Context
The first phase of thise SOLiD project was set up between 2016 and 2018 and covered three countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan).
The project resulted in the drafting of a twelve-point charter that will further be translated into concrete reforms to promote social dialogue in the countries of the South Shore of the Mediterranean.
With the SOLiD project starting its second phase this year (2021-2024), the project consortium (composed of ITUC, ATUC, BUSINESSMED and ANND) aims this time to expand the initiative to three new countries (Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine) with the ambition of having the Charter of Social Dialogue adopted by these new partners and strengthening capacities of the organizations involved in social dialogue at the level of each target country.
To carry out this mission, the SOLiD Project Secretariat has planned an implementation phase of the project mechanisms from January to May 2021, before an official launch scheduled for the end of May. During this implementation period, the partners are to request the services of independent experts to carry out preliminary studies on each new target country in order to establish an overview of the social dialogue in the three new target countries.
Mission of the consultant
The expert will have the task of taking stock of the various practices of social dialogue in Lebanon. This requires research on the roles and positions of national Employers' Organizations involved in the process of social dialogue in all its forms (national, local, sectoral, or other), an assessment of the mechanisms and practices of social dialogue both as a tripartite or even a quadripartite negotiation (whenever CSOs and Local Authorities are included in the process), and within the workplace environment itself. The work will include, but is not limited to:
1- A study on the state of social dialogue
- State of play on social dialogue: legal framework and historical evolution of the role of Trade Unions and Employers' Organizations in the process of social dialogue: at national, regional, sectoral, company, and territorial level. This should include a review of all mechanisms, including coordination processes and national stakeholders to achieve legislative and government social progress.
- Commentary on a perception survey to be conducted at the level of the three countries. As such, the expert will have to provide upstream support to the project team in the development of the survey questionnaire, and a posteriori include the latter’s comment in its diagnostic report, once the contracted firm has delivered its final report. The survey should pay particular attention to socio-professional relations within companies but also in their societal dimension, taking into account gender and youth aspects.
- Case studies: Diagnosis on a representative sample of 30 companies (by ensuring a diversification of sectors, with as far as possible a public/private mix): state of play of the social dialogue within the company, management of collective bargaining and conflict resolution, relationships with Civil Society Organizations and Local Authorities.
- Comparative studies on the management of societal dialogue at the level of local authorities (a sample of 10 municipalities or local authorities should be set up).
- Recommendations on the specific needs of each party, distinguishing the measures to be implemented at sectoral or company level from institutional reforms involving macro-level negotiations.
- Glossary encompassing all terminologies related to social dialogue. A lexicon has been prepared in-house beforehand, and the expert will undertake the task of enriching it with a view to making it a reference lexicon on the subject in the Mediterranean region.
2- A training plan to address national capacity building workshops
· These preliminary awareness workshops will follow the official launch of the SOLiD 2 project in July 2021. Thus, a presentation summarizing the study should be provided. The expert will ensure that realistic and concrete recommendations for all stakeholders are included for the workshops.
3- At the end of the assignment, the expert must provide
- A detailed report on the progress of the mission, with recommendations for improvement
- Presentation material that will form the basis for workshops to present the diagnosis
Deliverables
The successful expert will therefore have five deliverables to develop for the Project Secretariat:
- A questionnaire on the perception of social dialogue
- A diagnostic study on Social Dialogue (in both French and English – make sure to include an estimate of translation costs when applicable)
- A glossary on social dialogue
- A presentation summarizing the country diagnosis
- A narrative end of mission report
The mission is expected to cover approximately 20 working days between April and June 2021, with an expected full delivery in July 2021.
Qualifications and requirements
Academic and professional skills
- Graduate degree with university education (Ph.D. or Masters’ degree), preferably in Human and Social Sciences, Legal or Economic Sciences; or related field.
- Significant experience in supporting organizations and institutions (public and private); project management; coordination of inter-professional or associative networks, including capacity building activities; (cumulative experience of at least 5 years)
- Experience in regional projects and regional and multi-sector data collection
- Experience in social dialogue to assess the role and positions of different dialogue partners (4 types of partners: Governments, Employers, Employees, Civil Society)
- Experience in conducting seminars and capacity-building workshops in the areas of work and social dialogue.
Personal Suitability
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and initiative spirit
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Be able to support and conduct multiple activities simultaneously
- Be able to evolve and adapt to an uncertain socio-political context
- Demonstrate loyalty, trust, flexibility and diplomacy
