Enhancing wellbeing and integration of women in refugee communities in Lebanon, using technology

ABOUT AAAR

ActionAid has been present in the Arab region since 2000, focusing mostly on youth and women in its programs. In 2018, the new regional strategy – Working for Equity and Social Justice in the Arab Region 2018-2022 was defined on three program priorities:

1. Humanitarian response and protection

2. Women’s rights

3. Civic and political participation of youth

Cross-cutting topics are women’s rights, social cohesion, accountability, and transparency.

AAAR Goals:

Increase the power of youth and women to be the keys to change to create sustainable societies, through awareness and capacity development, organization and campaigns, mobilization and solidarity building to harness individual and collective strength.

The community and local partners lead the programs that are governed by the human rights-based approach and feminist leadership.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Lebanon has been facing multiple crisis since 2020; from socioeconomic deteriorations to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Blast (August 4, 2020). The collective impact has increased women and girls’ vulnerabilities and risks of gender-based violence (GBV). Rates of GBV incidents have been reported to have increased globally and in Lebanon during the imposed lockdowns and quarantines; with survivors’ access to lifesaving holistic protection and prevention services hindered. The port blast has exacerbated the already spiraling socioeconomic condition of the country, increasing survivors’ risks. To cope, households have resorted to negative coping mechanisms; which include: forced/early marriage of girls, children partaking in worst-forms of child labor, increase use of corporal punishment with children, and domestic abuse.

To address this, Action Aid Arab Region is implementing a 3 months project that aims at improving access of women and girl survivors of and/or at-risk of GBV to holistic prevention and response services in Lebanon’s Beqaa (Jib Jenin), (Baalbek), in addition to pilot a mobile solution that aims to tackle the access to information gap for protection services by vulnerable women in refugee and host communities in Lebanon and applying a human-centric, women-led design approach that emphasizes the role of the end-users . The project’s outcomes, goals, and indicators are as follows:3

Outcome 1: Increases the awareness of women’s rights and the unacceptability of abuse, harassment, and violence (among women and men, boys and girls).

Outcome 2: Provides paths to escape abuse and violence by offering services increasingly tailored to survivors’ needs.

Outcome 3: Empowers women and girls in the use of technology.

Outcome 4: Takes women and girls out of isolation by connecting them to a community of online users

PROJECT GOALS:

The overall research objective is to assess:

The extent to which a women-led and designed mobile platform can enhance women’s protection and empowerment through the provision of information on rights and access to services for women in Lebanon.

The ‘pilot project’ mobile platform will be designed by women for women and will be tested and refined until a final version is launched in for Lebanon section. The effect of the platform will be determined through a comparative assessment of users (treatment group) and a non-user(control group) at two time points 1) before the launch of the platform( Lebanon section baseline survey) and 2) after the launch of the platform (Lebanon section end line survey).

§ Increasing the confidence of at least 300 targeted women to access services (providing rapid and easily access to information and support needed (health, psychosocial and legal) when they face protection issues through mobile usage and digital literacy.

§ Increasing communities’ awareness of key messages on women’s rights and information on services through awareness raising nationwide campaign.

§ Increase access for at least 50 persons to adapted psychosocial support through the online application.

§ Improving the connection between women and girls in their community through outreach activities.

§ Indicator 1: increase the Number of persons who have access to information services as a direct result of the innovation

§ Indicator 2: increase the number of the stakeholders and service providers involved in the project.

§ Indicator 3: improving the number of people who has reached service providers and qualitative services

§ Indicator 4: increase the number and type of outreach and awareness activities conducted

§ Indicator 5: increase the potential beneficiaries reached who increase their knowledge and understanding through outreach and awareness activities

§ Indicator 6: increase number of people benefited from adapted psychosocial support

§ Indicator 7: increase number of people protected through ongoing/consistent use of information services

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide baseline study will set the context of the current landscape and values of the areas that the project plans to focus on (this includes parameters related to goals, outcomes and indicators). of the above-mentioned project. The baseline study should provide starting point values of the project in regard to set log frame. The baseline study will feed into an end–line evaluation that will assess the impact of the entire intervention and report on the achievement of the results as stated in the narrative and log frame.

