Background
UNDP has been working with local authorities since 2008 building their capacities in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and mediation skills. Since 2011, focus has been on longer term approaches, assisting local communities in establishing local level conflict mitigation mechanisms. Local actors including those sensitized to peacebuilding concepts, participants in dialogue session and several of the Project’s networks including youth and religious leaders, civil society activities, NGOs, mukhtars, municipal council members and educators were involved in jointly planning local level peacebuilding and dialogue initiatives. The purpose of this work was to develop initiatives to diffuse tensions that may arise in the communities before they escalate to a higher level.
In 2013, the repercussion of Syrian refugees’ influx has expanded to most of Lebanese. Signs of conflict between the Lebanese and the Syrian communities have become clear in many regions, varying based on the respective regions’ social and economic context.
Citizens and municipalities are left alone to deal with its implications, with no guidance or capacity to differentiate between the political and humanitarian aspect. The municipalities are thus suffering from the overload and are facing many challenges when it comes to managing the situation on the local level whether at the managerial level, the communication level or the conflict one. UNDP and through its new “Stabilization and Recovery Programme” is addressing the new challenges caused by the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon through working on three sectors: basic services, livelihood and social cohesion. Under the last sector and through the Peace Building Project an initiative for improving socialcohesion in Lebanese host communities impacted by the Syrian crisis was launched.
In 2013, the project assisted the 8 newly established municipalities of Wadi Khaled (one of the most affected regions by the impact of the Syrian crisis) through building their skills in crisis management and conflict resolution. The trainings included: local governance, funding and finance management, the role of Municipal Councils and Mukhtars in Local Development and Crisis Management and Skills and Techniques to mitigate conflicts.
As a follow up on these trainings, and based on the recommendations of the participating municipalities, the project will continue supporting these municipalities, in addition to other key actors at the community level, through facilitating and establishing a local peace mechanism. This mechanism will build on the results of the trainings and its recommendations, such as “the need to involve other community members in the sessions; provide coaching to the municipalities; more time and sessions on proposal writing and fundraising; trainings on monitoring and evaluation; provide trainings on public speaking; more in-depth discussion on true partnership between municipalities”, building mainly on the idea of forming a Union of the municipalities of Wadi Khaled; as well as enhancing more the communication between municipalities and other stakeholders involved in the response to the Syrian crisis (including international community, the State institutions and others).
The objective of the mechanism is to support local authorities and local actors in better managing the crisis and reducing tensions between Lebanese-Lebanese (mainly divisions between Al Atiq and Ghannam families) as well as between Lebanese and Syrian refugees present in big numbers in Wadi Khaled.
Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, and at a first stage, the consultant will facilitate several sessions with municipalities and other local actors from the different villages (that will constitute the local reference group of Wadi Khaled) in order to validate findings of previous conflict analysis and identify new dynamics and assess needs.
Consultant will then provide capacity building sessions for the local actors on topics identified by the group related to crisis management (including technical skills such as proposal writing, fundraising, etc.), conflict prevention and communication skills and advocacy/lobbying. He/She will work on helping the community develop their own peacebuilding mechanism.
He/she will work in close collaboration with project staff and project partners, and will maintain close communication over operational issues as well as strategic opportunities arising from project implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under supervision of the Project Manager, the consultant/trainer will undertake the following tasks and activities:
- To submit a revised workplan (suggested working days: 2);
- To facilitate four (4) discussion sessions with the reference group in order to conduct the participatory conflict analysis and needs assessment (suggested working days: 5);
- To write a conflict assessment report containing all the results and the recommendations (suggested working days: 1);
- To design a training tool with a peacebuilding focus, based on the needs of the reference group translated during the previous sessions (suggested working days: 2);
- To deliver 3 cycles of trainings (2 days each) for the reference group (suggested working days: 9) and facilitate up to 6 sessions with other stakeholders involved in the response to the Syrian crisis (suggested working days: 7);
- To deliver a report about the training and the facilitated sessions (suggested working days: 2);
- To develop with the reference group a peacebuilding mechanism through facilitated sessions with the community (suggested working days: 8);
- To write a final report containing: the results, the recommendations and the lessons learned (suggested working days: 2).
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent Facilitation skills;
- Excellent training skills;
- Excellent reporting skills;
- Proven impartiality and cultural and human rights sensitivity. Ability to build strong relationships with local actors using inter-personal skills to network effectively;
- Excellent analytical, negotiating, and communication skills;
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and show flexibility;
- Good knowledge of the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanese Host Communities.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- University degree in social science, sociology, political science or any other related field. MA is a plus.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years in conducting conflict analysis and needs assessment;
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in providing trainings and capacity building to local actors in peace building related topics;
- A minimum of 5 years in facilitating similar processes.
Language Requirements:
- Excellent command of Arabic language and good command of English;
- French is a plus.
Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.