Short-term Consultant to conduct Situation Analysis on Assessment of Disability in Lebanon

1. Background

Disability assessment is the initial process through which anyone claiming disability benefit, service or support must pass. The assessment is an evaluation of the type and level of disability that a person has, which is then included in a more complex administrative process known as the disability determination process. 

In Lebanon, according to Law 220, Article 4, persons with disabilities have the right to a Personal Disability Card (PDC), which grants card-holders a range of benefits and services. Approximately 110,000 persons with disabilities in Lebanon currently possess the Card. However, possessing the Card does not necessarily lead to all the interventions and support beneficiaries would need. On the other hand, many of Cardholder become automatically eligible for services and privileges they would not need. Most of the bulk of funding and services go to persons with disabilities under 18, particularly for mild and moderate disabilities while persons with more severe types of disabilities are often left out. This is considerate as unfair allocation of national resources.

Moreover, current practices in disability assessment still tend to follow a medical approach, while the UN CRPD calls for multi-dimensional disability assessments.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is determined to revise the national disability assessment process and create a consistent system of disability determination that is based on functional limitations, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This is expected to promote evidence-based policies for social inclusion of persons with disabilities and further enhance coordination between the ministries and other actors, including private entities, delivering services.

In this context and based on a request from the MoSA, ESCWA and Moussawat joined the already started efforts by FPS to review the current situation of disability assessments procedures. It is expected that this assignment will contribute to the national review the existing approaches and practices related to disability assessment and determination as a first step towards the establishment of a new system.

1. Objectives of requested service(s)

To this end, the three partners, FPS is looking for a consultant who is able to work for approximately two months to conduct a situational analysis in relation to disability assessments.

The main objectives of this assignment are to:

• explore and analyze all types of disability assessments that exist in Lebanon
• identify the main strengths and weaknesses in Lebanon’s current assessment procedures and to the extent they determine the services needed to ensure inclusion.

1. Main tasks required:

The partner organizations are now inviting eligible individuals to indicate their interest in undertaking this work. The main tasks required are:

1. To conduct a detailed mapping of existing assessment procedures:
   1. Ability to work and disability pension
   2. General assessment for disability card
   3. Assessment of long-term care needs, including personal assistance
   4. Identify the benefits/entitlements related to each of the assessments
2. Review and analyze the legal regulation and administrative instructions related to each of these procedures in terms of:
   1. Clarity of the instruction
   2. Required personnel and their respective professional specializations (e.g. trained assessors, medical doctor, physiotherapist, nurse, social worker, etc.)
   3. Eligibility criteria
   4. Specific benefits available for each type/sub-type of disability
   5. Identify the extent to which the applicant is able to participate in the assessment
   6. Attach the relevant legal regulations and instructions, including any assessment forms/worksheets that may be used
3. Explore the availability of the various types of disability assessments (e.g. geographical distribution, specialists present, assessment timeframe, statistical information available, etc.) in all parts of Lebanon
4. Identify related costs of assessment to the applicant, if any
5. Identify possible appeal procedures

The expected start date is as soon as reasonably possible.

1. Deliverables

1. An inception report to be submitted at the end of the first two weeks, based on the initial discussions with partner organizations and the MoSA on the main assumptions and analytical questions. This will include a review of the proposed methodology, the tools for data collection and a work plan.
2. Progress review with partners after the first month of the assignment
3. Draft and final report in English, contents of which will include:

• Executive summary of the situational analysis findings
• Introduction to the context
• Situation analysis methodology, and mention any constraints and challenges encountered, and strategies used to overcome them.
• Detailed key findings and conclusions related to the main objectives and expected results.
• Recommendations
• Annexes – all disability assessment tools and administrative instructions
• List of persons met during the assignment process and salient points of the meetings

1. Final meeting, with a PowerPoint presentation, to present the key findings, conclusions and recommendations, and limitations of the analysis.
2. Timelines and remuneration

The assignment is projected for the total duration of two months.

The fee allocated for the assignment shall be determined based on the qualifications of the consultant and it will be in USD, this will include all relevant travel costs inside Lebanon.

The fee will be paid in 2 installments, the timing of which will be negotiated with the consultant.

1. Expertise required

Qualifications and Experiences required:

Interested consultants must provide information indicating why they are qualified to perform the described tasks, including CV, description of similar assignments, experience conducting systematic reviews, and examples of relevant reports or publications.  This includes:

• Advanced university degree in public health, social science or a related field;
• Demonstrated experience with carrying out situational analysis or similar assignments or scientific publications;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required;
• Excellent interpersonal skills.