Situational analysis on Disability in Lebanon

Post Title:                                 Short-term Consultant to conduct Situation Analysis

Duration:                                 8 weeks

Estimated start date:              July 28

Project Duration:                    August-September 2020

Partners:                                    UNFPA & UN ESCWA

Beneficiary Partners:              Ministry of Social Affairs in Lebanon

1. Background

In 2000, Lebanon adopted Law 220 on the Rights of Disabled Persons (Law 220/2000), several years before the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD)[1]. The law is mainly built around a set of rights integrating citizens with disabilities into social and economic life, through employment, transport and housing quotas, and guarantees of health and educational services.

While Law 220/2000 makes important commitments to the rights of persons with disabilities, many of these commitments have not been fulfilled, because individuals with disabilities and Disabled Persons’ Organisations do not have adequate access to information about their rights and services, in addition to the lack of coordinated national responses and plans from relevant ministries and civil society. Based on anectodal evidence, a lot of persons with disabilities suffer from stigma and discrimination in the public sphere, a matter that deter them from seeking access to health and protection services, job opportunities, schools, etc.

Several research, assessments and mappings have been carried out in the past 15-20 years on people with disbality and many projects and activities have been implemented to raise the awareness about the rights, needs, challenges of this category. While some interventions were successfully achieved, still there remains too many obstacles for realizing a positive change and impact as well as sustainability of these approaches.  With the current health, economic and social deterioration in Lebanon, it is expected that people with disability are more vulnerable than ever and more so among women and older persons.    

In view of the above, the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) is determined to develop a national strategy on disability for the first time, which will take place through a consultative process. It is expected that that the National Authority for Persons with Disabilitis , with representatives of concerned ministries and disabled persons’ organisations will takepart in the development process.

In this concern, the Ministry of Social Affarirs in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs (UN-ESCWA) and  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)  will join  efforts to develop Lebanon’s first national strategy on persons with disability. The above strategy will be informed by the situation analysis of disability based on international classification for PWD to understand the current situation, the legislative and institutional frameworks, the key actors, the pressing challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed and line with the Terms of Reference. It is expected that this analysis will rely mostly on existing thematic documentations, surveys and studies/research which cover different aspects of disabilities during the last few years. The Situation analysis will also help to establish a baseline against which future progress can be measured. It will contribute to acquire better understanding on what rights are not being fulfilled and what persons with disabilities themselves see as the most pressing needs. The national strategy will also be aligned with and informed by the 2030 agenda and related SDGs to ensure Lebnanon’s commitment for leaving no one behind.

2. Objectives and Purpose

The three partners, UNFPA, ESCWA and MOSA are looking for a consultant for approximately 8 weeks to conduct a situational analysis on disability in Lebanon.

The main objectives of this assignment are to;

• Review and analyse existing recent global, regional and national literature and available research related to various aspects of disability, namely the studies and documents that analyse the current situation of disability in Lebanon in the last few years, including disability in times of emergencies, such as COVID-19 among other.
• Conduct few informative interviews/consultation to fill knowledge gaps in the desk review.
• Develop a comprehensive integrated review of the current situation of disability that will serve the basis of the development of the national strategy.

The purpose of the situation analysis is to:

• Enhance knowledge and awareness about the situation of persons with disabilities in Lebanon.
• Identify existing bottlenecks and barriers
• Identify existing policy and programmatic responses to address those bottlenecks and barriers
• Identify who are the key duty-bearers/stakeholders and their responses to the needs of persons with disabilities

The consultancy will aim at responding to several questions detailed under Annex 1. 

3. Scope of Work

In coordination with the Population and Development Coordinator, and under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Head of Office, UN-ESCWA and MoSA, the expert will:

• Conduct an inception meeting with UNFPA, UN-ESCWA and MoSA to ensure clear understanding of the TORs and agreement on the relevant tasks and deliverables;
• Carry out an analytical literature review of key existing recent global, regional and national literature and available research related to various aspects of disability, namely the studies and documents that analyse the current situation of disability in Lebanon in the last few years, including the disability in times of emergencies, such as COVID-19 among others;
• Carry out few informative interviews/consultation to fill knowledge gaps in the desk review;
• Draft and submit the first draft of the report, which will be revised and commented on by UNFPA, UN-ESCWA and MoSA;
• Submit the final draft of the report after receiving the inputs of the three counterparts (the final report will serve as a comprehensive integrated review of the current situation of disability that will feed into the development of the national strategy;
• Carrying out a technical meeting presenting the findings of the situational analysis along with the conclusions and recommendations;

4. Duration

The duration of the contract is for 8 weeks, starting from the signature date of the contract or beginning of August.

5. Deliverables

• An inception Arabic report to be submitted at the end of the first two weeks, based on the initial discussions with partner organizations and the MOSA on the proposed methodology, initial desktop review and a work plan.
• A Draft report in Arabic to be submitted after 5 weeks
• A Final report in Arabic, to be submitted at the end of consultancy based on the structure below:  (to be discussed with consultant)
  
  • Executive summary of the situational analysis findings
  • Introduction to the context
  • Situation analysis methodology, and mention any constraints and challenges encountered, and strategies used to overcome them.
  • Detailed key findings and conclusions related to the main objectives and expected results.
  • Recommendations
  • Annexes (including references, tools used for data collection and List of persons met during the assignment process and main points of the meetings)

• Final meeting to present the key findings, conclusions and recommendations, and limitations of the analysis to the three partners and integrate their comemnts and view in the final version of the report

6. Expertise required

Qualifications and experiences required:

Interested consultants must provide information indicating why they are qualified to perform the described tasks, including CV/P11, description of similar assignments, experience conducting systematic reviews, and examples of relevant reports or publications.  This includes:

• Advanced university degree in public health, human rights, social science or a related field;
• Demonstrated experience (at least 5-7 years) with carrying out situational analysis, strategic frameworks, or similar assignments or scientific publications;
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Knowledge in the Lebanese context is an asset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English are required;
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates may apply online by providing: 

• Most updated CV and P11 [attached]
• Cover letter mentioning the relevance of past/current experience with the requirements of the consultancy 

The above documents must be sent to the following email address: bids_lbn@unfpa.org by no later than July 24, 2020
 

Candidates who fail to submit the required documents above will not be considered for review.
UNFPA Lebanon will only be responsible to respond to those applicants submitting the required documents above and in which there is further interest.

Please make sure to specify the title of the consultancy in the subject of your email/application.

ONLY individual consultants, not companies, are eligible to apply.