Disaster Risk Management Legal Mapping Consultancy

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement.

IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpa); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centers and delegations across the globe.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

Job Purpose

Lebanon continues to face a complex and evolving risk landscape, shaped by a convergence of natural hazards, protracted crises, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. In this context, Disaster Risk Management (DRM) efforts must be guided by strong legal and policy frameworks that are responsive, inclusive, and coherent across sectors and levels of government.

The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Law Programme, in close coordination with the National Committee for Disaster and Crisis Response Coordination at the Lebanese Prime Minister's Office, are conducting a mapping and analytical review of Lebanon’s national legal and policy provisions related to DRM.

This review is intended to identify legal and institutional gaps, overlaps, or opportunities for improved coordination, financing, and implementation of DRM, particularly with a focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR), preparedness, early action, response, and recovery.

“Mapping” includes the following: (1) collection of the laws, regulations, policies and plans. Whenever available, the soft copies of these documents should be uploaded to an accessible cloud database, (2) organization of such data based on themes / questions in the research template, (3) identification of the relevant provisions in such laws/policies/agreements as they relate to the different themes and fields falling under Disaster Risk Management, (4) in-depth analysis of how such provisions impact on Lebanon’s preparedness, response and recovery in the event of disasters, as well as analysis of gaps or weaknesses, and (5) suggestions of the needed improvements to strengthen the national legal framework or highlight the current gaps or duplications.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy

This consultancy is directly aligned with IFRC's Disaster Law Programme and Red Cross Red Crescent-National Societies’ mandate, which has been reinforced by successive International Conference Resolutions — most recently Resolution 3 of the 34th International Conference (2024) — calling on IFRC to support States and National Societies in strengthening their legal frameworks for disaster risk governance. The mapping exercise contributes to LRC and IFRC's broader strategic objective of enhancing legal preparedness for disasters in the MENA region, where fragmented and outdated legal frameworks continue to hinder effective disaster response and recovery. It also supports the operationalization of the IFRC Disaster Risk Governance Guidelines as a benchmarking tool for national legal reform. Furthermore, through this support, LRC's strengthens its engagement with Lebanese public authorities on disaster law.

Project objectives

• Provide an overview of Lebanon’s current legal, policy, and institutional frameworks relevant to DRM.
• Identify strengths and gaps in legislation and institutional mandates related to DRM functions and responsibilities.
• Highlight key barriers to effective implementation, especially those impacting preparedness, early warning systems, community engagement, and financing.
• Support future legislative reform or policy improvement efforts, aligned with international standards such as the Sendai Framework, the IDRL Guidelines, and other global and regional instruments, mainly the issues addressed by the draft articles on the Protection of People in the Event of Disasters (PPED – disaster law treaty).
• Inform evidence-based advocacy by the Lebanese Red Cross and other stakeholders.

Desired outcomes / Deliverables

A concise analytical report (approximately 30–40 pages) summarizing key findings and providing clear, actionable recommendations, written in user-friendly language.

• A completed Guiding Questions table, filled out in accordance with the provided guidelines.
• A compilation of all legal and policy instruments identified as relevant to disaster risk management (DRM)—both directly and indirectly. These should be organized in a folder and shared with the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and IFRC Disaster Law Programme (DLP) team by the time the draft reports are submitted.

The work will be delivered in Arabic; however sources in English and French should be consulted by the legal consultant when conducting his/her assignment, research and tasks.

Method of delivery and reasons for selecting that method

Deliverables will be submitted electronically by the consultant. Throughout the five-month consultancy period, regular follow-up calls and meetings will be held to monitor progress and provide technical guidance. The consultant will also be expected to participate in in-person stakeholder consultations and at least one validation workshop with relevant government authorities and LRC.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

The consultancy duration is 5 months, with a budget ranging between USD 8,000 and USD 10,000.

Support to be Provided to the Consultant

IFRC's Disaster Law Programme will provide the consultant with the detailed mapping methodology and guiding questions developed by the DLP, relevant comparative legal materials and reference documents. LRC will support with introductions and facilitation of access to key government and LRC interlocutors, regular technical guidance throughout the assignment, and provide logistical support for stakeholder consultations and facilitate access to relevant national documents and contacts.

Schedule for Payment of Fees

Fees will be disbursed in three instalments tied to the submission and approval of deliverables: an initial advance of 30% upon signature of the contract and submission of the inception/methodology report; a second payment of 40% upon submission and approval of the draft analytical report; and a final payment of 30% upon submission and approval of the final report incorporating all feedback.

Time Allocation, for budget purposes

The legal consultant will be requested to conduct the whole tasks within 5 months from commencing his/her work. The below timeline is suggested; however, final one will be agreed on upon hiring the consultant and in consultation with him/her.

The study is expected to be completed within a four to five months period, divided as follows:

• Weeks 1–8: Legal and policy desk review, including additional research methods to identify relevant legal instruments. During this phase, the Consultant will also complete the table of guiding questions provided.
• Weeks 9–12: Drafting of the analytical report based on the data and findings collected in the initial phase.
• Week 13: Submission of the draft desk review and analytical report to the Lebanese Red Cross and IFRC for joint review and feedback. If agreed by both entities, a consultative workshop may be organized with relevant public authorities, legal experts, academics, and key organizations to validate and enrich findings (week 13 or 14).
• Final Deliverables (by end of week 16): The final versions of the reports will be submitted no later than two weeks after receiving consolidated feedback or the conclusion of the national workshop, whichever occurs later.

Notes

• The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.
• Agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed at cost in accordance with in the IFRC’s relevant regulations.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Law, Public Policy, Governance, or a related discipline.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in legal and/or policy analysis, preferably in the field of disaster risk management, governance reform, or public institution development.
• Demonstrated experience in mapping legal and policy frameworks, institutional analysis, and reform-oriented advisory work.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong analytical, drafting, and facilitation skills.
• Full professional proficiency in Arabic (reading, writing, and spoken) is an essential requirement, given that legal and policy materials and consultations will be conducted primarily in Arabic.
• Working knowledge of French or English is considered an asset, particularly for the purpose of alignment with international standards and coordination with international partners.

Competencies, Values and Comments

The closing date and time for this consultancy are based on Geneva time. Applications must be submitted by 23:59 (11:59 PM) Geneva time on the advertised closing date.

IFRC Disclaimer

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

If you appointed to or undertake a role within IFRC, whether as staff, staff on loan or secondees, you will be subject to the organization's Code of Conduct, which is available here and on our website.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include prior professional conduct checks and review of criminal records. IFRC will request a conduct check from all prior employers for a period of 5 years, including but not limited to employers who like IFRC participate in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. For more details on the Scheme, please see ont-style: italic;">THE MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE SCHEME — SCHR.

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities!