Lebanon: Child Protection Consultant

Duration: 4 months (September-December 2016) – (57 working days)

Location: Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa

Deadline for application: Thursday August 18^th

BACKGROUND

1 / Organization’s overview

Amel Association International (Amel) is a Lebanese and non-sectarian NGO created in 1979. Amel works through 24 centers since more than 35 years in the poorest regions of Lebanon, from Beirut and its South Suburbs to Mount Lebanon, Bekaa and South Lebanon. Amel is offering accessible services for all in following fields: medical, psychosocial, professional training, rural development, child protection and human rights promotion.

2 / Intervention’s summary

Amel and UNICEF established their cooperation during the Lebanese civil war (during the 1980s). Consequently, the two organizations jointly developed health, education and protection projects. Within the framework of the response to the Syrian crisis, Amel started the implementation of psycho-social structured activities with vulnerable children in 2013, with the support of UNICEF. This intervention has been ongoing since then and has included as well a parenting and an outreach component.

Between 2013 and mid-2016, he activities implemented by Amel, within the framework of its Child Protection program, are taking place at Amel centers two times per week for two hours per shift, and for two shifts per cycle. The activities are implemented on a per cycle basis (each cycle’s duration is three months and a half). The centers in which the project is implemented are Amel facilities located in Mount Lebanon (Hayye Sellom, Bourj El Barajneh) and Bekaa (Mashgharah, Kamed El Loz, Ersal, El Ain) regions. Moreover, Amel implements activities in the Social and Development centers of the Ministry of Social Affairs located in Mazraa, Mussaitbeh and Hayye Sellom (Beirut and Mount Lebanon regions). The structured activities include sessions related to “learning by playing”, recreational activities and awareness sessions. The structured activities are guided by the Save the Children child protection manual. They are complemented by a social support provided by Social Workers and by an individual and group counseling support provided by a Psychologist. The psychologists are trained professionals who are complementing social workers and animators, having the capacity to conduct individual counseling sessions and reinforcing the safe identification and referral process, conducted together with the social workers and with the animators. Moreover, awareness sessions are taking place for parents. Parenting skills sessions are also provided by trained Social Workers of Amel (trained by IRC) to caregivers. The program also includes outreach (at home visits, sessions in the camps, etc.) and referral components.

In June 2016, Amel started a new project, in partnership with UNICEF. It aims at enhancing the access to protection spaces and quality services for vulnerable boys and girls, and their caregivers and at strengthening community engagement, within this framework.

Specifically, the project aims at ensuring that vulnerable boys and girls are protected from violence, abuse and exploitation through a strengthened child protection system within Amel and increased prevention and response services delivered by Amel and its partner social and development centers, in strong cooperation with community members.

The project is implemented in Lebanon and particularly in the regions of Mount Lebanon (Baabda district), Beirut and Bekaa (Baalbeck and West Bekaa districts). Specifically, the intervention take place in the areas surrounding Amel centers located in Ersal, El Ain, Mashgharah, Kamed El Loz, Hayye Sellom, Bourj El Barajneh and surrounding the Social and Development centers located in Mazraa, Hayye Sellom and Mussaitbeh. All these locations are part of the most vulnerable Lebanese cadasters (hosting high concentrations of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees) and have consequently been prioritized under the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan.

The project implemented by Amel will result in the protection of vulnerable girls and boys from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect through equitable access to quality child protection service.

This general outcome will be achieved through the outputs and activities described below, as part of the Child Protection LCRP HRRP 2016.

Output 1.1: Communities are actively engaged in addressing vulnerabilities and building resilience of boys, girls, caregivers and women.

Activity 1.1.1 Build skills of and equip communities to reduce vulnerability and prevent child protection / GBV risks (Referrals from community based to focused activities

Activity 1.1.2 Increase the capacity and awareness of caregivers and community members to address child protection/GBV concerns and promote psychosocial wellbeing (Awareness raising with adults on PSS, Caregivers programs and parenting support groups)

Activity 1.1.3 Increase the capacity and awareness of children to prevent and mitigate risks and know where to go for help (Awareness raising with children on CP/PSS/GBV, Structured community based PSS)

Output 1.2 Increased capacity of Government and civil society actors to respond CP and GBV cases

Activity 1.2.2 Strengthen the capacity of the Government and CSO workforce in contact with children and women (Training for staff to implement CP/GBV Programmes)

3/ Purpose of the consultancy

Five years into the crisis, the child protection sector approach evolved to better engage the community in the delivery of child protection activities. Following this new path and acknowledging that it contributes to the resilience of the affected populations, Amel jointly discussed with UNICEF the opportunity of reviewing the content of their joint program for the second half of 2016, based on the LCRP outcomes and outputs.

