JOB Vacancy- Consultancy Development of Action Plan for National Strategy for Women in Lebanon

Terms of Reference

Project LBN3G11A “Gender Enhancement & Mainstreaming”
National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Background

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) is the main national women machinery entrusted with providing guidance and advise to all national and international actors concerned with promoting gender equality and empowerment of women.

The NCLW supported by UNFPA is implementing a project (LBN3G11A) since 2010 aiming at enhancing institutional capacities and role of NCLW for mainstreaming gender in sectors and plans. The 3 years partnership between NCLW and UNFPA consisted mainly of a) revising, validating and finalizing the national strategy for women in Lebanon through a participatory approach with a wide range of civil society groups, governmental institutions, and international organizations, b) conducting studies to review status of laws on women equality in Lebanon, and c) supporting local NGOs for promoting gender equality at community level.

In 2012, the partnership between NCLW and UNFPA will build on achievements and concrete outcomes realized in the previous years of collaboration and will focus primarily on developing an Action Plan for the strategy as well as advocating for various priority areas such as national law for women, domestic violence law, women participation in decision making, etc.

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to develop and produce – in a fully participatory approach – an action plan for the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon. This operational framework document is expected to guide the work of all actors towards realizing the twelve strategic objectives agreed upon in the national strategy. More so, the action plan would constitute a fundamental tool for improving monitoring among different stakeholders, consolidating and coordinating efforts to advance women’s situation in Lebanon, and achieving results based programming and advocacy.

The specific objective of this proposed consultancy is to a) review existing examples of gender/women operational action plans from the region and global in order to be familiarized with the different types or action plans as well as strengths/weaknesses, b) design/adapt tools and instruments that will guide the process of collecting information during participatory workshops as well as monitor the implementation of the strategy and action plan, c) facilitate the workshops ensuring results based action plan for each strategic objective, d) consolidate all information into one comprehensive operational document, and e) proactively take part in validation, sensitization, endorsement meetings as necessary.

Tasks and Methodology

In order to develop the action plan, a consultant will be selected based on a competitive and transparent recruitment process by NCLW and UNFPA. The consultant shall be recruited by NCLW.
Guided by the Steering Committee established by NCLW in follow up to the project supported by UNFPA, the consultant will be responsible for undertaking the development of the action plan in accordance with the objectives stipulated in these TORs as well as the detailed tasks below.

• Prepare an action plan for the consultancy with concrete tasks along with a timeline in consultation with both NCLW and UNFPA
• Review literature at the global and regional levels on existing action plans for women and gender policies/strategies
• Prepare a comparative matrix of different gender/women strategy action plans by highlighting adopted approaches, strengths, weaknesses, tools, etc and discuss with NCLW and UNFPA
• Prepare background document for each thematic workshop including objectives, methodology, expected outcome and agenda
• Design/adapt tools and instruments to be used during workshops for collection of information
• Prepare presentation on results chain to ensure that all participants in the workshop have clear understanding of terms and difference between output/objective/activity/indicators, etc
• Facilitate 2-3 workshops for each strategic/thematic objective (unless suggested otherwise by the steering committee )
• Consolidate all workshops outcomes into a draft operational action plan which should be fully aligned with the women strategy document
• Discuss (with NCLW and stakeholders) and propose monitoring/reporting tool(s) be used for monitoring/following up on implementation of the strategy
• Facilitate an Expert Group Meeting with key actors to review the draft operational action plan
• Facilitate 1-2 workshops for agreeing on a set of SMART indicators
• Finalize the operational action plan based on comments and review made by the Steering Committee and UNFPA
• Facilitate (or co-facilitate) a national meeting to validate the draft operational action plan document
• Integrate feedback from national meeting into final operational action plan document
• Prepare a final consultancy report to UNFPA and NCLW

Expected Deliverables and Outcome

The final product to be delivered by the consultant will consist of the following:

• Consultancy plan and timeline
• Comparative matrix of selected regional/global women/gender strategies action plans
• Background document for each thematic workshop including objectives, methodology, expected outcome to workshop participants
• Workshop agenda
• Tool/instrument for collecting information to feed into action plan
• Power point presentation on chain results
• Action plan document (content, scope, and length to be agreed upon once discussed and agreed between NCLW, participating stakeholders, and UNFPA)
• Reporting/monitoring tool for following up on strategy as well as brief guidelines for use of tool
• Final report summarizing the consultancy in terms of process, difficulties, facilitating factors, recommendations etc

The consultant will be requested to produce all material relevant to the action plan in Arabic and English.

Time Frame

The consultancy will be carried out between May 15 and October 31st 2012.

