April at the latest.                                               Outputs: -          Development of detailed methodology and research questions -          Training of researchers, data collection and supervision of field work (including data collection and entry) -          Analysis of data and presentation of initial results and  key recommendations -          Research report for internal use, presentation of findings including policy recommendations.