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CONSULTANCY - TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

Consultant - Research and Data Analyst (International),

Beirut, Lebanon

BACKGROUND

While UNRWA has worked to mitigate the effects of emergencies on the lives of Palestine refugees for almost 70 years, the ongoing conflict in Syria is one of the most challenging situations the Agency has faced to date. The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of civilians who have lost their homes, livelihoods and security. Now in its tenth year, the conflict continues to have shattering consequences and Palestine refugees are one of the communities most affected by the conflict with 95% in need of sustained humanitarian assistance. While some 438,000 Palestine refugees remain inside Syria, over 120,000 Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS) have fled the country since the start of the conflict. At the time of writing there are 27,700 PRS in Lebanon.[1] UNRWA is the largest direct provider of assistance to Palestine refugees affected by the Syrian conflict, many of whom rely upon UNRWA to provide life-saving aid including food, water, shelter, and medical assistance. PRS have extremely limited access to formal employment, and as the crisis continues traditional coping strategies are increasingly exhausted. The poverty rate among PRS is estimated at 89% and almost 95% are food insecure. In addition, PRS face particular protection concerns linked to their status as Palestine refugees. Last but not least, their vulnerability is compounded by nearly 70 years of protracted displacement.

A significant share of the EU’s non-humanitarian aid for Syria’s neighboring countries is provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU 'MADAD' Fund. UNRWA has been receiving funding for its support of PRS in Lebanon and Jordan from the EU ‘MADAD’ Fund since 2016 through a multi-phased project entitled “Strengthening the Resilience of Palestine refugees from Syria in Jordan and Lebanon”. Through the third phase of the EU-MADAD funded project (MADAD III), UNRWA has continued its provision of basic services to PRS in Lebanon and Jordan from January 2020 to December 2021 in alignment with its core mandate under the Syria Emergency Appeal.

The overall objective of the MADAD III project is to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) affected by the crisis in Lebanon and Jordan. In Lebanon, $USD 30,600,000 in project funding support activities which included basic services in education, primary health services, protection, as well as relief services in the form of multi-purpose cash subsidies and emergency cash assistance to cover basic needs for all PRS families living in Lebanon.

The project also benefits Palestine Refugees in Lebanon (PRL) as the host community, reducing tensions between PRS and PRL and maintaining integration of education and health services for both communities. Furthermore, and within the scope of its ongoing efforts to safeguard and advance the rights of all Palestine refugees in Lebanon, UNRWA strives to strengthen mainstreaming of protection. The project expected outcomes and outputs are as follows:

• Outcome 1: PRS meet their basic needs through the provision of humanitarian assistance

-Output 1.1: Increased financial capacity of PRS in Lebanon

• Outcome 2: PRS/PRL access to quality, inclusive and equitable education ensured despite conflict and displacement

-Output 2.1 Enrolment barriers preventing PRS children from attending school/education are identified and addressed

-Output 2.2 Retention barriers that lead to children dropping out of school are identified and addressed

• Outcome 3. PRS/PRL access to health services ensured.

• Outcome 4. Prevention and protection response for Palestine refugees are strengthened

Description of Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the MADAD Regional Project Manager and the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations (Programmes) of UNRWA in Lebanon, the consultant shall undertake the tasks below:

• Support UNRWA Monitoring and Evaluation Officers to develop survey methodologies, create samples and develop questionnaires and other quantitative and qualitative research tools.

• Provide technical support and backstopping to the implementation of surveys lead by the concerned programmes at field level

• Conduct targeted desk-based research using available indicators, studies and reports developed by UNRWA HQ, UNRWA-LFO programmes and departments, as well as international NGOS and other partners.

• Conduct basic qualitative (KII and FGDs) and quantitative (surveys) data collection, if necessary and appropriate, to complement existing data.

• Review and analyze all data collected. Analyses could range from simple visualizations to conducting regression analysis and cost-benefit analysis.

• Produce clear digestible analytical (statistical) and narrative reports for internal and external dissemination. Reports could range from presentations, infographics to full narrative reports.