Support provided by NCLW and UNFPA

To facilitate the undertaking of this consultancy, NCLW and UNFPA will be providing the following assistance to the consultant:
NCLW

• Provide the consultant with a list of key stakeholders
• Prepare/extend invitations and follow up with stakeholders for participating in the workshops, expert group meetings, and validation meetings
• Coordinate and provide locale/venue for the strategic/thematic workshops and other meetings
• Follow up with stakeholders on collecting information before, during and after workshops/meetings
• Provide stationary and photocopying services for workshops/ meetings
• Provide guidance, advise and input on various tools and documents

UNFPA:

• Provide technical review of the existing women strategy to make sure the action plan is elaborated with a gender equality perspective
• Provide consultant with examples of regional and global gender/women strategies, policies, and action plans
• Provide guidance and input on the whole process mainly chain results and indicators related aspect
• Provide guidance, advise and input on various tools and documents

Qualifications

The Consultant must meet the following qualifications:

Advanced Degree in Social Sciences or related field with considerable knowledge in development, gender issues, and human rights

• Minimum 8-10 years of responsible experience in development work
• Solid background on policy making work, strategic planning, and development of action plans
• Strong experience with gender issues in general and in Lebanon in particular
• Strong facilitation skills
• Strong analytical skills, a team player, dedication to perform within a multi-disciplinary collaboration, and the capacity to communicate efficiently and coordinate within a wide spectrum of partners
• Fluency and good writing skills in English and Arabic
• Excellent computer skills in various applications especially word processing, power point.

Interested candidates may apply online by providing:

1. a most updated CV, and
2. a cover letter mentioning the relevance of past/current experience with the requirements of the consultancy.

The documents must be sent to the following email address:

info-lebanon@unfpa.org by no later than May 15, 2012

 http://www.unfpa.org.lb/UNFPA-LEBANON/Vacancies-and-Notices.aspx

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Environemental Crime against Cedar Natural Reserve of Al Shouf

Sunday was a great sunny day to go and have a walk in the mountains;

This is what I did with my professors coming from France to visit the “Green Lebanon”;

I decided to introduce them to one of our cedar forest, with trees that are estimated 2000 years old.

But Upon our arrival to Al Chouf Natural Cedars Reserve, of Ain Zhalta, we were like astonished by the trees magnificence, and shocked by the environmental crimes that happen there; ( like the one discovered in Jaj cedar Forest) ;

On the Entrance of the Al Chouf Natural Cedars Reserve of Ain Zhalta,  a huge billboard explains that according to the “law 532 it is forbidden, to Hunt, to Park, to cut trees, flowers, to light fires” ( see image taken)

The big billboard ends with the “Natural reserve is yours and for your kids, help us in protecting it”;

But what we have seen and taken in pictures, are groups barbecuing under the trees, parking their 4X4, German cars, Korean cars, under the trees, in the long road of Ain Zhalta reserve;

What shocked us more were, the Charcoal bags and rest of fires lit under the very difficulty conserved cedars! I forgot the rifle cartridges we saw on our path! is killing the animals and birds that live in this forest  a way to protect and conserve the environment and Biosphere?!

cartdridges under the cedars

 

Charcoal under the cedars

 

this was my first time in Ain Zhalta’s forest, we walked near the people picnicking, and passed several parked cars, on the side ways of the dusty road, under the trees for 15 minutes; on the way back we decided to visit the Barouk natural reserve, with its eternal snow…;

I usually love to visit the CEDARs of el Chouf reserve, usually I go to el Barouk reserve, the guardians there do not let any car enter without briefing them, and the signs are clear, the priority is for the wild life of the forest, cars should slow down for animal to pass, there is a place for cars to park, after that people need to walk ( by foot) in the forest;  No fire, no Barbecue ….

A visitor pays a fee that helps in developing the reserve, and can visit the forest with a guide ; ( the guide is very friendly, talks in Arabic,  English or French) , and knows the life of the forest and the cedars perfectly…. our guide explained how the cedars grow, how  their shape changes with time, ( 1000 years old tree are like the one we have on our Lebanese Flag); our forest are known for the Cedrus Libanis kind of cedars ( they smell divine) ;

wall of snow

In El Barouk reserve under the sun, walls of snow still covers the trees, the sight is Beautiful, and very well conserved,

While going out of the reserve, visitors can buy honey( cedars honey!!) ….

I hope that the responsible s of the other forests and reserves will take a firm action against trespasses who do not respect the biosphere, and I hope  for the citizens and visitors of the forests to have more ethical behavior;

The Cedar Trees are something worth of protecting and not destroying, you need a picnic area, you can ask for it and it should be away from the valuable trees;

Rita Chemaly

for more information you can visit:

the fb page https://www.facebook.com/shoufcedar.org

the fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shoufcedar/

the website: http://www.shoufcedar.org/scr.asp

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A step Forward to women’s rights … Maternity leave in Labor law is amended

Finally, the draft law aiming to amend the Labor Law articles 28-29,  prepared by the NCLW, and submitted to the Lebanese Parliament by Member of Parliament and director of committees  Gilbert Zwein and Michel Moussa on 26/7/2011, was accepted by the lebanese government as a first step; Usually the Parliamentarian committees should discuss them, and vote the amendments, but as Nabih Berri Said and to foster cooperation between the Lebanese powers, he consulted the Government on that Issue;

the response of the governement was positive, maternity leave of women, needs to be extended to a period of ten weeks;

while waiting for the vote of the general assembly,

we can just applaud this positive step toward equality and women’s rights….

and dream, and act for a Paternity leave too!

