Consultant Urban Assessment Livelihoods

  Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need around the world. Save the Children has been operating in Lebanon since 1999 and is recognized for its commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration.  Save the Children currently implements programs in Child Protection, Education, CRC, Health and Nutrition, Food Security & Livelihood, Shelter, and Emergency Response throughout Lebanon.   Save the Children is seeking qualified candidates to fulfill the following positions, for its Lebanon Country Office, in the following locations Beirut, Tripoli, Akkar and Bekaa:   Background Save the Children (SC)’s Food Security and Livelihood program in Lebanon was established in late 2012 in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and the resulting needs for refugees and the host community. SC Lebanon’s program currently supports household immediate food and non-food needs through food parcels for new arrivals; unconditional cash assistance; and WFP e-vouchers. In parallel we are strengthening the ability of Lebanese and Syrian households to improve their self-reliance and livelihoods.  One of our principal target groups is youth aged 18-24 whom we have been supporting to date with placements in humanitarian organizations as trainees; youth-led community initiatives and vocational training.  We are also supporting a sub set of particularly vulnerable households to get the opportunity to participate in more home based work or in home based livelihood skills training to help them support their families. The main focus is on developing skills and services that meet the needs of the refugee population (such as food processing, soap making, and dairy production), complemented with business management and entrepreneurship training and linked to distinct market opportunities. At present Save the Children’s livelihoods programming has been focused on Central Bekaa and Akkar, as well as some initial youth programming in Tripoli and in Saida. SC is keen to expand its programming to urban contexts and understand the specificities of urban contexts and the opportunities to support livelihoods. The study will therefore look at how current livelihoods programming can be contextualized to Greater Beirut. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of the consultancy is to provide detailed information from 3 districts of Greater Beirut of the potential for Save the Children to implement livelihoods programmes targeted at vulnerable people dependent on the informal economy, with a focus on vulnerable youth (18 – 24) and women including the Palestinian camp of Sabra. The consultancy should focus specifically on how the situation has changed for people dependent on the informal economy since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, in terms of access to economic opportunities, working conditions and productive capacities, particularly of the most marginalized groups. The study should also evaluate how the market for goods & services provided by the informal economy has emerged since the advent of the crisis, and how livelihoods programs can be designed to maximize these opportunities. This study will apply both to the host population and to Syrian refugees, and will run alongside the urban shelter consultancy in order to identify causal linkages between shelter and livelihoods vulnerabilities, and recommendations for joint programming. Specifically this consultancy will be linked to proposal development for the major donors such as the EU call for proposals on Support for the enhancement of livelihoods of people dependent on the informal economy. The proposed activities should build on the youth humanitarian traineeships and apprenticeships that Save the Children will be setting up in Beirut from March 2014 onwards. Key outputs -          Overview of actors working in livelihoods programming in Beirut -          Analysis of choice of location of Syrians in Greater Beirut and why they are recommended -          Overview of key challenges for people dependent on the informal economy in Greater Beirut, with a specific focus on: access to economic opportunities for marginalized groups skills gaps relative to market demand -          Analysis of opportunities for strengthening of productive capacities, and development of skills (e.g. improving qualifications, creating jobs, new business opportunities, and improved job information ) -          Analysis of opportunities of inclusion in social protection programs (health insurance and pension scheme) -          Identification of tangible linkages for workers in the informal economy with viable value chains (as identified through the USAID-led LIVCD project) -          Recommendations on the types of livelihoods activities that can be supported for Syrians and host community This assessment will produce: Outline of a concept note for a program on Support for the enhancement of livelihoods of people dependent on the informal economy including clear set of activities, and identified outputs and outcomes Specific recommendations for youth livelihoods programming in Greater Beirut Methodology & Time-frame The proposed time-frame of the assessment is 20 days, as follows: -          Desk review of existing resources and assessments: 1 day -          Development of workplan and approval by Save the Children: 2 days -          Development of key informant tools (i.e. based on Save the Children’s Skills Gap assessment): 2 days -          Meetings with key informants[1]: 10 days -          Drafting of final report & outline of concept note in consultation with Save the Children staff: 5 days Person specification Degree in Economics, Finance, International Relations, Development studies or similar field Minimum 4 years of experience in development/humanitarian work Experience of livelihoods programming in Greater Beirut Successful experience developing proposals for major international donors Familiar with the context and proven access to population in the areas where the consultancy could be carried out; Understanding of the coordination of the humanitarian response in Lebanon Practical experience with qualitative research methodology; Strong analytical, presentation and writing skills; Independent and self-motivated. Resources -          ILO street children study -          Save the children Skills Gap Assessment (& tools) -          GoL roadmap for stabilization -          UNFPA youth assessment -          Lessons learnt from urban livelihood programming Terms and Conditions: Contract-type: consultancy Duration: 20 days to be completed by end of March 2014 Location: Greater Beirut, Lebanon. APPLICATION PROCESS   Please note that the closing date for applications is : For External applicants on March  10th March   .               The selection committee will review all applications as they are received. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, and those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered. No further information will be given over the phone.   Please note: due to the critical nature of this recruitment, applications will be reviewed as they are received and successful candidates contacted on an on-going basis.  Internal Applicants are given priority in the recruitment process.   STARTING DATE: Immediate.  We’re looking for people who can start as soon as possible or within the next few weeks.   Each application package should include the following: •           Job title for the role you are applying for in subject header of the email •           Cover letter with the applicant’s current contact information •           CV (including detailed work experience, education/degrees)  –  3pages maximum •           Professional References (minimum of three, with complete contact information) •           Kindly do not send supporting certificates and documents at this stage •           Letter and CV should be saved into one Word or PDF document and sent to lebanonhrb@savethechildren.org   Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.   We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.  All applicants will also be subject to Save the Children’s usual Child Safeguarding Policy and reference checking process.