Consultant

SIDC is a Lebanese Nonprofit civil society organization established in 1987 and officially registered 9/AD in 1992. SIDC meaningfully engages vulnerable populations, to promote their health and wellbeing pertaining to HIV, Harm reduction, SRHR, and mental health, to support them in enjoying their human and gender rights, and to work towards an inclusive society free of stigma and discrimination at the national and regional level. SIDC ensures that vulnerable populations enjoy their health and human rights and fulfill their potentials in a society free of stigma and discrimination.

While 91% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) know their status, only 63% are on ARTs, and only 58% have an undetectable viral load. These figures show that progress in treatment access is insufficient and reflect the distance still to be covered to reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Despite the decentralization efforts of the National AIDS Program in Lebanon (NAP), most HIV testing, care and treatment services are still concentrated in the capital and major cities, where most health facilities and CSOs serving VPS are located. This results in significant travel costs for VPs, and therefore health care costs that are difficult to bear given their social and economic precariousness. This poor geographical and financial accessibility of services is a first obstacle for PLs living in certain regions such as South Lebanon and the Bekaa regions, which outreach actions can help to alleviate.

Socio-cultural norms are another barrier to HIV testing and care and access to sexual and reproductive health. In a patriarchal society where gender inequalities remain strong, women are not able to negotiate safe sexual practices and the use of family planning, which generates harmful coping mechanisms (early marriage, survival sex, etc.). They are also frequently victims of violence from their spouses and partners. In these conditions, it is crucial to provide them with a safe environment that respects their rights, by training and equipping health professionals in Lebanese health centers and CSOs.

In addition to these structural constraints, the security and health situation has worsened in recent years. In recent years, the massive influx of refugees, widespread civil unrest coupled with the restrictions imposed, and the resulting political and economic instability have already weakened the ability of households to generate income and severely limited access to services, including health services. The Beirut Port explosion in August 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the country hard, have exacerbated this situation by overwhelming Lebanon's health system, further limiting access to services and medicines for PLs, and leading to HIV de-prioritization. It is therefore imperative to address the psychosocial support and mental health care needs of PLHIV.

Through this project, SIDC intends to strengthen and expand the range of its services to VPs residing in Beirut, South Lebanon and the Bekaa region, but also to contribute to building the skills of health professionals to improve the accessibility of existing services, and to advocate for the recognition of PLs' rights by the Lebanese health authorities and society.

Within the framework of the GF grant and over the past 3 years, SIDC has already conducted 3 training-of-trainers days (ToT) and one training session for 110 police officers working in different environments who may be in contact with target populations on the streets with VPs or in prisons and detention centers. The design of e-learning courses on the ethical principles of intervention with VPs, particularly for the Internal Security Forces (ISF) based on the existing modules, will continue, and expand this skill building. The e-learning modules will cover various concepts and topics, with a total of eight hours of instruction, including knowledge, exercises, and assessment tests and a certificate obtained upon successful completion of all the modules. This activity will be conducted in collaboration with Aaramoun Police Academy. The e-learning courses will be available on platforms used by ISF.

A- Scope of Work

- The candidate should submit a technical and financial proposal within the proposed deadline.

- SIDC will select the best proposal based on the evaluation criteria within one week after the deadline.

- The selected consultant has 10 working days to submit the first draft starting from the day of contract signature and 5 days after receiving any comments if available to submit the final draft.

B- Learning Objectiives

• VP (Youth, Women, Substance users, Male and Female Sex workers, Prisoners, PLHIV, Refugees, Migrant and Stateless)

• Background (History)
• Specific objectives: Individuals who pursued this course should:

• Be able to recognize the various groups of individuals that are considered key populations.
• Identify the health risks associated with key populations such as HIV/AIDS, STIs, substance abuse, and mental health issues.
• Understand the role of internal security forces in addressing key population health: Be able to describe the role of internal security forces in promoting the health and safety of key populations. This could include providing access to healthcare, protecting against violence and discrimination, and ensuring safe working conditions.
• Follow the SOP (standard operation procedures when dealing with key populations in detention centers or during arrest.