Rita Chemaly

for more information please follow the article in al Akhbar

في جلسته الأخيرة، وافق مجلس الوزراء على اقتراحي قانون مقدّمين من النائبين جيلبرت زوين وميشال موسى، يقضيان برفع إجازة الأمومة من أربعين يوماً إلى عشرة أسابيع. قد يكون ما يحصل إنجازاً، لكنه سيبقى منقوصاً ما لم يدرس في اللجان النيابية، ويحُز موافقة المجلس النيابي من بعدها… ثم ينشر في الجريدة الرسمية

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Les changements dans les relations tribales au Yemen

Un article de Elham Manea, politologue Yemenite a l’institut des sciences politiques de l’universite de Zurich, dans lequel elle retrace les changements survenus dans les relations tribales au Yemen.

 

Un  article qui a été publie dans le Daily Star Libanais le 6 avril 2012

rita chemaly

Tribalism in Yemen has changed deeply

February’s presidential election in Yemen by no means marks the end of the country’s troubles. However, the suggestion that the United States host a new arrangement based on decentralized negotiation between tribal and regional leaders is not the way to solve them.

Such a call ignores lessons from Yemen’s past and underestimates the deep changes that have taken place in Yemeni society over the last decades. Although the tribal system continues to operate as the prevalent mode of social organization, it is crucial to recognize that the nature of tribal networks and institutions has changed drastically.

Historically, tribal networks compensated for the state’s lack of capacity. The tribe assumed the role of protector and provider: securing tribal territory, protecting water wells, and resolving conflicts between its members or with other tribes. In many ways, the tribe was the institution of first resort for financial backing and social support in times of crisis. It is perhaps very telling that Aden – where the nuclear family has displaced the tribe as the main social unit – is more affected by poverty than regions that have preserved tribalism, such as Shabwah, Mahra and Al-Dali.

Tribal sheikhs were also once accountable to their constituents: They were elected and could be voted out. Thus, a sheikh was often regarded as a first among equals, rather than an absolute ruler. Custom (Irf) governed the mediation of conflict within or outside the tribe and could not be violated without loss of honor – a distinct disgrace – and threat of severe penalty.

However, the calculated politics of patronage applied by the former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, changed the nature of the relationship between tribal leaders and their constituencies. Saleh and the sheikhs had a number of incentives to engage in a new relationship. From the regime’s perspective, offering assistance to warring or otherwise weakened tribes undercut potentially strong alliances against it, and by incorporating tribal forms of arbitration, the regime also depleted tribal resources that could be used in opposition to the state. On the other side of the bargain, this patronage system afforded sheikhs freedom from accountability to their constituencies.

By successfully co-opting these leaders and rendering them dependent on Sanaa for privileges and largesse, Saleh’s patronage system eroded tribal codes and norms – ultimately leading to a leadership vacuum. Many sheikhs today are dramatically wealthier than their fellow tribesmen – and thus no longer dependent on their constituencies. More tribesmen are alienated from their leaders – who often take up residence in Sanaa and are only just beginning to abuse their power.

The most famous example is the case of the Jaashin area in Ibb, where the sheikh there evicted dozens of families in 2009 after they refused to pay “taxes” – they instead insisted on paying the municipalities directly. Additionally, there are reports of “private” prisons run by sheikhs who use them to intimidate and terrorize their own tribesmen – enough to cause Yemen’s Human Rights Minister Huriyya Mashhour to pledge to shut them down.

Saleh understood this reality belatedly. He mistakenly thought that securing the allegiance of sheikhs would ensure their tribes’ loyalties. But as was revealed in the uprisings that led to his removal from office, many tribe members did not follow the orders of their “leaders.” In this context, it is difficult to imagine how the United States would host a new arrangement based on decentralized negotiation with leaders who can no longer deliver.

Perhaps we should look to the Sultanate of Oman as a source of inspiration – particularly to its strategy used to integrate the region’s tribes and end the Dhofar Rebellion in the 1970s. Oman managed to overcome Dhofar’s isolation by connecting it to Muscat while simultaneously instilling a sense of national identity in its population through three major initiatives.

First, the government pardoned all the Dhofari fighters who were willing to switch sides: Those who accepted amnesty were retrained and incorporated into the armed forces. As a result, hundreds of Dhofari rebels deserted and joined Sultan Qaboos’ “Firqat” Irregulars. These squads ranged in size from 30 to 100 men, the majority of which were defected rebels and local tribesmen trained to operate as a paramilitary force.

Not only did this strategy help secure the support of the tribes from which members of the Firqat were drawn, but it also built up the squads as provisional regional governments, which may have helped rebuild trust in the central government. At the very least, this was a clear departure from previous policies of dispatching regular forces composed mostly of Pakistani soldiers.

The tribal factor was also especially important in Oman’s efforts to create an administrative network in the region and to ensure the allegiance of both tribal leaders and local people. Like the rest of the country at the time, Dhofar lacked a basic civil service. Starting in 1974, the new sultan set up several ministries to run Dhofar’s public affairs. And although the heads of these ministries lived in Muscat, local branches were set up for each, and their representatives were usually elected – rather than appointed – tribal leaders.