The consultant is expected to propose specific methodologies they will use, the consultant expected to follow the research design, methodology and Approach in the reports to be submitted to AAAR Lebanon for approval. These should demonstrate the use of mixed methods approach in arriving at findings and ensure data quality. Details on sampling strategy and quality assurance measures should be included in the inception report. In addition, the reports should elaborate on data collection methods, tools and timetables for the studies. The consultant must ensure compliance with the Programme’s Core Principles below throughout the development of the development of the baseline study:

§ A Gender-responsive approach (GRA)

§ Inclusiveness

§ Do no harm

§ Accountability

RESEARCH DESIGN

Sample

A minimum of 380 (up to 300 maximum) Lebanese and Syrian refugee women in Baalbek and Jib Janeen in the catchment areas of the AAAR’s and partner RDFL women safe spaces. The sample will be randomly assigned within AAAR’s and RDFL’s safe space networks, via a database of phone numbers. This is a mechanism to track those who enroll.

Groups

Program exposure

Population

Considerations

Control group

Women not using the platform –

but with access to women safe spaces.

50% of the treatment group

The control group will be women not using the platform. In the current climate of refugee assistance, it is difficult to control for women who have no exposure to any services. N.B. must not live in the same household or be related to women in the treatment group.

Treatment group

Women part of the pilot testing

New users once the platform has been launched.

300~

We estimate that around 300 women will be part of the pilot testing and will use the platform.

Once the platform is launched and depending on the size of the user group from the pilot we may include new users after the launch of the platform.

Incentives should be built in to the service to minimise attrition later in the program as the survey will be repeated after launch of the service and 1-year post launch (desirable if we can obtain additional funds).

METHODS**

· Survey – incorporating Likert scale and open questions as baseline with a series of specific questions on the platform itself for the treatment sample. For the control sample, adding more general questions to capture changes in access to services in the region. (300 ps +50% control)

· FGDs – Most Significant Change Approach (MSCA) or outcome harvesting. Ideally the same participants as in the baseline (4 treatment sample 2 control)

· Ethnography – supporting 8 women to write observations, map and take photos on their experiences of safety, security and services in their neighborhood. At least 2 should be the same as in the baseline

CONSIDERATIONS:**

· Random sampling will be used for the baseline impact survey.

· It may be possible to track those who should be included in the end-line survey for the treatment group.

· A randomly generated sample for the end line could be problematic because it may not capture sufficient platform users. Need to discuss risk mitigation plan.

· For the treatment group there may be 2 subsets depending on the size of the pilot user group. 1) pilot users that participated in the pilot project and who would have been exposed to significant training and testing & 2) new users subscribing after the platform launch.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The main deliverables:**

· Inception report prior to start of the research which includes the detailed methodology, work plan, and resources required.

· Baseline report that provides baseline values as per the set indicators.

· All reports should include detailed description of methodology including data collection tools and strategies, and approach to include core principles as described in the ToR.
· The consultant shall hold validation workshops with AAAR throughout the consultancy period.
· A presentation shall be provided upon the completed of the draft and final baseline.

· All raw data collected, interview transcripts, summaries, surveys form, FGD guidelines and data analysis shall be provided to AAAR.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The bidder will lead the process of:

· Study design, methodology, planning and quality control procedures.

· Reviewing existing information, preparing outlines, including study objectives, research questions, and development of sampling methodologies.

· Finalizing: (1) work plan and checklists (2) questionnaire(s), (3) guidelines.

· The consultant will finalize the topics for assessment in consultation with AAAR (the extent and rigor of this assessment will depend on the study objectives and the result framework outputs);

· The consultant will guide and provide required technical support to the field teams for carrying out interviews and gathering information from different stakeholders; and

· The consultant will remain responsible for the entire study maintaining the highest-level standards and quality and for producing the final survey reports.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Experience
· In depth knowledge and experience on research methods;
· Experience working within the local Lebanese context;
· Experience working on baseline studies; and
· Previous evaluations relating to GBV, youth and gender studies is advantageous
General competencies
· Fluent in both oral and written English and Arabic
· Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills;
· Displays cultural, gender, religion, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
· High level planning, organizational and time management skills;
· Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure; and
· Excellent analytical and report writing skills

Qualifications
Post graduate degree/s in fields such as Development studies, Social Sciences, gender related studies.**

How to apply

Applicants are requested to submit their detailed application by email to [email protected] with the subject line “AAAR – Baseline study”.