• Provide analysis of key findings and conclusion based on the data analyzed and provide support data-drive and actionable recommendations (when and if applicable) for the implementation of the activities/programmes under the MADAD 3 Project.

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|Expected DelivERABLES: |

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|The deliverables listed below constitute the minimum that the consultant will be required to complete. During the lifetime of the contract, UNRWA might consider adding other assignments in agreement with the |

|consultant. |

|The number of days indicated by deliverable is an estimation, in no way should the Agency be restricted in terms of increasing or decreasing the days worked as long as the task remain within the ToR. The final |

|number of days per deliverable and final payment will be agreed by both parties. |

|Study/report |

|1 |Post Distribution Monitoring Survey (Multipurpose Cash Assistance) |1.Develop an analytical report of the |2020 report |1 May 2021 |1. Analytical report: 9 w/d |

| | |data collected | | |2. Data analysis and develop report: 15 w/d |

| |The PDM tracks the short-term results intended for the Cash | | | | |

| |Assistance Program by ensuring that the beneficiaries received |2. Conduct data analysis and develop | | | |

| |their assistance and evaluates the effectiveness of the |report (approximately 20 pages) | | |Per report: |

| |distribution process, the beneficiary's level of comfort with ATM | |Q1/2021 |30 days after the data is|1. Analytical report: 3 w/d |

| |card usage, as well as how the cash is spent and its impact on | |Q2/2021 |submitted by RSSD. |2. Data analysis and develop report: 7 w/d |

| |beneficiary households. The information from this survey is used to| |Q3/2021 | |Total: 40 |

| |assess impact and to improve the procedures of cash distribution as| |Q4/2021 | | |

| |well as to report to the program’s implementers and donors. It also| | | |TOTAL: 64 |

| |allows the program to identify and prevent any potential | | | | |

| |protections risks. | | | | |

|Education |

|3 |Perception Survey (Education) 2021 |1. Provide technical support to the ED to|June-July 2021 |31 July 2021 |1. 3 w/d |

| | |prepare the sample, questionnaire and | | | |

| |The main aim of the survey is to assess student perceptions of |methodology | | | |

| |UNRWA education services compared to the SY 2016-2017, to better | | | | |

| |understand the impact of educational initiatives provided to |2. Review the analytical report prepared | | | |

| |students and teachers since the beginning of the EU MADAD Project |by the Education Programme M&E Officer | | |2. 4 w/d |

| |in 2016. | | | | |

| | |3. Conduct data analysis and draft final | | | |

| | |report (20-30 pages) | | | |

| | | | | |3. 10 w/d |

|4 |Self-Learning Programme Desk Review |0. Conduct a desk review of the existing |0. March 2021 |0. 1 April 2021 |0. 15 w/d |

| | |surveys, internal evaluations, indicators| | | |

| |In response to the COVID-19 emergency situation and the closure of |and/or studies conducted in 2020, analyze| | | |

| |schools, UNRWA LFO has activated its Self-Learning Programme (SLP) |the data and produce a report with clear | | | |

| |to be able to provide remote learning support to its 37,000 school |conclusions and actionable | | | |

| |students. During the SY 2020/2021 the SLP will remain active in |recommendations (approximately 20 pages) | | | |

| |either remote and/or blended modality. Since the programme was | | | | |

| |activated in March 2020, the Education Programme has conducted a | | | | |

| |number of surveys, evaluation and studies and is planning to |1. Conduct a monthly desk review of | | | |

| |continue doing so during the upcoming SY. |available data as produce a brief monthly| | | |

| | |update (1-2 pages) | | | |

| | | |1. March – December 2021 |1. Monthly |1. 3 w/d per month (March to December) |

| | | | | | |

| | |2. Produce quarterly summary reports of | | | |

| | |available data/information and produce | | | |

| | |conclusions and recommendations (3 report| | | |

| | |between November and April) |2. Q1+Q2+Q3+Q4 /2021 | | |

| | | | |2. |2. 3 w/d per report (4 report x 3w/d: 12w/d)|

| | |3. Collect additional data (if need be) | |31 March 2021 | |

| | |through KII, FGDs and/or survey and data | |30 June 2021 | |

| | |analysis | |30 September 2021 | |

| | | | |31 December 2021 | |

| | |4. Develop final SLP report (20-30 pages)|As needed |3. Up to 10 w/d (to be | |