By addressing the economic and social demands and grievances of the population of Dhofar, the state aimed to undermine the very basis of the rebels’ cause. Between 1971 and 1975 the Omani government used generous funding from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to allocate 25 percent of the nation’s development budget to Dhofar alone and provide for the construction of local roads, airports, schools, clinics, and power stations. While promising to make the province economically self-sufficient by 1980, the overarching objective of the program was, however, to instill “pride in the community and a spirit of nation-building.” These efforts both appeased the Dhofari population and strengthened the connection between the center and the periphery.

All of this would not have been possible had the state been absent from the equation. The state is very much key to any attempt to solve Yemen’s problems, and hitherto has been hampered by weakness and corruption stemming from the rule of a single clan – one more interested in filling its coffers than addressing the needs of its population. But for this, we should not blame the state: Blame instead the leaders – and get to work.

Elham Manea is an associate professor at Zurich University’s Institute of Political Science. She specializes in Yemeni affairs and is the author of “Regional Politics in the Gulf” and “The Arab State and Women’s Rights: The Trap of Authoritarian Governance.” This commentary first appeared at Sada, an online journal published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2012/Apr-06/169391-tribalism-in-yemen-has-changed-deeply.ashx#ixzz1sYwdmhu1

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Special Droit des femmes et le Dossier sur la Nationalite

a lire, le nouveau Special d’avril 2012 ( en vente dans les librairies) , avec le dossier special sur le droit a transmettre la nationalite par les femmes Libanaises a leur famille!

rita chemaly

a lire dans le Special d’avril 2012 (en vente dans les librairies ) le dossier special droit des femmes a la Nationalite

Related articles

• Sit In by the civil society for the nationality right of women (ritachemaly.wordpress.com)

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Piratage des sites internet gouvernementaux au Liban

plusieurs sites internet gouvernementaux sont pirates ce matin, par un parti qui se nomme “Raise Your Voice”  ,

Dont le site de la présidence libanaise, du ministère de la justice, des douanes,….

les pirates ont promis de continuer de pirater les sites du gouvernement, tant que celui ci ne s’attache pas a défendre les droits des citoyens….

a vous la capture d’écran prise d’un des sites pirates!

Rita Chemaly

Related articles

• Online freedom threatened by the Arab Spring? (ritachemaly.wordpress.com)
• International day for Street Children (catalystrwanda.org)
• stop LIRA….The Lebanese Internet Regulation Act (ritachemaly.wordpress.com)

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Press and Pics from the Sit In Nationality in the front of the Grand Serail

نساء يطالبن بـ«توضيح الأسس المرجعية» للجنسيّة: قصـص أمّهـات وأسـر تعيـش غريبـة في وطنها / سعدى علوه

