Consultancy: Drafting of a Project Proposal – ECHO HIP 2025 for the Lebanon crisis response

1. Introduction & Background

Act Church of Sweden’s regional MENA hub is looking for a consultant for Consultancy: Drafting of a Project Proposal – ECHO HIP 2025 for Lebanon crisis response December 2024 – January 31, 2025, (dates to be confirmed end of November subject to call timing and proposal deadline).

1. Background info

Act Church of Sweden (Act CoS) is one of the main faith-based humanitarian and development cooperation NGOs in Sweden. Act CoS is an integral part of the Church of Sweden, Europe’s largest Lutheran denomination with around 5,5 million members. Act CoS is a recognized civil society actor with long experience in development and humanitarian work. Act CoS’ work in the Middle East goes back to the 1950s which gives us over 70 years of experience of working in the MENA region.

Today, Act CoS works together with around 20 local partner organisations in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq to alleviate suffering and build capacity and resilience of local communities to strengthen rights holders’ participation in society. The majority part of the humanitarian work is done through and in cooperation with the ACT Alliance and is based on the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, and framed by international humanitarian law in line with a gender-integrated human-rights-based approach (HRBA), the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, the Istanbul Principles for CSO Development and the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). Act CoS works in collaboration with local partners, who have the knowledge and networks to mobilize resources where they are most needed. We work with people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background or political convictions. Act CoS is a certified partner of DG ECHO, is externally verified by the Core Humanitarian Standard and has previously had successful ECHO projects in Colombia.

For more information, please visit https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/act/en

1.2 Act CoS in Lebanon

Act Church of Sweden are partnering with two implementing organisations, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Association Najdeh (Najdeh). Act Church of Sweden’s partnership with MECC goes back 50 years to the inception of the organisation. For the last decades, Act Church of Sweden has supported MECC’s humanitarian action in the Middle East region. Most recently, Act Church of Sweden supported MECC‘s emergency response following the Beirut blast and covid-19 between July 2021 to June 2023 through the ACT Alliance appeal mechanism.

Act Church of Sweden’s partnership with Najdeh began in June 2022 to respond to the effects of the financial crisis on the Palestinian refugee population as well as others living in the Palestinian camps. We have supported a combination of cash assistance to the most vulnerable population and survivor community led response (scrl) projects in three Palestinian camps, Shatila camp, Dbayeh camp, and Nahr al Bared camp.

Strengthening social networks, social trust, and resilience is an important part of all our humanitarian work. The aim is to strengthen local communities and local actors to not only alleviate acute needs but to lead sustainable solutions. Cash assistance has been an important part of Act Church of Sweden’s humanitarian work, our humanitarian engagement proves that cash assistance is not only an extremely effective way to deliver aid but also lead to local economies to thrive and strengthen rightsholders’ agency. Cash assistance has been part of our humanitarian assistance in different areas and contexts, from acute situations to protracted crises in and outside of refugee camps. In Lebanon, cash assistance to the Palestinian refugee population was implemented in coordination with a sclr project where community groups have been able to implement small initiatives to the benefit of the community at large.

By partnering with MECC and Najdeh, the project proposed to ECHO reaches out to the most in need Lebanese citizens, Palestinian refugees from Lebanon, Palestinian refugees from Syria and Syrian refugees. The two organisations have a long history of working in the respective area to reach out to the most affected populations in Lebanon. MECC will reach Lebanese citizens as well as Syrian refugees living outside Palestinian camps. Najdeh will reach people within the Palestinian camps of whom, about 68% are Palestinian refugees from Lebanon and around 25% are refugees from Syria. This way the two organisations complement each other. The role of Act CoS as the lead applicant will be to support the project implementation, secure the compliance with ECHO regulations and coordinate the interventions with other stakeholders such as the cluster system. Act CoS might also take on a capacity strengthening role in community based MHPSS yet to be decided upon with the implementing partners. The project aims to alleviate food insecurity, facilitate access to nutritious food, and contribute to the strengthening of the local economy as well as build the local capacity to handle mental health issues and trauma in affected communities in Lebanon. The details of the interventions are yet to be developed together with the implementing partners.

2. Objectives

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive project proposal (compulsory annexes included) for the ECHO HIP 2025 funding cycle, focusing on the food security and emergency sector. The likely interventions will include community based psycho-social support and multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA). Act CoS will be the lead agency and MECC and Najdeh the implementing partners. The consultant will be responsible for conducting thorough research, engaging with key stakeholders, and drafting a compelling proposal that aligns with ECHO’s funding priorities, the joint needs assessment conducted by the local organisations and Act CoS’ strategic objectives in accordance with the Act CoS Strategic Plan. The goal is to secure funding to support food security initiatives that address the urgent needs of the population affected by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

3. Scope of work

Information gathering (including facilitating at least two online workshops of proposal development), interviews with key actors, assist the partners to compile the joint needs assessment if needed and elaboration of a first draft project proposal.

