National Consultant – Sustainable Local Governance and Social Stability Consultant

Country: Lebanon Organization: UNDP/OCHA Connecting Business initiative Closing date: 11 Aug 2026 • VA No.: UNDP/LBN/VA26/132 • Position Title: National Consultant – Sustainable Local Governance and Social Stability Consultant • Duty Station: Field-based in Tripoli and the assigned districts, with occasional visits to the UNDP North Office in Tripoli as required. • Duration: 30 working days within a four-month period • Vacancy Date of Issue: 04 August 2026 • Vacancy Closure Date: 11 August 2026 • National or International consultancy: National consultancy To review the full Terms of Reference (TOR), please follow link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gOrUIKyxgB1XfHPi8mP9nNYcgyAE2PB4/view?usp=drive_link Background Lebanon continues to face unprecedented and overlapping crises that have significantly affected social cohesion, public trust, and local governance structures. Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city and one of its most vulnerable urban centers, has been particularly affected by rising socio-economic pressures, weakened municipal capacities, unemployment, and recurring inter- and intra-community tensions. These challenges are compounded by longstanding historical divisions, uneven development, and declining confidence in public institutions. In response, UNDP, in partnership with UNICEF and IOM, is implementing the “Tripoli Peace Initiative: Safeguarding Stability in Lebanon,” funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). The project aims to strengthen social stability in Tripoli by addressing the root causes of tensions through inclusive local development, participatory governance, youth engagement, and community-based peacebuilding processes. As part of the project, UNDP’s Peacebuilding Project, through its local implementing partner NAHNOO, conducted a comprehensive Conflict Analysis by the end of 2025. The analysis assessed local conflict dynamics, social-cohesion challenges, governance gaps, and emerging drivers of tension in Tripoli. Its purpose was to inform conflict-sensitive programming, strengthen local stability mechanisms, and support inclusive and sustainable community-engagement processes. Building on the findings, consultations, and stakeholder engagement conducted through the Conflict Analysis, the Municipality of Tripoli recognized the importance of moving towards a practical and sustainable next phase focused on strengthening participatory local governance and institutionalized community-representation mechanisms. In this context, UNDP seeks to recruit a National Consultant to conduct a participatory and conflict-sensitive assessment and develop a practical governance framework and implementation methodology for establishing neighborhood-based representative structures in Tripoli. Scope of work, responsibilities and description of the proposed analytical work The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the Municipality of Tripoli in developing: • A revised, evidence-based classification and division of neighborhoods and localities within Tripoli Municipality, based on social, demographic, geographic, governance, and conflict-sensitivity considerations. • A proposed methodology for establishing representative neighborhood committees through locally endorsed community-election processes. The proposed neighborhood committees are envisioned as sustainable social-stability and participatory-governance mechanisms formally linked to the municipality. They will support improved coordination between communities, the municipality, donors, and development actors while strengthening legitimacy, representation, accountability, and social cohesion at the neighborhood level. Under the supervision of the Local Peacebuilding Coordinator in the North and the Peacebuilding Project Manager, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: Review and analysis of existing resources and context • Conduct a desk review of existing resources related to Tripoli’s governance, urban divisions, social dynamics, local conflict drivers, and participatory mechanisms. • Review and analyze the findings of the Conflict Analysis Report. • Identify and document the principal criteria and considerations for redefining and classifying neighborhoods and localities in Tripoli. • Consider geographic boundaries, demographic characteristics, community identities, social-cohesion dynamics, municipal service coverage, governance arrangements, and conflict-sensitivity factors. Stakeholder consultations and participatory mapping • Conduct consultations with municipal officials, Mokhtars, civil society organizations, youth and women representatives, community representatives, and other local actors. • Conduct participatory discussions and mapping exercises to validate existing neighborhood boundaries and identify community-representation structures. • Analyze local-governance dynamics and social-cohesion and tension-related considerations relevant to neighborhood classification and committee formation. • Submit a summary report documenting the consultations, key findings, and recommendations. Development of the neighborhood-classification framework • Develop an evidence-based and conflict-sensitive framework for classifying and dividing neighborhoods and localities within Tripoli Municipality. • Develop proposed classification criteria, supporting rationale, neighborhood profiles, and recommendations for municipal adoption and future updates. • Produce a proposed neighborhood-classification map and accompanying methodology. • Document the recommended boundaries, classification process, data sources, stakeholder-validation process, and justification for the proposed divisions. Development of the neighborhood-committee methodology • Develop a practical and conflict-sensitive methodology for establishing representative neighborhood committees. • Take into consideration the applicable legal and institutional framework governing municipalities and community-representation mechanisms in Lebanon. • Propose the committees’ governance structure, composition, community-election process, institutional linkages with the municipality, and implementation arrangements. • Develop implementation recommendations and a phased roadmap for operationalization. Final report and presentation • Submit a final consolidated report containing the finalized neighborhood-classification framework and neighborhood-committee methodology. • Facilitate a validation workshop or presentation with relevant stakeholders. • Incorporate stakeholder and UNDP feedback into the final outputs. The Consultant is expected to adopt a participatory, conflict-sensitive, and evidence-based methodology combining desk review, stakeholder mapping, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, participatory mapping exercises, governance analysis, and conflict-sensitivity analysis. The Consultant shall build on the completed Conflict Analysis and avoid duplicating previously conducted assessments. Expected outputs and deliverables The consultancy consists of 30 working days distributed over four months. The Consultant is