ترك الموسيقي الأميركي توماس هورنيغ حصة التدريس في إحدى الجامعات اللبنانية، اعتذر من طلابه، ومضى يلتحق بالنساء اللواتي اعتصمن أمس، أمام السرايا الحكومية، للمطالبة بإعادة حق المرأة اللبنانية بمنح جنسيتها لأسرتها. استغل توماس مشاركة مستشار رئيس مجلس الوزراء، خلدون الشريف، النساء اعتصامهن، وراح يحدثه عن حقه وحق ابنته بنيل جنسية زوجته اللبنانية، التي هي للمناسبة أستاذة جامعية أيضاً. قال توماس إن ابنته التي تبلغ 11 عاماً من العمر، ولدت في لبنان، وتجيد اللغة العربية بامتياز، والفرنسية والإنكليزية، والأهم أنها تسأله دائماً لماذا لا يمكنها أن تكون لبنانية، مثل أمها؟ يشارك توماس في الاعتصام لا من اجل حق ابنته بالحصول على جنسية والدتها فحسب، بل من اجل حق زوجته بمنحه الجنسية شخصياً. قررت زوجة توماس أن تعود لممارسة مهنة التعليم في إحدى الجامعات اللبنانية في العام 1995. يومها، «لم يكن العيش في لبنان قراراً سهلاًُ»، يقول. مع ذلك، شاركها التحدي وعادا «في الوقت الذي كان فيه كثر من اللبنانيين يغادرونه»، وعزف موسيقاه في الحفل الفني الأول الذي هدف إلى الإعلان عن عودة الحياة إلى قلب بيروت. ومن بيروت إلى قلعة الشقيف، حمل توماس آلته الموسيقية ورافق الفنانة جوليا بطرس ليحتفل بتحرير قلب الوطن. ومن الشقيف إلى الكويت رافق الفنان شربل روحانا لإحياء حفل خيري يعود ريعه لمصلحة لبنان. على الرغم من ذلك، لا يحق لزوجته أن تمنحه الجنسية «عليّ أن أعيش دائماً مع ابنتي كأسرة غريبة في لبنان»، يقول بحسرة. وأثارت مطالبة توماس بحق زوجته بمنح الجنسية لأسرتها استغراب بعض اللبنانيين المعتصمين: «أميركي وعم يطالب بالجنسية اللبنانية!»، قال البعض، فيما اقترح آخرون مبادلته جواز السفر «عم نموت حتى نهاجر ويصير معنا باسبور أجنبي، شو بدو بالجنسية اللبنانية». في القرب من «الأميركي»، وقفت مي جلول، أم لأربعة ابناء توزعوا في دول غربية بعدما اكتسبوا الجنسيات الأميركية والأوروبية. تريد جلول الإعتراف بحقها بمنح جنسيتها لأولادها مثل أي «حق بديهي وقانوني غير قابل للمناقشة او التنازل». ربّت جلول أبناءها وحيدة بعدما توفي زوجها وكان طبيباً فلسطينياً، إلى أن تخصصوا في الطب والهندسة ومهن «مشرّفة أخرى»، قالت. ومع ذلك «يحجب عنهم وطني جنسيتي وكأنني لست لبنانية، وكأن دمي ليس لبنانياً بسبب التمييز السلبي ضد المرأة عندنا». أمس، لبت نساء لبنانيات متزوجات بأجانب دعوة «حملة جنسيتي حق لي ولأسرتي» للاعتصام أمام السرايا الحكومية، تزامناً مع انعقاد جلسة مجلس الوزراء، «لعل المجتمعين يروننا ويسعون صوتنا ويتذكرون حقنا»، قلن. وتجمّعن من حول مستشار الرئيس ميقاتي خلدون الشريف وهو يحدثهن عن تأييد «دولته لحقهن بمنح الجنسية لأولادهن من دون تمييز، وبسعيه الشخصي للاعتراف الرسمي بهذا الحق». ولأن «الرئيس لا يختصر مجلسي الوزراء والنواب»، كما قال، نصح الشريف النساء اللبنانيات، وليس المتزوجات من أجانب فحسب، بالضغط على هؤلاء فرداً فرداً لمواجهة «المحاذير الطائفية والمذهبية التي تواجه تعديل القانون». أجوبة لم تقنع المعتصمات اللواتي جئن يسألن عن الهدف من إحالة تعديل القانون إلى لجنة وزارية، وصفوها بـ«مقبرة القوانين». وأمس، عبر رواية كل منهن معاناة اسرتها مع العيش غرباء في لبنان، حاولت بعض نساء لبنان أن «يترجمن» للمسؤولين في الدولة، ومن ضمنهم حكومتها بكامل أعضائها، معنى سياستهم التمييزية ضد المرأة، وانعكاسها على أوضاع أسرهن. كانت كل واحدة منهن تقف ووجهها إلى السرايا، لتبدأ، وبأعلى صوتها، رواية تفاصيل من حياة صغيرة يحولها حرمانها من حقها بمنح الجنسية لأسرتها إلى معاناة كبيرة. وأمس طالبت حملة «جنسيتي حق لي ولأسرتي» باسمهن «الإسراع في العمل على صوغ قانون جديد، على الرغم من وجود مشاريع قانونية كثيرة «كافية ووافية» وبصيغ متعددة. وطالبت اللجنة الوزارية الخاصة بدراسة مشروع القانون، ومعها مجلس الوزراء، بـ«توضيح الأسس المرجعية والمبادئ التي ستستند إليها في عملها، وبفصل الموضوع عن أي قضايا أخرى متعلقة بتعديل قانون الجنسية برمته». وأعادت الحملة تأكيدها على ضرورة عمل اللجنة الوزارية من دون أي استثناءات لجنسية معينة، وباعتبار حق المرأة بمنح جنسيتها لأسرتها حق طبيعي وليس «تجنيساً أو توطيناً»، على اعتبار أن ذلك جزء من حقهن بالمواطنة الكاملة، ومدخل لتعزيز المواطنة للرجال والنساء، والتأكيد على انسجام الحق بجنسية المرأة مع صلب الدستور الذي يكفل المساواة بين الجنسين

Source El Safir .

Twin  rallies held in Beirut for women’s nationality rights, professors’ benefits

April 04, 2012  02:20 AM By Justin  Salhani

BEIRUT: Two separate rallies took place in Downtown Beirut Tuesday, one  demanding Lebanese women be granted the right to pass their nationality to their  husbands and children, and the other calling for full-time contracts to be given  to deserving Lebanese University professors.

A sit-in of about 80 people took place in Riad Solh Square to protest the  current Lebanese nationality law.

The group, named Jinsiyyati (My Nationality), took aim at the committee  assembled by Parliament to discuss amending the standing law.

The current committee has repeatedly stated that it is working toward  promulgating a law that would allow Lebanese women to pass on their nationality  to their children, so long as their husbands are not Palestinian.

The campaigners took issue with such a tack and called on the committee to  reconsider the principles of the law, asking that Lebanese women be allowed to  pass on their nationality not only to their children but to their husbands as  well, with “no exceptions.”

Lama Naja, Jinsiyyati’s coordinator, told The Daily Star that if husbands of  Lebanese women are not granted Lebanese nationality, some might be forced to  abandon their children. With “no social security, no medical assistance and no  insurance” in Lebanon, such men might well move elsewhere, she claimed.

Khaldoun Sharif, an adviser to Prime Minister Najib Mikati, said that the  current situation is “unbelievable and unacceptable” but spoke of support for  change among certain politicians, including the prime minister. “[Mikati]  supports [the campaign] 100 percent. This campaign is right,” he insisted.

Another man in the crowd was Thomas Hornig, an American saxophonist who has  lived in Lebanon since 1994.

