Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 01 Feb 2018
1. Introduction
Diakonia works with local partners and other strategic actors in over 30 countries for the fulfilment of the right of all people to live a life in dignity. Diakonia’s mission is to change unfair political, economic, social and cultural structures that generate poverty, inequality, oppression and violence. It is a Swedish faith-based organization established in 1966 with regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America as well as local offices in several countries. The Regional Middle East Office is situated in Jerusalem with Country Offices in Lebanon and Egypt.
As an organisation with a long history and track record of promoting human rights across the world, Diakonia has taken a more holistic basis for promoting respect of human dignity under all situations and circumstances by engaging on the complementary and specific legal framework regulating armed conflict - international humanitarian law (IHL). Over 10 years’ experience with IHL capacity building and advocacy started in 2004 when the International Humanitarian Law Resource Centre was created in the Regional Office in Jerusalem with the mandate to raise awareness of issues pertaining to IHL in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The IHL Resource Centre has evolved into a well-respected Centre in IHL since then, catering to local civil society and international community in this context.
Following the success of the IHL Resource Centre, coupled with the current global erosion of the respect for IHL and international human rights law, Diakonia has expanded its work by creating a Global IHL Programme. The Programme’s first phase entails IHL Resource Desks for Syria and Mali, alongside the international desk in Stockholm, while the second phase will explore establishing desks in Myanmar, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo.
2. Background
The IHL Resource Desk for Syria is based at Diakonia Country Office in Lebanon. It has been designed to meet the needs identified in the Syria context, complementing existing activities by other actors including both local organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, fill gaps where necessary, and build the capacity of relevant stakeholders, including humanitarian and development actors. The Programme takes a broad and flexible approach to disseminating IHL with the aim to inform and support stakeholders in applying and mainstreaming IHL-related issues in their respective mandates.
Activities include: 1) trainings, legal briefings and interactive seminars with a range of actors including but not limited to civil society, international humanitarian organisations, diplomatic communities and journalists; 2) running an IHL help desk to respond to IHL-related questions or queries; 3) writing legal briefs and reports; 4) commissioning expert opinions, and 5) engaging in national and international advocacy.
3. Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to assist Diakonia’s IHL Resource Desk (IHLRD) for Syria to define the security and safety framework for its implementation activities and to develop appropriate standard operating procedures for the security and safety of its staff, as well as strategic partners’ staff, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders when engaged in IHLRD activities. This support will enable Diakonia management to proactively and timely manage security risks and effectively respond to crises towards a safe and secure working environment for all actors involved in the IHL programme for Syria.
4. Objectives
The assignment will focus on assessing the current security situation for the implementation of Diakonia’s IHL Syria Resource Desk programme in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, in particular in relation to Diakonia’s staff and its strategic partners. Its specific objectives are as follows:
· Identify security threats and vulnerabilities, and conduct risk analysis of the current security setting for Diakonia staff involved in the IHL programme for Syria, its strategic partners and international visitors.
· Provide recommendations on available remedies to mitigate identified risks, threats and vulnerabilities, including in relation to good practices of collecting and assessing risk information.
· Develop safety and security procedures for Diakonia IHL Resource Desk for Syria.
· Educate and inform Diakonia staff engaged in the IHL Resource Desk about security and safety procedures and organizational practices that should be followed throughout implementation activities.
· Provide recommendations to Diakonia Head Office in Sweden and Regional Office in Jerusalem for suitable support in safety and security procedures for Diakonia IHL Resource Desk in Lebanon.
5. The Assessment’s Scope and Focus
Task 1: Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities and conduct security risk analysis in relation to the IHL Resource Desk programme implementation in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. The risk analysis should focus on assessing strategic risks imposed by external threats and their impact on Diakonia’s ability to achieve its strategies and programme objectives. These risk factors and likely consequences should be analysed in relation to Diakonia staff involved in the IHL work on the Syria context, as well as with regard to strategic partners engaged in the programme’s specific activities.
Task 2: Provide general and specific recommendations to Diakonia management on available remedies to mitigate identified risks, threats and vulnerabilities along with suggestions on safeguards and measures to improve Diakonia’s position to recognize, anticipate, and respond to future security threats and conditions. These will also include preventive measures to avoid potential security risks when communicating with external parties as well as means of effectively conveying security concerns that could impact strategic partners.
*Task 3:* Deliver a security briefing/workshop for Diakonia staff involved in the IHL Resource Desk for Syria activities. The workshop will present the assessment’s findings and recommendations, and provide practical exercises in this regard.
Security Assessment Report: The security assessment’s findings and recommendations will be documented in the form of a report, containing sections on safety and security assessment, safety and security procedures, personal safety and security, incident response, and stress and trauma management. The consultant can further amend and elaborate on the report structure, as appropriate.
6. Methodology
The consultant will propose the methodology for the security assessment of the IHL Programme implementation in the Syria context. The methodological outline will include the description of methods for data collection and data analysis that will be used as well as the assessment’s detailed work plan. The Diakonia Lebanon Country Office will facilitate the consultant’s work where appropriate, including by ensuring that the consultant has relevant documentation and that requests for additional information are accommodated timely.
7. Deliverables and Milestones
The consultant should submit the following key deliverables while closely working with Diakonia Lebanon Country Office:
Task 1:Develop security assessment methodology and work plan
Date: 14 February
Deliverable: Methodology outline & Work plan
Task 2: Identify threats and vulnerabilities & conduct risk analysis for IHLRD programme
Date: 2 March
Deliverable: Security Assessment Report consistent with TOR
Task 3: Provide general and specific recommendations on available remedies & mitigating measures
Date: 2 March
Deliverable: Security Assessment Report consistent with TOR
Task 4: Educate and inform IHL Resource Desk staff about security and safety procedures and organization practices
Date: TBD
Deliverable: Security briefing/workshop (outlining findings & recommendations)
Task 5: Follow-up on the security assessment activities and progress
Date: 7 February –7 March
Deliverable: Regular updates to Diakonia management, either via e-mail, face-to-face or skype meetings, as appropriate.
8. Timeline
Expression of Interest, Financial Office and CV :1 February 2018
Start date: 7 February
Meeting with Diakonia IHL management to discuss the context and scope of the assignment, challenges, and expected outcomes: 7 February
Security assessment methodology and work plan submitted: 14 February
Security assessment activities (implementation):15 February – 26 February
Draft Security Assessment Report submitted: 2 March
Diakonia IHL management response : 5 March
Final Security Assessment Report submitted: 7 March
Security briefing/workshop: TBD
8. Terms and conditions
· Tax and Insurance: The consultant(s) shall be responsible for their income tax and/or travel and other insurance during the assignment
· Code of Conduct: The consultant shall be required to sign and abide by Diakonia’s Code of Conduct, which can be found at diakonia.se
· Any additional terms and conditions shall be elaborated upon in the contract.
9. Consultant’s qualifications and proposal
· Demonstrated experience in conducting security assessment for international organisations and international non-governmental organisations operating in hostile environments.
· Excellent ability to deliver security trainings clearly and concisely.
· Relevant working experience in the Syria context.
· High ethical and professional standards.
· Fluency in English.
How to apply:
The proposal shall include the following:
· Expression of Interest, including a sample of methodology and work plan.
· Financial Offer (with a detailed overview of costs - fees per day and any associated costs).
· CV and references, outlining previous experiences.
Offer should include VAT (please confirm that you are registered and can provide us with a VAT invoice). If you are a freelancer, please confirm that you are registered and are personally responsible to pay your taxes.
**Proposals should be submitted to Quinn Coffey at quinn.coffey@diakonia.se by 1 February 2018