Advocacy Consultant

1. ABOUT ACTED

ACTED in an international NGO that has been registered in Leba­non since 2006. It has an established country office in Beirut as well as a field office in Akkar. More recently, it has been carrying out activities in the South and in Tripoli. ACTED works closely with local authorities and civil society stakeholders at the com­munity level to implement priori­ty humanitarian interventions such as emergency multi-purpose cash assis­tance, WASH projects (including disease monitoring and infrastructural and be­havioral response), and shelter interven­tions incorporating multiple modalities. ACTED is also implementing long-term development projects to rehabilitate infrastructure, improv­e agricultural production, increase livelihood opportunities and support state and non-state ac­tors to improve service deliv­ery and social stability through col­lective development planning.

ACTED responds to emergency and develop­ment needs through a community driven approach which focuses on engagement and capacity building of local civil soci­ety and local authorities, with the aim of promoting accountable governance and civic engagement. Moreover, ACTED in Lebanon seeks to support private sector actors to become the key driv­ers in Lebanon’s economic development with the goal of raising the living standards of Lebanese and refugee households, and improving the coping capacity of local communities.

2. PROJECT BACKGROUND

Starting February 2017, ACTED was awarded a grant by the European Union for the implementation of the project entitled “Ta’cir - Towards an active participation of civil society in the reform process”. The project duration is 36 months - from 1 February 2017 to 30 January 2020, and will be implemented with 50 CSOs and 50 Local Authorities in Akkar, Tripoli (North), Tyre, Saida, Nabatiye (South), Beirut, Baabda and Metn (Mount Lebanon) in Lebanon.

As part of the EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society and in partnership with Lebanon Support, Akkarouna and SHEILD, this project aims at strengthening the role and contribution of civil society in Lebanon at both policy and local development levels.

3. OBJECTIVE & EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

ACTED is looking for an experienced advocacy consultant to lead a training and mentoring program for 50 CSOs across the different areas targeted by the project; with the aim to increase the CSOs' knowledge with regards to policy making and participation in local planning through improved capacity for networking and advocacy. The consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Develop a full methodology of the consultant to develop skills and knowledge on policy making and participation in local planning through improved capacity for networking and advocacy; and legal component regarding CSO rights and duties as per the law.
• Provide three workshops / trainings on the methodology and development of policy briefs (up to two days of training each); including strengthen strategic advocacy networks and identify priorities and new opportunities to advocate and exchange of practices and bring together organizations with various level of resources and experience; and legal component for CSOs. Number of days for each workshop to be identified based on the proposed methodology.

• Support ACTED and its partners in defining key messages to address national authorities and line ministries, notably around policy recommendations / white paper development.

The consultant is expected to start mid- December 2019 and consultancy to end Mid-March 2019:

- Develop a full methodology of the consultant to develop skills and knowledge on policy making and participation in local planning through improved capacity for networking and advocacy; and legal component regarding CSO rights and duties as per the law. (December 2019 Deadline for execution)

- Provide three workshops on the methodology and development of policy briefs ( number of days of workshop will be defined based on the proposed methodology by the consultant) (January - February 2020, Deadline for execution)

- Support ACTED and its partners in defining key messages to address national authorities and line ministries, notably around policy recommendations / white paper development. (February 2020, Deadline for execution)

-Develop two white papers related to Health and Environment ( February – March 2020, Deadline for execution)

-Submit a final report of work conducted including the trainings (March 2020, Deadline for execution)

4. qualifications

The consultant(s) or consulting firm is expected to have the following skills:

• Master’s degree in Political Science, Law, or any other relevant field
• Minimum 5 years of experience of working as an advocacy consultant, lobbying consultant and/or policy maker in Lebanon
• Professional knowledge of humanitarian and protection principles
• Communications management, including internal communications and communicating with communities
• Successful implementation of policy change at a local or national level
• Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal

5. APPLICATION PROCESS

All candidates are required to submit:

• Up-to-date CV(s)
• List of consultancies conducted in the past including:
  • Client name
  • Brief description of services performed
  • Client phone number and email
• A sample of similar trainings conducted if any
• An outline of the curriculum
• A detailed budget, including daily rate, and any expected associated costs for each line in the table