“I fell in love with a Lebanese woman at university in Paris,” Hornig said. “After university she wanted to go back to her country.”

Hornig was hired as a musician at the National Conservatory and has since  been a Professor of Saxophone in addition to performing with the Lebanese  Philharmonic Orchestra.

“I work or play or teach almost 24 hours a day and I still can’t make ends  meet. I’ve paid my own residency and insurance for 14 years,” he complained.

Hornig argued that he’s done his part for his newly adopted country and  deserves citizenship. “When the Israelis left in 2000, I performed with Julia  Boutros, and in 2006 I was in Kuwait with Charbel Rouhana at a benefit for  victims of the war [with Israel].”

With so many people in the country unable to claim Lebanese nationality  because they were born to Lebanese mothers and foreign fathers, Hornig feels  Lebanon faces an increasing “brain drain.”

Also Tuesday, a small group of professors from the Lebanese University  gathered in the same area to demand full-time contracts.

The group of around 50 professors congregated in Riad al-Solh Square to  bemoan their ineligibility for benefits, including transportation allowance,  health care and a pension plan.

“We have no benefits at all,” said Rania Majzoub Sabra, adding that every  professor in attendance held a doctorate but was still being manipulated by the  state institution.

Majzoub Sabra rued the fact that although part-time teachers have the same  workload as their full-time counterparts and are members of the same committees  at the university, they are still paid on an hourly basis because it’s cheaper  for the university.

She added that the current problem stemmed from sectarian politics in  Lebanon, saying that the hiring of full-time teachers was based on unofficial  quotas for the representation of political parties among the teaching staff.

“We want academic standards,” Sabra said.

Read more:  http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Apr-04/169156-twin-rallies-held-in-beirut-for-womens-nationality-rights-professors-benefits.ashx#ixzz1r3TDsoP7 (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News ::  http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

… واعتصام رمزي لـ”جنسيتي حق لي ولأسرتي”

نفذت حملة “جنسيتي حق لي ولاسرتي” اعتصاما رمزيا في ساحة رياض الصلح مقابل السرايا، وتلت لما نجا مذكرة توجهت فيها باسم الحملة الى مجلس الوزراء واللجنة الوزارية المؤلفة من نائب رئيس المجلس سمير مقبل، وزير الشؤون الاجتماعية وائل ابو فاعور، وزير الداخلية مروان شربل، وزير العدل شكيب قرطباوي، وطالبتهم بـ”الاسراع في العمل على صوغ القانون الجديد للجنسية وتوضيح الاسس المرجعية، والمبادىء التي ستستند اليها خلال عملها، وفصل موضوع اعطاء النساء اللبنانيات حقهن بمنح الجنسية لاسرهن عن اي قضية اخرى متعلقة بقانون الجنسية”. وتسلم المذكرة مستشار رئيس مجلس الوزراء نجيب ميقاتي، خلدون الشريف الذي قال: “ان قضية منح الام اللبنانية جنسيتها لاسرتها لها بعد وطني وانساني وشرعي وليست لغاية سياسية”. وقالت حياة ارسلان: “ان هذه القضية هي قضية مساواة والهدف ايصالها عبر الكلمة والحوار الى عقول المسؤولين بمستوى راق”، وطالبت “اللجنة التي تدرس قانون الجنسية بتحقيق الوعود”.

source: Annahar http://www.annahar.com/article.php?t=mahaly&p=14&d=24696

Facebook photo album of the sit in:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150619497912143.378876.144824882142&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=10150619616012143&set=a.10150619497912143.378876.144824882142&type=3&theater

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‘A Trip of a Lifetime to Nationality’ by John Azzi

On the occasion of the release of Judge John Kazzi’s book ‘A Trip of a Lifetime to Nationality’, And the reopening of the debate on women’s right to grant nationality to their children, Legal Agenda, Women’s Nationality Rights Campaign & Kafa Organization, Cordially invite you to a conference under the title: The Judge and Women’s Right to Nationality Speakers include Judge John Kazzi, Mrs. Saada Allaw (Assafir journalist), Mrs. Lina Abu Habib (Women’s Nationality Rights Campaign) and Mrs. Zoya Rouhana KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation.The debate will be moderated by Nizar Saghieh (Legal Agenda). The conference will take place on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 at 5:00 P.M. at the Ashkal Awlan Organization’s Assembly Hall, next to Souk Al Ahad

مناسبة صدور كتاب “رحلة العمر إلى الجنسية” للقاضي جون قزي، ومعاودة الحديث عن الاعتراف بحق المرأة بمنح جنسيتها لأولادها، تدعوتكم المفكرة القانونية وحملة جنسيتي حق لي ولاسرتي ومنظمة كفى،   الى حضور ندوة بعنوان: القاضي وحق المرأة بمنح جنسيتها يتحدث فيها كل من القاضي جون قزي والصحافية سعدى علوى (السفير) والسيدة لينا أبو حبيب (حملة جنسيتي حق لي ولاسرتي)، والسيدة زويا روحانا منظمة “كفى عنف واستغلال”ويد…ير النقاش المحامي نزار صاغية (المفكرة القانونية). وذلك يوم الأربعاء الموافق 11 نيسان 2012، الساعة الخامسة مساء في قاعة جمعية أشكال ألوان في منطقة جسر الواطي قرب سوق الأحد.