| | | | |confirmed) |3. Up to 10 w/d (to be confirmed) |

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| | | | | | |

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| | | | |4. 31 December 2021 | |

| | | | | |4. 15 w/d |

|Health |

|5 |Primary health care access, utilization and impact survey among PRS|1. Provide technical support to the HD to|Q2/2021 |1 July 2021 |1. 2 w/d |

| |in Lebanon 2021 |prepare the sample, questionnaire and | | | |

| | |methodology | | | |

| |UNRWA in Lebanon provides primary health care services to both PRS | | | | |

| |and PRL (approx. 12,000 PRS and 70,000 PRL consultations per |2. Review the analytical report prepared | | | |

| |month) through 48 Family Health Teams (FHT) distributed across the |by the Education Programme M&E Officer | | |2. 3 w/d |

| |27 Primary Health Clinics and Mobile Clinics in Lebanon. | | | | |

| | |3. Conduct data analysis and draft final | | | |

| |The objective of the survey is to monitor PRS access, utilization |report (approximately 20 pages) | | | |

| |and impact of primary health care services available at UNRWA | | | |3. 7 w/d |

| |clinics through the MADAD project. The survey will take place | | | | |

| |annually and aims to assess significant changes, if any, occurred | | | | |

| |since the last survey | | | |Total: 12 w/d |

|The Consultant will submit products in a professional form that would meet the standards for publication. |

|The Consultant will ensure that the research quality adheres to the highest scholarly standards and that the research content of the paper is original, evidence-based and up-to-date. |

|The Consultant will ensure that UNRWA’s fact checking and referencing guidelines are followed and will cite only up-to-date and reputable sources. All sources will be referenced using footnotes and in a |

|bibliography. Where appropriate, the Consultant will provide weblinks to sources cited in the discussion paper to facilitate fact-checking. |

|Verbatim copying of information from sources is plagiarism and will not be accepted. |

|The Consultant will be responsible for answering any questions and making revisions as requested by UNRWA-Lebanon Field Office |

minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in social sciences, statistics, economics or related field from a recognized institution.

• A minimum of five (5) years’ work experience conducting data analysis, and/or quantitative and qualitative research, and/or monitoring & evaluation within a UN or similar agency, NGO or in a Government Ministry/agency, academic institutions or related area. At least 2 years of relevant experience should have been at an international level outside applicant’s home country.

• Solid experience in working with data collection and dissemination.

• Extensive experience in the development and use of statistical norms, standards and methodologies.

• Proven experience in synthesizing large amounts of data and editing for different audiences

• Experience drafting complex reports.

• Excellent knowledge (oral and written) in English.

• Knowledge of Arabic is a plus.

COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of statistical and international policy issues related to education and educational planning, and/or cash assistance, and/or primary health care.

• Solid software and IT skills are essential and required, particularly in the use of software for general and specialized applications for data processing and analysis, in particular: MS Excel, SPSS and other statistical software.

• Knowledge of data visualization applications is highly desirable.

• Excellent writing skills

• Ability to present data in captivating ways that draw in audiences and convey complex messages in simple terms.

• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including the ability to prepare, present, and discuss findings and recommendations on issues clearly and concisely.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• The duration of the consultancy is 11 months with the expected start date immediately.

• This a part time consultancy. The estimated number of working days is 185.

• Remuneration will be paid by deliverables upon approval by UNRWA. A daily fee will be established according to qualifications and experience and UNRWA salary scale. .

• The consultancy will take place both home-based with some field missions to different areas in Lebanon if required and if circumstances allow.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personal History Form demonstrating clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the consultancy requirements via consultancyLebanon@ indicating the title of this consultancy “Research and Data Analyst Consultant” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 23 February 2021.

UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women. Only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.

10/02/2021

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