Rapid Gender Analysis Consultant – CARE International in Lebanon

CARE established its presence in Lebanon in 2006 and has been responding to the Syrian Crisis since late 2012. Among CARE’s key imperatives is putting people it serves first through implementing cutting edge programming in areas it operates. CARE currently carries out activities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Akkar, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. CARE implements both emergency and development projects contributing to livelihood, food security, protection, gender, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. It targets the most vulnerable people and populations, both host communities and refugees. Over the course of 7 years, it has supported over than half a million beneficiaries. In Lebanon, CARE’s program strategy for the upcoming years will focus on strengthening and expanding its emergency response and capacity to provide basic assistance services while pursuing development projects in areas of food security and livelihood support, gender, and protection. CARE intends to maintain its presence in all areas of Lebanon. CARE Lebanon has scaled up rapidly over the past few years and today it has about 90 staff members, with more than 15 different local/international partner organizations. 90% of the team is composed of national staff, with a symbolic number of international members

Project:

Lebanon has been going through a succession of compounded and intersecting crises, with a socio-political and economic situation rapidly deteriorating and dire consequences across Lebanese and non-Lebanese communities. Even prior to the crises, systemic gender-based inequalities significantly impacted the lives and experiences of women, and particularly those from marginalized groups. As patriarchal social norms and practices are sustained and exacerbated during emergencies, women and girls’ lives have been disproportionately affected, and their needs are often deprioritized or overlooked in humanitarian responses. Additionally, high levels of normalized gender-based violence (GBV) have spiked throughout the different shocks and crises in the country, and particularly since the onset of the pandemic as has been widely documented. Limited social support networks, stemming from patriarchal social norms and practices confining women to the private sphere and restricting their mobility, in addition to a lack of economic independence and a decreased access to livelihoods opportunities, continue to impede survivors’ ability to seek refuge and support. Finally, the crises have aggravated existing protection risks faced by already marginalized communities; Migrant workers, and migrant domestic workers, are afforded very limited protections in the labor law and are trapped within a discriminatory Kafala or sponsorship system, putting them at high risk of exploitation and violence. Their conditions have further deteriorated in the past months, with wages losing their value or being withheld, hundreds MDWs being abandoned by their employers, and increased homelessness and food insecurity. Finally, exploitation and GBV remain a critical protection concern for women and girls with disabilities, a risk which is further exacerbated in light of deteriorating economic conditions and access to services.

Objectives of project

CARE, along with its partners ABAAD and RDFL are implementing an intervention in Beirut and North Lebanon, focused on strengthening the protection environment for GBV survivors and individuals at risk, and funded by OCHA’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund 2nd standard allocation. The intervention includes GBV prevention activities and response services as well as PSEA capacity-building to national partners and actors, currently implementing multi-sectoral humanitarian and development programs, across the country.

As part of this intervention, CARE International in Lebanon is looking to hire an individual consultant, team of consultants or firm, to conduct a Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) in Beirut and North Lebanon, with a particular focus on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and related social norms and practices. The RGA will be used to inform the design and implementation of the projects and activities and will contribute to knowledge around gendered roles and dynamics with much-needed and updated evidence, highlighting implications of the compounded crises the country is going through.

Purpose of Consultancy

CARE International in Lebanon is looking to hire an individual consultant, team of consultants or firm, to conduct a Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) in Beirut and North Lebanon, with a particular focus on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and related social norms and practices. An intersectional lens will be applied to the analysis, and focus will be put on capturing the lived experiences, needs and priorities of the most marginalized groups, particularly women and girls with disabilities, migrant domestic workers, and women and girls from vulnerable Lebanese and refugee communities.

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct a Rapid Gender Analysis for Beirut and North Lebanon in the form of two RGA reports, one per area. The RGA will provide a deeper understanding of gendered roles, social norms and practices, capacities and vulnerabilities, and power relations amongst targeted affected communities.

The scope of the analysis is expected to add a primary focus on GBV, by exploring and highlighting gendered social norms and practices that contribute to increasing GBV risks, as well as women’s priorities and recommendations for community-based prevention and risk mitigation. Key areas of analysis should include:

Power dynamics

Gendered social norms and practices including gendered roles and division of labor

Access and control over resources

Decision-making, leadership, and participation

Distinct protection concerns, including but not limited to GBV

The RGA will inform the design of gender and protection interventions as well as design and implementation of GBV prevention and response activities. It should therefore highlight women’s aspirations and distinct priorities as well as recommendations for Gender and Protection interventions.

Methodology

Building on CARE’s existing RGA framework, tools, and expertise, the RGA will rely on a qualitative methodology using participatory approaches and tools, such as activity clocks and community and resource maps. The methodology should include a review of existing literature on gendered power dynamics and relationships, social norms and practices and GBV. The consultants are expected to propose a detailed methodology, with sample size and data collection plan. A minimum of 9 FGDs and/or participatory data collection exercises should be conducted per area, capturing women’s diverse lived experiences and needs. Additionally, a maximum of 3 data collection exercises per area, one for each targeted affected community, should be conducted in mixed groups, to capture men’s reflections and behaviors and to observe gendered dynamics and relationships, building on the recognition that the majority of mainstream data and assessments already capture the experiences and needs of men across communities and often fail to include those of women, particularly the most marginalized. Finally, a minimum of 4 Key Informant Interviews per area will be conducted with organizations delivering gender programming and/or conducting gender-focused research and assessments, including, but not limited to, GBV actors.

An intersectional lens will be applied to the analysis, and focus will be put on capturing the lived experiences, needs and priorities of women from the most marginalized groups, particularly women and girls with disabilities, migrant domestic workers, and women and girls from vulnerable Lebanese and refugee communities. The RGA should also capture distinct experiences of women from different age groups, including young women (16-25) and older women (60+).

The methodology will be validated and revised during the inception of the assignment, in close collaboration with CARE’s Gender and Protection Coordinator. CARE and partners can support in identifying participants, though consultants are encouraged to submit their own outreach and sampling strategy.

DELIVERABLES & TIMELINE

1- Inception Meeting – Consultant

Timeline: April 7, 2022

Days: 0.5

2- Desk Review: – Consultant

Timeline: April 13

Days: 2

3- Adjust Methodology and design tool – consultant

Timeline: April 15

Days: 2

Review and feedback on methodology and design tools – CARE

Timeline April 19

Days: 2

4- Finalize methodology and tools – Consultant

Timeline: April 20

Days: 1

5- Conduct Data Collection (around 12 groups and 4 KIIs per area)- Consultant

Timeline: May 6

Days: 8

6- Data Analysis – Consultant

Timeline: May 10

Days: 2

7- Presentation and discussion of preliminary findings of each area – Consultant

Timeline: 3rd week of may

Days: 0.5

8-Reports Writing – Consultant

Timeline: May 23

Review and Feedback on reports – CARE

Timeline: May 31

Days: 5

9- Final report submission – Consultant

Timeline: May 7

Days: 1

25% of the payment will be disbursed upon approval of methodology and tools. The remaining 75% will be disbursed upon approval of the two final reports.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

• At least 5 years of relevant experience, especially with NGOs and/or academic organizations, focused on gender in Lebanon.
• Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Political Science, Development Studies, or any related discipline.
• Demonstrated solid understanding of gender issues in Lebanon and as they relate to the current context

COMPETENCIES

• Experience in designing, implementing, or evaluating gender programming in Lebanon.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in conducting gender analyses or research around gender, women’s rights, GBV or related subjects.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in conducting qualitative research around gender issues in Lebanon.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in designing and implementing participatory data collection exercises.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.

PSEA AND CHILD SAFEGUARDING

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.