expected to complete the following deliverables: Deliverable 1: Inception report – 5 working days The Consultant shall submit an inception report including: • The proposed methodology and analytical framework. • A detailed work plan and timeline. • Stakeholder mapping and engagement approach. • Proposed data-collection methods and tools. • Key milestones and expected outputs. • A basic risk assessment and mitigation measures. • A quality-assurance approach. The deliverable is expected during the first month following contract signature and represents 15% of the total contract value. Deliverable 2: Stakeholder consultation and participatory mapping report – 15 working days The Consultant shall conduct a participatory consultation process with relevant stakeholders and submit a comprehensive report documenting: • The consultation methodology and stakeholder-engagement process. • Key findings from consultations. • Participatory mapping results. • Existing neighborhood boundaries and community-representation structures. • Local-governance and conflict-sensitive considerations. • Recommendations to inform the neighborhood-classification framework and committee-formation methodology. The deliverable is expected during the second month following contract signature and represents 45% of the total contract value. Deliverable 3: Draft neighborhood-classification framework and neighborhood-committee formation methodology – 5 working days The Consultant shall submit: • A draft evidence-based and conflict-sensitive neighborhood-classification framework. • Proposed classification criteria and supporting analysis. • Neighborhood profiles and a draft neighborhood-classification map. • A draft methodology for establishing representative neighborhood committees. • A proposed governance structure and committee composition. • A proposed community-election process. • Institutional linkages with the Municipality of Tripoli. • Implementation arrangements and a phased roadmap. The deliverable is expected during the third month following contract signature and represents 20% of the total contract value. Deliverable 4: Final report and validation workshop outputs – 5 working days The Consultant shall: • Facilitate a validation workshop with relevant stakeholders. • Present the draft neighborhood-classification framework and committee-formation methodology. • Incorporate feedback received during the validation process. • Submit a final consolidated report containing the finalized framework, methodology, key findings, and recommendations for municipal adoption and implementation. The deliverable is expected during the fourth month following contract signature and represents 20% of the total contract value. All deliverables shall be submitted in one original hard copy and one electronic copy, preferably in Microsoft Word format where applicable. Institutional arrangements • The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Local Peacebuilding Coordinator in the North and the Peacebuilding Project Manager. • UNDP will provide the Consultant with the necessary guidance in a timely, thorough, and transparent manner. • UNDP will provide clarifications and facilitate the work as required. • The Consultant shall maintain regular and consistent field presence throughout the assignment. • The Consultant shall properly document stakeholder consultations and field activities. • The Consultant shall triangulate data sources and validate findings before finalization. • The Consultant shall ensure compliance with data-protection, confidentiality, and ethical standards. • All transportation and site-logistics costs must be included in the Consultant’s financial offer and daily rate. Duration of work The total duration of the consultancy is four months, comprising a maximum of 30 working days. The assignment will be implemented through the following phases: • Phase 1: Inception – desk review, methodology development, stakeholder mapping, and work-plan submission. • Phase 2: Consultations – stakeholder consultations and participatory mapping. • Phase 3: Classification and methodology – preparation of the draft neighborhood-classification framework and neighborhood-committee formation methodology. • Phase 4: Final reporting and validation – validation workshop and submission of the final report. The Consultant shall submit a revised and detailed project work plan within one week of contract signature. Once approved, the work plan will form the basis for monitoring progress and performance. Duty station The Consultant will be field-based in Tripoli and the assigned districts, with occasional visits to the UNDP North Office in Tripoli as required. Regular and consistent field presence is required throughout the assignment to conduct data collection, stakeholder consultations, participatory discussions, and validation activities. STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education A Master’s degree in urban planning, governance, political science, peace and conflict studies, sociology, public administration, anthropology, or a related field. Experience • A minimum of ten years of relevant proven experience in local development, urban planning, local governance, and peacebuilding. • Proven experience conducting at least three relevant projects or assignments in urban planning, local governance, conflict prevention, or social stability is required. • Demonstrated experience in participatory governance assessments, stakeholder consultations, neighborhood classification, conflict-sensitive programming, or community-representation processes is desirable. Language Fluency in English and Arabic is required. The selected Consultant must be covered by valid health insurance and personal accident insurance for the duration of the assignment. Insurance may be provided by the individual or the company, with any related costs deducted from the Consultant’s remuneration, as applicable. How to apply Link to Apply: https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20260804112259/w3DRCisrj2ak0WFu9zN4PeYd6 or you can send your CV with a cover letter to jobs@starsorbit.org. Please write (UNDP/LBN/VA26/132) in the subject of the email. TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO APPLY • A CV or P11 Form, including three references, must be submitted in PDF format together with the applicant’s education graduation certificate. • Applicants should also provide a copy of their passport or identification document. • A technical proposal containing the proposed methodology, work plan, and timeline must be submitted. • Applications and supporting documents must be submitted in English only. • Clear dates of experience must be indicated for each position in Month/Year format. • If the candidate is currently employed by a government institution, they must be able to provide an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the consultancy. • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. • By submitting an application, the candidate confirms that they have read the Terms of Reference for this position and acknowledges that any false, incorrect, or incomplete information may lead to disqualification from the recruitment process.