American Friends Service Committee
Founded in 1917, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is an international organization that works with communities and partners worldwide to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace. In collaboration with communities and local partners, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems. AFSC’s programs foster understanding and reconciliation, promote economic development and food security, educate the public on various social issues, and foster diversity, inclusion, and equality in communities around the world.
AFSC’s 2020-2030 strategic plan prioritizes economic justice as a core goal of the organization’s work, supporting communities at the grassroots level. Many communities have historically been affected through legacies of colonialism and the unsustainable extraction of resources, leading to systemic economic injustice. Based on social solidarity and ecological sustainability, AFSC seeks to promote alternative economic models built on solidarity, cooperation, shared well-being, and public participation.
AFSC’s work in Lebanon revolves around three main themes: climate justice, youth, and humanitarian support. AFSC supports and networks with local climate justice activists, empowering their dialogue with other activists in the region. Additionally, AFSC works to empower youth to develop identity and participate in civil society. In times of crisis, AFSC has additionally supported Lebanon with humanitarian aid.
PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY
AFSC is planning a convening in August 2025 that will bring together Lebanese economists, entrepreneurs, and civil society leaders to discuss their visions for the future of Lebanon’s economy. The objective of this consultancy is to support AFSC in preparation, research, facilitation, and post-convening reporting. The consultant will contribute to a desk-based qualitative research report, co-facilitate the convening, and support the development of a post-event policy paper in coordination with participants and AFSC staff.
SCOPE OF WORK:
- Prepare a desk review outlining Lebanon’s economic context and history through case study analysis of various periods of Lebanon’s history to contextualize the convening.
- Develop a detailed report of the convening, focusing on successful outcomes, discussion, areas for future work, and a summary of the event.
- Support in the design and co-facilitation of the convening along with AFSC.
- Coordinate with convening participants post-event to develop a policy paper capturing policy group recommendations for Lebanon’s economic future.
- Actively participate in regular coordination meetings with AFSC staff from Middle East regional office in Amman to provide updates, align timelines, and receive feedback on deliverables.
- METHODOLOGY
The research assignment will be a smaller project, relying on existing secondary sources and analyses into Lebanon’s economic history, without the need for qualitative data collection. This project is intended to serve as a contextualization for discussion during the convening and thus is not a comprehensive academic study.
The event report will comprise of a summary of the convening. It will focus on four main parts: the current context and rationale for the convening, a summary of discussions and the various sessions of the event, the outcomes of the convening, and areas for future work and collaboration.
The policy paper will be completed in coordination with convening participants, drawing on their findings and suggestions during the event. The policy paper will be reviewed by participants and AFSC to ensure accuracy.
The consultant will be supported by AFSC staff in arranging logistics for meetings with key stakeholders; AFSC will guide the review of the consultant’s deliverables and drafts.
DURATION OF THE ROLE
The consultancy will be conducted between July 2025 to September 2025. The specific level of effort for the consultant is based on the agreed work plan that will be finalized with the contract.
- KEY DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE (NEGOTIABLE AND TO BE FINALIZED WITH AFSC STAFF)
DELIVERABLE
DETAILS
DEADLINE
- Research assignment/Desk review
- Literature review and contextual analysis of Lebanon’s economic history.
August 4th, 2025
- Convening Planning and Facilitation
- Support in event planning and agenda development with AFSC.
- Co-facilitation and coordination of August convening.
August 14-16, 2025 (Exact date TBD)
- Convening Report
- Summary report of discussions, outcomes, and recommendations
September 1st, 2025
- Policy Paper
- Drafted by the consultant in collaboration with participants, reviewed by AFSC.
- Focused analysis based on the Justice Based Approach.
September 15th, 2025 First Draft
September 24th, 2025 Final Draft
The above timeline is negotiable and subject to change based on consultation with AFSC staff.
QUALIFICATIONS
- An entity consultant/consultancy firm/group with at least 3-5 years of experience in the research and/or evaluation field, including experience in political and economic analysis and research methodologies.
- Experience in context analysis is a must.
- A master’s degree in a related field such as political sciences, international relations, and social studies.
- Proven experience of the political and economic context in Lebanon and the region.
- Proven record of previous similar studies
- Proficiency in Arabic and English, French a plus.
How to apply
Interested organizations/individual consultants are requested to submit proposals including the following documents:
- Cover letter including the consultant’s/firm’s suitability for the assignment and current contact information.
- The CV includes contact details of 3 references.
- Include 1-2 samples of previous work.
- Detailed response to TOR (Terms of Reference), including technical proposal with specific focus addressing the purpose and objectives of the assignment, methodology to be used and key selection criteria (max. 2 pages).
- Financial Proposal: Detailed budget breakdown in USD based on expected daily rates and initial work plan.
Please note the available budget is USD 7,000. The selection will be based on the technical proposal and consultant profiles.
The proposal must be submitted no later than July 25th, 2025 to Bilal Olimat at bolimat@afsc.org , with Safwat Shibly in copy at: sshibly@afsc.org
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Early submissions are encouraged.