 

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job vacancy – Fundraising Officer‏ needed in Lebanon

PALESTINIAN STUDENTS FUND

The Palestinian Students Fund (PSF), a leading organization supporting Palestinian students to embark and achieve their university studies, is seeking an experienced and highly skilled professional for immediate recruitment.  Available job vacancy for  “Fundraising Officer”

 

Applicants should send their CV and a cover letter including an expression of interest by email to welfarelb@jwelfare.org no later than April 18th, 2012 and include the job name above in your email subject and cover letter.  Applicants received after end of business day on closing date will not be considered.

 

Palestinian Students Fund is an equal opportunity employer.  Women are encouraged to apply.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:  Fundraising Officer

Remuneration:  competitive good according to experience

 

Duration:   Consultancy Contract for 1 year (renewable in light of performance)

Location:  Lebanon

 

Reports to:  Development Director

 

Purpose of Position:  Develop and implement a creative and effective fundraising strategy

 

Functions and Responsibilities

 

● Set up and implement a yearly fund raising strategy

● Cultivate long term relationships with alumni as part of a fundraising strategy (possibly creating chapters in each country)

● Support in identifying, researching, and exploring potential fundraising sources locally, regionally and internationally

● Cultivate strong relationships with donors (individual, corporate, & governmental)

● Establish Alumni club and publish alumni newsletter

● Leads in public relations efforts

● Devise strategies to improve the loan repayment rates

● Manage alumni affairs and assists IT officer in maintaining a vibrant and interactive alumni section on the PSF website

● Write letters of inquiry, concept notes and develop proposals as necessary

● Develop and implement communication plans

● Manage partners

● Support in the planning and implementation of events & campaigns

● Produce Market-Search research & Client Satisfaction Surveys

● Carry out administrative and progress reporting responsibilities

 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

 

(A)    Academic and Professional

●University Degree in related field. Masters is a plus

 

(B)    Experience

● Minimum 3 years’ experience in Alumni relations & fundraising jobs

● Familiarity with a variety of fundraising practices and procedures

● Computer skills:  Word, Excel, Power Point, etc

● Social media skills

● Excellent verbal & written communication skills

● Creative thinking and good research skills

● Ability to work as part of a team, & strong sense of responsibility and accountability

 

(B)    Languages

● Arabic

● English

 

Date:   03 April, 2012

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Sit In by the civil society for the nationality right of women

Today, Tuesday, April the 3rd 2012, the Jinsiyati Campaign in Lebanon, lobbying for women to be able to transmit their Lebanese nationality for their children and families,  is organising a Sit in in front of the Grand Serail( Saraya), Riad el Solh Square at 10:30 ( while the Council of Ministers is meeting) to ask the governmental Committee in charge of working on the nationality law to:

– Indicate a clear timeline within which the committee will be working and assume agreeing on the draft law;

– Share the Terms of Reference of the Committee (  what are their sources, what are their info);

– Include civil society organisations in the process of the discussions ( the importance of consulting civil society organisations campaigning and working on this right since more than 10 years is a must, they know the cases, the numbers, the obstacles and hindrances as well as the citizen’s expectations);

– and last but not least, take into consideration our demands for FULL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS for women without any conditions ( women should transmit their nationality to their families, the Lebanese Constitution has clearly stipulated that all citizens are equal) ;

The banners of the peaceful collective action of today are clear:

Transmitting the nationality is a Right , this is not the Settlement of Palestinians,

Nationality is a right for women in the state of Rights and laws

the nationality law of 1925 is old and need to be amended ASAP!!!

Rita Chemaly,

The nationality law is so old that it is part of our "tourath"

N'enterrez pas la Loi sur la Nationalite dans un de vos tirroirs ou comites!

 

the woman's right to transmit her nationality is not naturalisation or settlement!

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Job Vacancies In Lebanon

Job  Vacancy 1:  Senior Consultant needed for ABAAD in Lebanon
Title: Senior Consultant
Program: “Non-Discrimination and Reinforcement of Women Peace and Security Agenda in the MENA Region” – Lebanon National Consultations
Duration: Short Term Consultancy – Approx. 3 months (April – June 2012)
ABAAD – Resource Center for Gender Equality and Women’s League for International Peace and Freedom (WILPF) are seeking a Senior Consultant to lead the national consultations pertaining to Lebanon’s women peace and security agenda. More specifically, to identify and/map women’s issues and concerns that relates to the policy of UNSCR 1325.
The overall goal of the national consultation is to advance women’s rights and women’s participation in peace and security issues. The objective is to advance women’s rights by identifying the challenges and opportunities for women’s participation in matters relating to peace and security Lebanon.
The consultation will be organized in partnership with relevant UN Agencies, research institutes and NGOs and is coordinated by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, supported by UNFPA, UNDP, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), International Commission of Jurists, Kvinna till Kvinna, International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) Women’s Network, Geneva Institute for Human Rights (GIHR), Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP), Women In International Security (WIIS), Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES);
for more information do check the attached form abaad senior consultant

 