• Definition of each vulnerability in terms of HIV and risky behavior
• Criteria of each vulnerable group
• Mental Health of VPs
• DOs and DON’TS (video)
• Quiz

• Sexual health:

• Background
• Specific objectives: Individuals who pursued this course should:

• Understand the importance of sexual health in promoting overall health and wellbeing.
• Identify the key elements of sexual health such as sexual consent, safe sex practices, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Understand the social and cultural factors that impact sexual health outcomes, such as stigma, discrimination, and gender norms.
• Follow the effective strategies for addressing sexual violence and abuse such as providing support to survivors, conducting investigations, and promoting accountability for perpetrators.
• Understand the role of internal security forces in promoting sexual health such as providing education and resources to staff (sharing information), promoting a safe and respectful workplace, and responding appropriately to incidents of sexual violence or harassment.
• Develop effective communication skills for discussing sexual health topics with colleagues, and individuals seeking care. This could include providing clear and accurate information.

• HIV & STIs:

• Definition and misconceptions
• Ways of transmission
• Diagnosis and tests
• Treatment and vaccinations
• Prevention
• PEP and PREP

• Early diagnosis and treatment

• Substance abuse:

• Background
• Specific objectives: Individuals who pursued this course should:

• Understand the nature and scope of substance abuse: Be able to recognize the various types of substances that are commonly abused and understand the scope and impact of substance abuse on individuals and society.
• Identify the social and environmental factors that contribute to substance abuse such as poverty, trauma, mental illness, and access to drugs.
• Develop skills in substance abuse screening and assessment.
• Develop skills in harm reduction such as providing information on substance abuse treatment options.
• Understand the role of internal security forces in addressing substance abuse such as conducting drug testing, providing education and resources, and responding appropriately to incidents of substance abuse.
• Develop effective communication skills for discussing substance abuse topics with colleagues, and individuals seeking care. This could include providing clear and accurate information.

• Definition and types
• Overdose
• Prevention
• Treatment
• addiction committee
• Harm reduction and OAT
• Early diagnosis and treatment

• Stigma and discrimination

• Background
• Specific objectives: Individuals who pursued this course should:

• Understand the nature and impact of stigma and discrimination including those based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. They should also understand the negative impact that stigma and discrimination can have on individuals, communities, and society.
• Identify the social and cultural factors that contribute to stigma and discrimination such as prejudice, stereotypes, and power imbalances.
• Develop skills in addressing stigma and discrimination such as challenging negative attitudes and beliefs.
• Understand the role of internal security forces in addressing stigma and discrimination such as, responding appropriately to incidents of discrimination or bias.
• Develop effective communication skills for discussing stigma and discrimination topics with colleagues, and individuals seeking care. This could include providing clear and accurate information.
• Understand the impact of stigma and discrimination on mental health such as increased risk for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Definition
• Stigma Vs discrimination
• Human rights
• Lebanese law
• ISF’s code of ethics and the ethical guiding principles while working with KPs
• Case studies

• Safety and security

• Background
• Specific objectives: Individuals who pursued this course should:

• Understand the principles of safety and security including risk assessment, hazard identification, and emergency preparedness.
• Develop skills in risk assessment including identifying potential hazards and assessing their potential impact on the safety and security of individuals and communities.
• Develop skills in hazard identification and response including responding to emergencies such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings.
• Understand the role of internal security forces in promoting safety and security including responding to incidents, providing education, and training to staff.
• Understand the impact of trauma on safety and security such as increased risk for violence and mental health problems.

C- Deliverables

• Submit a qualitative methodology including desk review, field visits and semi-structures interviews.
• Prepare and submit course structure and content:
• Provide an overview of the course structure, including the modules, topics following the learning objectives.
• Describe how the course content will be developed to ensure accuracy, currency, and evidence-based information.
• Outline any interactive elements, case studies, or practical exercises that will be incorporated to enhance the learning experience.
• Instructional Design and Delivery:
• Explain your approach to instructional design, ensuring that the course is engaging, accessible, and caters to various learning styles.
• Describe how you will ensure active participation, critical thinking, and the practical application of knowledge.
• Specify any multimedia or audio-visual components that will be integrated into the course.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Propose methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the course in achieving its learning objectives.
• Describe how learner progress and outcomes will be assessed and measured.
• Outline any plans for gathering participant feedback to continuously improve the course content and delivery.
• Project Timeline:
• Provide an estimated timeline for the development of the e-learning course, including key milestones and deliverables.
• Indicate your availability to engage in regular progress updates and collaboration with our team throughout the project duration.
• Financial Proposal:
• Clearly state your financial requirements for the development of the course, including a breakdown of costs.
• Specify any additional expenses, such as travel, software licenses, or content licensing fees, if applicable.
• Outline your preferred payment schedule and terms.
• References:
• Provide references from previous clients or organizations with whom you have worked on similar projects.