Social Recovery Support for Vulnerable Groups in Lebanon

Background Lebanon’s economic, political, and social contexts have been significantly impacted by multiple, concurrent crises since 2019. Already experiencing a financial crisis, a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut (POB) in August 2020 caused considerable loss of life and injury, displacement, physical damage to infrastructure, and further affected the country’s economic standings. The COVID-19 pandemic and political deadlock worked to further deepen this crisis. Consequently, Lebanon's overall socio-economic welfare has significantly deteriorated, impacting various segments of the population including, but not limited to, the host community, internally displaced persons, forcibly displaced individuals, and migrant workers. Within this context, the non-governmental organization (NGO) sector has been an essential lifeline for vulnerable groups, providing them with critical social services and supporting their immediate- and longer-range social recovery needs while national systems remain unable to fill these gaps. Project Description Support for Social Recovery Needs of Vulnerable Groups Phase II (SRP2) The project will focus on reducing vulnerabilities of groups who are identified to be significantly impacted by Lebanon’s enduring social, economic, and political fragility: (i) survivors of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV); (ii) those suffering from deteriorated psycho-social wellbeing; (iii) and/or those facing limitations related to being a person with disabilities and older persons. The project’s scope will entail providing grant financing directly to a selected number of NGOs, to enable them to provide social services to reduce vulnerabilities in these groups while strengthening their capacity to participate in the broader social recovery and reconstruction process. The World Bank has selected the IRC to act as the Project Implementing Agency to implement the Supporting Lebanon’s Immediate Social Recovery Services project. The IRC will take on project management, grant provision and/or procurement of services from NGOs and will be responsible for the fiduciary supervision of the selected NGO partners, in addition to improving their environmental and social safeguards capabilities. Under the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and to ensure compliance of all environmental and social material measures and actions for the successful implementation of the project, the IRC is committed to the cleared and disclosed Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) which covers the commitments and timelines with regards to the environmental and social responsibilities of the IRC throughout the project implementation based on the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) which apply to the project. Scope of Work The E&S Consultant will temporarily support the implementation of E&S responsibilities under the SRP2 project during the E&S Specialist’s maternity leave. The consultant will ensure continuity in E&S monitoring, documentation, and partner follow-up, in line with the World Bank’s ESF and IRC standards. Deliverables Partner Narrative Reports

• Review and provide input on partners’ narrative reports focusing on E&S aspects.
• Consolidate partner inputs and flag emerging issues, risks, or gaps for management attention.

Project Implementation and Coordination Meetings

• Attend all relevant sub-partner meetings, including Project Implementation Meetings (PIMs), monitoring and reflection visits, and closure meetings.
• Actively engage during discussions to extract relevant information on the implementation of E&S requirements.
• Track partner progress on E&S commitments and document follow-up actions.
• Ensure coordination meetings and learning events between partners are properly documented as Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support planning and documentation of stakeholder engagement activities at both levels and verify that implementation aligns with ESF requirements and safe programming standards: a) IRC’s engagement with implementing partners and b) Partners’ engagement with beneficiaries (consultations, satisfaction surveys, outreach).
• Maintain and regularly update the Stakeholder Engagement activities.
• Ensure lessons learned, coordination, and joint partner activities are recorded as part of SEP reporting.

Grievance Mechanism (GM) Monitoring

• Review partners’ GM logs monthly to identify trends, complaint types, and sensitive cases.
• Flag cases that may require escalation (e.g., SEA/SH, confidentiality, or retaliation concerns).
• Ensure consistent documentation, timely follow-up, and alignment with IRC’s GM SOPs.

Partner Support Plans and Capacity Follow-Up

• Maintain regular (monthly) follow-up with partners on their E&S Support Plans.
• Document progress, challenges, and updates, and revise the plans as needed based on field realities or new risks identified.
• Ensure continuity of technical and monitoring support to partners in coordination with program and MEAL teams.
• Flag any urgent or strategic issues for escalation.
• Support preparation of a brief progress notes summarizing E&S partner follow-up during the leave period.

Preparation for World Bank Mission

• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation summarizing progress to date, key achievements, challenges, and next steps.
• Ensure all data, indicators, and updates are consolidated and aligned with reporting requirements for presentation during the mission.