Job  Vacancy 2:  HR/Administrator/Logistic Assistant with OXFAM
DEPARTMENT: Lebanon Programme, MEECIS Region
SALARY: E1 – 900 – 1000 US$ per month (depending on qualifications) and other government benefits
OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.
TEAM PURPOSE: To implement Oxfam’s strategic and operational priorities within Lebanon Program. To support and to contribute to the development of Oxfam GB Programme in line with the Regional Business Plan.
JOB PURPOSE: To perform administrative tasks to support delivery of a discrete work area within a unit or department, enabling those supported to be more effective; to perform support tasks to progress human resources functions to enhance the organisation’s performance through our people.
Lebanon Staff reporting to this post: Driver/ Cleaning Lady
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Human Resources:
● Planning staff recruitment, including preparation of and publication of job announcements online and in other media, setting up interview schedules; long and short-listing, preparing interview questions and test materials
● Member of recruitment panel
● To make sure induction for newly recruited staff is arranged and followed up
● Responsible for maintenance of HR Management Information database (HRMIS) and production of monthly management reports
● Responsible for setting up and maintaining personnel files, including monitoring of probationary periods, absence records, contracts, annual leave records etc.
● Service contract management
● Responsible for preparation of monthly payroll, calculation of additional benefits, end of contract payments etc.
● Responsible for monitoring changes in employment law
● Leading in the preparation of regular Salary and Benefits surveys and pay and benefits related business cases for approval by Oxfam HQ in Oxford
● Responsible for Health and Safety for the programme
● Responsibe for identifying Learning and Development needs and sourcing L&D opportunities for Oxfam Lebanon staff members
Office Administration:
● Daily management of petty cash, and invoices
● Visitors’ liaison, general enquiries, visitors to the programme, including accommodation, visa arrangements, external travel arrangements etc.
● Focal person for coordination of complex and large-scale events such as workshops, conferences etc.
● Medical Database administration and claim management
● Accompany programme staff during the field visits to support in organisational activities
● Providing advice to colleagues and partners on relevant OGB policies as required
● Payment of all regular bills including phones, rents, contractors
● Prepare a list of partners and contact details for Oxfam
● Keep log phone book
● Communicating to all on office close due to public holidays
IT:
● Report on critical IT issues
● Communicate and support the IT with the recruited IT company and IT team of Oxfam
● Ensure regular maintenance and check up of the IT equipment
Logistics:
● Line manager to Driver
● Responible for procurement planning, sourcing, transportation, inventory management and various reporting
● Enforce Oxfam GB minimum standards in supply chain management providing advice to colleagues and partners as appropriate
● Act as emergency driver in the case of the absence of the driver
Qualification (essential):
● University or higher Diploma in related field
● At least three years experiences in admin/logistics and HR with national or international NGOs
● Experience in managing petty cash
● Strong computer usage including typing in Arabic and English
● Fluent in English
● Computer literacy
● Basic knowledge of IT simple tasks
● Driving licences
Desirable:
● Communication skills
● Proactive and result oriented,
● Ability to work with and support the team
● Gender awareness
● Able to handle multi-tasks at the same time
CVs to be sent to: Cmokdad@Oxfam.org.uk 

Job  Vacancy 3:  Marketing & Fundraising Assistant at the Cenacle de la Lumiere in Lebanon
As the marketing and fundraising assistant you will play a central role in the growth of CDLL’s mission. By developing and implementing innovative and effective marketing and fundraising strategies in line with the image values and beliefs of the NGO; you will raise the profile of CDLL with its different audiences and mobilize support to the cause securing the yearly budget.
Main responsibilities
– Assist in developing and implementing a yearly fundraising and marketing strategy and operational plans in coordination with the MFC.
– Support in identifying, researching, and exploring potential fundraising sources locally and internationally
– Keep up to date on latest developments in fundraising and marketing opportunities and activities of the NGOs environment
– Write letters of inquiry, concept notes and fill applications as necessary
– Develop and implement communication plans
– Assist and follow up the development and production of CDLL marketing and fundraising materials
– Maintain & update CDLL website and social media channels
– Support in the planning and implementation of events, campaigns and appeals
– Assist PR efforts and other tasks as requested by MFC
– Work constructively and creatively with colleagues to achieve marketing and fundraising objectives
– Carry out administrative and reporting responsibilities
– Ensure that the ethical and professional standards and practice are met, more info via this link

Job  Vacancy 4 : Finance Manager needed for immediate start at the British Council Lebanon
Type of Job: Full time
Basic salary LBP 2,126,667 + daily transportation LBP 8,000
Qualifications, skills and experience:
A diploma or a first degree in Finance
Excellent proven financial skills
Excellent English and Arabic
Customer Care orientation
Excellent Communication skills
IT Literacy skills
Ability to work independently and under pressure to achieve targets
The closing date for applications is Monday 9 April 2012. Please read the role profile carefully, check definitions of the behaviours and generic skills, and complete the application form using the ‘Guidance notes for completing application form section’ for assistance (This is found in the application form). Completed applications should be emailed to: Job.Vacancy@lb.britishcouncil.org specifying the job title in the subject line. No applications will be accepted after the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
For enquiries please call + 961 1 428900
The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

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