The application must include the following:**

• A technical proposal, including the outline of methodological approach and activities proposed to achieve the objectives, and a tentative timeline with key milestones.
• A financial proposal.
• CV/profiles of all involved consultants.
• References of previous similar work implemented.

The closing date for receipt of proposals is March 10,2022.

Budget:

Payment range: (4600 JOD)

Request for Proposals for implementation of Baseline Survey

Assessing the impact of a mobile information platform on the protection and well-being of women.

About ActionAid and ActionAid Arab Region

ActionAid is a global movement of people fighting for women’s rights, social justice and an end to poverty. ActionAid Arab Region (AA-AR) has a regional remit and works across the region on multi country programmes. ActionAid prioritises the leadership of women and young people, especially those living in poverty and exclusion, in our efforts to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication.

AA-AR is currently implementing a Women-Led Community-Based Protection (CBP) program in Lebanon (Baalbek, jib Janeen). As a result of implementing this program anecdotal evidence pointed towards a generalised lack of awareness of services for women and girls’ protection and empowerment. On further investigation, it became clear that there remains insufficient data on the type, occurrence and frequency of protection and safety issues for women living in Jordan’s urban spaces.

Pilot

AAUK and AA-AR has secured funds to undertake a pilot project to design, test and rollout an information platform delivered via mobile and to undertake research on its impact. The overall research objective behind the pilot is to assess: ‘the extent to which a women-led and designed mobile platform can enhance women’s protection and empowerment through the provision of information on rights and access to services for women in Jordan’. The research will track how women users will interact with the platform and how it will impact on attitudes, perceptions and experiences of its users in order to explore how best women and girls can learn about, access, or even impact empowerment and protection services in Zarqa and Mafraq. This research will also provide valuable data to advocate to government to prioritise gender responsive public services; to the MNOs to address financial and service level barriers to mobile inclusion.

Scope of work

1. Training of research assistants and application of ActionAid’s research standards.

2. Organise transportation and remuneration of research assistants.

3. Survey testing and revision.

4. Baseline survey implementation:

· A minimum of 240 (180 treatment (app users) and 60 control) Lebanese and Syrian refugee women in Baalbek and Jib Janeen in the catchment areas of the AAAR’s and partner (……) women safe spaces.

Individual questionnaire of approximately 45 minutes covering:

· Awareness of rights related to women and girls’ protection and empowerment.

· Awareness of public and private services related to women and girls’ protection and empowerment.

· Perceptions and mapping of safety and security in Baalbek and Jib Janeen

· Access and routes to protection and empowerment services.

· Digital behaviours, trust in mobile platforms, ICT experience and mobile technical skills.

· Personal safety on mobile and online platforms.

· Satisfaction with platform design, content and functionality.

· Most significant impact of the platform.

· Willingness to continue to utilise platform.

1. Manage and supervise data collection, including detailed and continuous monitoring, regular review, and back checking, to ensure the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the data collected;

2. Production of 30-page report plus data tables.

3. Follow ActionAid protocol including ethical data collection procedures and safeguards.

Eligibility and minimum requirements

1. Organisation registered in Lebanon/consultants with to conduct research in Lebanon.

2. Organisations or consultants with experience in implementation of surveys in urban contexts and with women respondents, in the relevant technical area.

3. Organisations available to implement as per the timeline below.

Duration and key dates

· Must be able to participate in workshop early April 2022.

· Baseline implementation, in March

· Data clearing and analysis, end of March.

· Reporting of results through a report and presentation – by end of April

Proposal

· A description of the organisation’s experience and qualifications to carry out the proposed scope of work including experience working on gender issues, women’s rights and/or women’s protection.

· A work plan describing how the partner will complete the scope of work outlined above, a description of personnel roles and project management structure, duty of care policies and procedures in place, and risk identification and mitigation plans;

· All-inclusive financial proposal including daily rates of enumerators for data collection and analysis.

· Estimated timeline for the completion of main activities, as well as a breakdown of the costs as per format provided.

· Approximate budget of ### $.

Submission **

· Please submit all proposals to @ no later than 23:59 10 March 2022