Payment Schedule Below is a breakdown outlining the consultant's key deliverables. The Consultant will develop a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) work plan in coordination with the Project Lead prior to the contract signature, to agree on clear milestones and establish a modality for monthly payments based on the successful completion of deliverables – as such a preplanned amount of deliverables will be determined periodically/monthly during the engagement to satisfy the monthly pay. Deliverable Description Partner Narrative Reports

• Review and provide input on partners’ narrative reports with a focus on E&S aspects.
• Consolidate partner inputs and flag emerging issues, risks, or gaps for management attention.

Project Implementation and Coordination Meetings

• Attend all relevant sub-partner meetings (PIMs, monitoring and reflection visits, closure meetings).
• Engage in discussions to extract information on E&S implementation.
• Track partner progress on E&S commitments and document follow-up actions.
• Ensure coordination meetings and learning events are properly documented as SEP activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the planning and documentation of stakeholder engagement activities at both levels (IRC with partners; partners with beneficiaries).
• Verify alignment with ESF requirements and safe programming standards.
• Maintain and update stakeholder engagement activities regularly.
• Capture lessons learned, coordination efforts, and joint partner activities for SEP reporting.

Grievance Mechanism (GM) Monitoring

• Review partners’ GM logs monthly to identify trends and sensitive cases.
• Flag issues requiring escalation (e.g., SEA/SH, confidentiality, retaliation).

Ensure consistent documentation, timely follow-up, and compliance with IRC GM SOPs. Partner Support Plans and Capacity Follow-Up

• Maintain monthly follow-up with partners on E&S Support Plans.

Document progress, challenges, and updates; revise plans as needed. Ensure continued technical and monitoring support in coordination with program and MEAL teams. Flag urgent or strategic issues for escalation. Prepare brief progress notes summarizing E&S partner follow-up during the leave period. Preparation for World Bank Mission

• Prepare a PowerPoint summarizing progress, achievements, challenges, and next steps.
• Consolidate all data, indicators, and updates aligned with mission reporting requirements.

Monthly Update on E&S Support Plans

• Provide monthly updates on E&S support plan progress across all partners.

Summary Notes from Meetings

• Prepare summary notes from PIMs and coordination meetings, emphasizing key E&S findings.

Completion of E&S Sections in PIMs

• Complete all E&S-relevant sections in PIMs to ensure accurate documentation

ESHS Progress Report

• Prepare the next ESHS progress report due by 7 April.

SEP Activity Documentation

• Systematically document all SEP activities

Monthly GM Summary

• Provide monthly summaries of GM log trends and any flagged issues

Update E&S Instruments

• Update any E&S instruments as needed based on new risks or field realities

End-of-Assignment Handover Note

• Deliver a handover note summarizing key developments and pending actions

Final Consultancy Report

• Submit a comprehensive final report summarizing deliverables, achievements, lessons learned, recommendations for sustainability, and next steps.

Coordination and Reporting The Consultant will report to the Project Lead and work in close coordination with the Project Management Unit (PMU), which includes staff from Partnerships and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), as well as the Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Health, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and Protection program teams. This collaboration will ensure the continuous integration of E&S risk management and partner monitoring throughout the maternity coverage period. Requirements The E&S Consultant is expected to have directly relevant work experience in environment and/or social risk management and assessment, as follows:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, Environmental Health, or related fields.
• 5 to 8 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 3 years overseeing environmental and social compliance of donors-funded development projects. Knowledge of the World Bank ESF is an asset.
• Proven experience in managing partnership relationships for large and/or complex donor-funded programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory standards from international financial institutions, particularly for World Bank projects is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in producing environmental and/or social reports is required.
• Experience working on SEA/SH prevention and control measures.
• Gender expertise or background to ensure adequate support during project implementation.
• Experience in dealing with social-related risks, including handling complaints systems;
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions.
• Excellent command of English and Arabic, with strong reading, writing and speaking skills.
• Effective team player with experience working in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, leading and motivating group efforts, and networking across boundaries.
• Prior experience in operating within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Candidates agree to disclose to IRC any situation of actual or potential conflict of interest that impacts the capacity to serve the best interest of IRC, and understand that any misstatement or misrepresentation during the recruitment process and/or after hiring may lead to disqualification or dismissal by IRC and/or sanctions by the Donor (World Bank). The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. Kindly submit your application by February 02, 2026 on: https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Careers/job/Beirut-Lebanon/Environmental-and-Social-Consultant_JR00001723 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We will be moving on a rolling basis. If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed. Agency: International Rescue Committee Procurement method: Individual Consultant Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 8500.0 USD