Assisting the Act CoS controller in coordinating the budget work with the implementing partners.

Drafting of a final project proposal (compulsory annexes included) to be submitted by Act CoS for ECHO HIP 2025. The proposal must be sent to Act CoS in e-single form format. Act CoS has the full responsibility of the final project proposal and the submission of it to ECHO.

4. Methodology

The proposal should be prepared in close coordination with the stakeholders at MECC, Najdeh and Act CoS. The consultant should initially present a timeline that specifies deadlines and inputs needed. To produce a full proposal the consultant is expected to gather and analyse information through

1) interviews with the implementing partners (IPs) and Act CoS.

2) Desk review of a list of relevant documents, reports, and information material that will be provided upon the start of the assignment.

3) The findings of the joint needs assessment conducted by the local partners

5. Deliverables

Task 1

Point 3 of the Single Form and Logical Framework Matrix in ECHO template in collaboration with Programme Development Adviser and Programme Manager at Act CoS

Completion date: December 20th (date to be confirmed subject to proposal deadline)

Task 2

Assist the Act CoS controller in drafting a detailed budget of the proposal in Excel and “Financial Overview of the Action” item of the Single Form

Completion date: January 5th (date to be confirmed subject to proposal deadline)

Task 3

Draft the Full Single Form in collaboration with Programme Development Adviser and Programme Manager at Act CoS and, if needed, assist with the completion of the compulsory joint needs assessment

Completion date: January 10rd (date to be confirmed subject to proposal deadline)

Task 4

Adjustments based on feedback

Completion date: January 20th (date to be confirmed subject to proposal deadline)

5. Service Terms

The estimated timeframe for this consultancy is 1 December 2024 – January 31 or February 15, 2025 (dates to be confirmed subject to call date and proposal deadline)

6. Duty Station

The Consultant will be supported by the Act CoS regional MENA hub located in Amman.

The Consultant will also work closely with the Act CoS Head Office, (especially the Programme Development Adviser) as required and with Act CoS’ partners to the proposal.

There will be a working group created with the Consultant and representatives from the implementing partners as well as Act CoS.

The Consultant will report to the Programme Development Adviser, who will be responsible for validating and approving the deliverables.

The Consultant will be permitted to work remotely.

7. Validity

Proposals shall remain valid and open for acceptance for a period of 30 days after the closing date for the submission.

Prior to the expiry of the original proposal validity period, the Contracting Authority may ask candidates in writing to extend this period. Candidates that agree to do so will not be permitted to modify their proposals. If they refuse, their participation in the tender procedure will be terminated.

8. Payment Modalities

Payment will be made in two instalments, as follows:

50% upon the signing of the Consultancy Agreement

50% upon submission of the final draft proposal

9. Required Expertise and Qualification

Experience & Expertise of the Consultant:

Demonstrated experience in drafting successful project proposals for ECHO. Experience working with ECHO and/or other institutional donors as well as in the humanitarian sector in the region preferred.

Conducting research and writing research documents.

It’s considered an asset to have the expertise of working with faith-based organizations and have knowledge about MPCA and MHPSS.

Act CoS expects the consultant to share the Act CoS’ values and to sign the ACT Alliance Code of Conduct. The consultant is expected to have an excellent command of English both verbally and in writing. Good facilitation and interpersonal skills are expected in order to lead effective dialogues with Act CoS and the implementing partners as an integral part of the development of the proposal.

If required, the consultant could be expected to represent Act CoS working group for the consortium in liaising with the DG ECHO delegation in Beirut.

10. Confidentiality

The ownership and copyright(s) of the report(s) and any other produced material will remain with Act CoS. It may only be shared upon written consent from Act Church of Sweden.

11. Evaluation Process

The evaluation process is managed by Act CoS

12. Questions

Candidates may submit questions in writing via email to [email protected] before the deadline.

13. Terms of contract

The Consultant is responsible for payment of all social costs, other employment related costs and insurance contributions and for all other liabilities of a statutory nature.

During the assignment, the consultant does not represent Act CoS (other than in direct relation to the proposal) and has no mandate to negotiate, make commitments or agree on behalf of Act CoS.

The consultant is expected to use own computer and other equipment required for the works.

By submitting an offer, the consultant confirms to abide by ACT Alliance Code of Conduct.

14. Documents comprising this procurement

The candidate shall complete and submit the following documents with his/her proposal:

Workplan to achieve the deliverable of this Consultancy in accordance with these Terms of Reference

Financial proposal

Candidate CV, certifications, reference letters