A consultant / short term expert staff will be recruited by Amel to plan the actions to strengthen its community based approach and to assess the relevance of enhancing the engagement of the organization in focused activities. The TORs of this consultant will be defined jointly by Amel and UNICEF and the recruitment will also involve the two organizations. The consultant will support Amel in planning new activities for 2017, as per a methodology which will ensure strong linkages and proper referral between Amel beneficiaries and other case management structures, as per the available mapping of child protection agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Child Protection Consultant will work in cooperation with the Child Protection Coordinator and in coordination with the Program Coordinator and the Partnerships Coordinator.

He/She will have to complete the below tasks:

a) Performing a desk review of Amel’s child protection activities and of the relevant community based approach and PSS concepts (including meetings with Amel’s Coordinators and UNICEF CP team)

ð Deliverables: Desk review report and Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 5 working days]

b) Assessing the current Amel UNICEF funded Child Protection Program through field visits in the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and Beirut regions and identifying actors involved in relevant sectors for referral purposes.

ð Deliverables: Field visit reports, Mapping of the actors, Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 6 working days]

c) Reviewing the content of the awareness sessions for children and caregivers and suggest new content

ð Deliverables: Updated curriculum for the awareness sessions and Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 1 working day]

d) Drafting a plan of action, through a participative approach (including Amel HQ, field staff and beneficiaries), to transition Amel’s activities to a community based approach and identify practical tools to enhance community engagement

ð Deliverables: Plan of action, Practical tools and Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 5 working days]

e) Drafting a plan of action, through a participative approach (including Amel HQ, field staff and beneficiaries), enhancing Amel’s approach towards PSS and considering a focused approach.

ð Deliverables: Plan of action and Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 5 working days]

f) Drafting an M&E framework to assess the impact of action plans

ð Deliverables: M&E Framework and Presentation to Amel team.

[September 2016 – 3 working days]

g) Training Amel coordination staff on the use of the M&E Framework

ð*Deliverables:* Training curriculum and training.

[October 2016 – 2 working days]

h) Performing training to build the staff capacities to implement the action plans

ð*Deliverables*: Training curriculum and training.

[October 2016 – 5 working days];

i) Coaching the staff on the implementation of the plan of action

ð Deliverables: Coaching / Field visits reports.

[October-November 2016 – 15 working days]

j) Submitting a final report with the 2017 strategy of Amel in relation with Child Protection Presenting it to Amel and UNICEF

ð Deliverables: Final report, Power point on the report, Presentation to Amel team.

[November-December 2016 – 10 working days]

ð It is to be noted that the consultant will have to conduct field visits in Bekaa and Mount Lebanon, including Ersal in North Bekaa.

SKILLS

§ Previous experience with NGOs or UN agencies;

§ Previous experience in the sector of community based protection as a coordinator, psychologist, trainer or senior social worker;

§ Previous experience in implementing psycho-social and protection programs (design of workplan, logframe, M/E tools, vulnerability criteria, reporting, etc.);

§ Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;

§ Very good communication skills in Arabic;

§ Ability to work under pressure and to respect deadlines;

§ Knowledge of the Lebanese and of the Syrian crisis contexts;

§ Team work;

§ Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite of application;

§ Familiar with LCRP, MOSA national action plan, UNICEF priorities (Asset);

§ French (Asset)

EXPERIENCE

5 to 10 years.

EDUCATION BA/MA Psychology, Social Work or International Development / Sociology with a strong experience in the sector of protection (at least 5 years).

PLEASE SEND YOUR CV AND COVER LETTER,

mentioning in the subject of the email, “CHILD PROTECTION CONSULTANT” to:

jobs@amel.org

CVs without cover letters will not be considered.

If you are not available from September to December 2016, please do not apply.