Housing and Buildings Policy Change

Introduction

Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) Jordan is a non-profit organization working to provide decent affordable shelter to low-income families. Operating in Jordan since 2002, Habitat Jordan’s mission is to eliminate housing poverty; to achieve the vision of a world with no poverty housing and homelessness, and to make decent housing a matter of conscience and action for all.

To date, Habitat Jordan has served over 10,000 households (approximately 50,000 individuals) by building over 420 homes, rehabilitating over 900 homes, and repairing over 8,000 homes. This work is complemented by providing essential support and rehabilitation to communal infrastructure and

Currently, Habitat Jordan implements its mission through two overall programs:

1. Providing housing finance for vulnerable families through local partners (CBOs) to improve their living conditions; support the rehabilitation and building of their homes; promote green buildings; and equip homes with clean and sustainable energy
2. Since 2017, HFH Jordan has also responded to the needs of both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian families through humanitarian shelter interventions and neighborhood revitalization – the Middle East Refugee Crisis Initiative (MERCI).

Purpose of the Consultation

On May 15, 2023, Habitat for Humanity launched Home Equals –its five-year global advocacy campaign committed to influencing policies and systems to provide more equitable access to adequate housing for those living in informal settlements. While we have garnered early success our work has only just begun. In 2024, Home Equals awarded Jordan for advocacy projects and programmatic demonstration projects aligned with the thematic focus of the Home Equals campaign. Proposed activities must be finalized by March 31, 2025. Funding for direct advocacy interventions to establish new advocacy initiatives or support existing advocacy efforts focused on one or more of the four Home Equals policy subthemes: empowered participation, inclusive basic services, climate resilience, and security of tenure.

Habitat Jordan aims to revise the building and housing policies in Palestinian refugee camps “Hitten or Schneller camp” in collaboration with the Department of Palestinian Affairs and in consultation with DPA and key stakeholders. The goal is to adopt a robust stance on climate change and enhance community participation, ensuring that the policy changes are beneficial for both camp residents and administrators.

Roles and responsibilities

The consultant will:

• Draft an inception report, detailing the methodology to be interviewed, tools to be developed, and time frame for the consultation
• Retain overall management responsibility for the consultation, including designing and carrying out the policy change activities, and drafting a new policy with the proposed changes
• debrief a report to describe the efforts, progress, project team, and key stakeholders’ contribution through the policy change and impact.
• Liaise with Habitat Jordan/International staff throughout the process, providing weekly updates and seeking their input and advice where necessary.

Habitat Jordan will:

• Provide all required background materials and project data/information to the consultant
• Provide feedback on the inception report and co-create the final proposed research methodology, the information-gathering techniques, and the suggested target sites
• Support logistics for the consultation team where necessary and facilitate contacts with key beneficiaries and governmental bodies
• Provide guidance and feedback throughout all phases of the project consultation execution.

Expected Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected:

• Inception report: The consultant will prepare an inception report that details proposed consultation steps, the detailed methodology and process, and deliverables including stakeholder engagement strategies, community participation levels, and a brief section on potential risks and mitigation strategies to manage expectations and challenges.
• Collaboration and Networking:

Lobbying efforts will focus on direct engagement with legislators and government officials to advocate for or against specific policies. Collaborate with grassroots organizations and community-based groups in informal settlements to amplify the residents’ voices and promote inclusive decision-making. Additionally, partnerships with climate-change experts and influencers will be formed to raise awareness and advocate for policy reforms.

• Policy Dialogue and Consultations:

organize policy dialogues and consultations to ensure community members are included in policy development. Platforms will be suggested to address specific policy challenges in housing and climate adaptation, fostering more inclusive decision-making. Detailed policy briefs to be developed and disseminated, outlining the key problems, presenting research findings, and recommending practical solutions to policymakers.

• Policy Briefs and Reports:

  Produce and distribute at least one comprehensive policy brief or report that outlines key research findings and policy recommendations.

• Engagement in Policy Forums and Decision-Making Bodies:

Advocate for the representation of informal settlement residents in local government forums and decision-making bodies related to housing and community development. Engagement with media outlets will be enhanced through press releases, interviews, opinion pieces, and social media to amplify the advocacy message. Furthermore, facilitating ongoing policy dialogues between government officials, community leaders, and residents will help align policies with community needs.

• Facilitated Policy Dialogues: Hold at least one facilitated policy dialogue between government officials, community leaders, and residents to ensure inclusive decision-making.
• The final report (8 to 12 pages): The final report, incorporating comments from Haitat Jordan and other Habitat International stakeholders will be submitted according to a mutually agreed timetable. The content and the structure of the final should include the following (with the final structure to be mutually agreed with the successful consultant:
  • Executive summary and Introduction (1 page)
  • Description of the methodology (1 page)
  • Outline outputs achieved with detailed processes (2 – 3 pages)
  • Analysis of consultation analysis about relevance, effectiveness, coherence, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and partnerships (2-4 pages) including reporting on the following indicators:
    • number of existing and new partnerships for implementing advocacy efforts
    • number of engagements with relevant decision-makers regarding the advocacy efforts
  • Key findings, including best practices, lessons learned & recommendations to inform future programming (1-2 pages) including reporting on the following indicators:
    • number of recommendations for policy changes that were adopted by relevant decision-makers
    • number of people positively impacted by the results of the project’s advocacy initiatives
    • increased representation in fora relevant to the advocacy objectives
  • Conclusion and recommendations (1 page)
  • Appendices: charts, terms of reference, field visits, people interviewed, documents reviewed

Expectations of the consultant:

• Sign the HFHI Safeguarding Policy, Protection Policy and Code of Conduct and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.
• All accessed data including Policies, minutes of meetings, recordings, meetings with government officials, and other key elements are considered under data protection and confidentiality.
• Not smoke except in designated smoking areas, and must not smoke when any child or beneficiary is present;
• Wear HFHJ identification at all times during working hours;
• Not use mobile phones for any reason while in the presence of beneficiaries;
• Do Not take any photos or videos of beneficiaries unless prior agreement with Habitat Jordan;
• Do Not share photos or identifying information related to beneficiaries with another person or on social media, unless it is first made public by Habitat Jordan;
• Not use language or behavior towards beneficiaries that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning, or otherwise inappropriate;
• Immediately report any concerns or allegations of abuse;
• Not exchange any contact information such as phone numbers or social media with beneficiaries;
• Refrain from any physical punishment or discipline of children;
• Wherever possible, ensure that another adult is present when working in the proximity of children;
• Not engage in any transfer of money in the presence of other beneficiaries or fellow volunteers.

Time-Frame for the Evaluation Process

The consultation will be conducted in Oct 2024 for an estimated 10 working days. Upon successful recruitment, Habitat Jordan and the consultant will mutually agree on a final timeframe and schedule.