Safe Spaces Murals and Design Services

Tender Description

:Expression of Interest (EOI)

Mercy Corps is implementing the USAID West Bank/Gaza-funded Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) Activity (Agreement No. 72029421CA00004) from September 24, 2021, to September 23, 2028. PYE is a seven-year multi-sectoral Youth Activity designed to address the core issues of Palestinian youth development. The PYE Activity will reach 80,000 vulnerable and marginalized youth aged 10-29 at risk of social marginalization in vulnerable areas through safe spaces as well as private universities by aiming to improve outcomes for them in the areas of education, mental health and wellbeing, future employment, community bonding and other needs as identified through evidence-based studies, surveys, and assessments that took place through the PYE program to date. In partnership with national organizations– the Palestinian Charity for Youth Economic Empowerment (CYEE), Save Youth Future Society (SYF), Youth Development Resources Center (YDRC) Hebron, Al-Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation, Lutheran World Federation (LWF), YDRC Jericho, and YDRC Jabal Al-Nar, and the International Youth Foundation (IYF), in addition to new partners and service providers – Mercy Corps, through the PYE Activity, provides an integrated youth friendly service via a package of support rather than one stand-alone intervention, and the involvement of parents, communities, and local youth related organizations is critical to success. Youth with strong community ties, family support, and positive role models are more likely to successfully transition from youth to adulthood when compared to youth with limited or negative social connections. The Activity’s goal remains to transform vulnerable youth into productive, contributing citizens who are connected to their communities by increasing opportunities for Palestinian youth to realize their potential and to effectively contribute to social and economic development. The following are the main PYE themes:

Core programming that supports, protects, prepares, and engages youth in safe spaces found within a strong network of CBOs and Career Centers at private universities, bringing the total number of youth friendly safe spaces to 71 in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Tailored packages of activities, resources, and referrals that will set youth on individually selected pathways building on the core curriculum to increase opportunities for youth to effectively contribute to social and economic development.

Opportunities for sustained community engagement and leadership through youth-led pathways and councils, community and social media campaigns, and mentorship of subsequent cohorts as part of sustainable community youth networks.

Improve opportunities for learning and individual empowerment for youth in grades 7-12 through the roll-out of non-formal education activities in the network of safe spaces.

Expand safe spaces through 11 local university career centers to reach youth ages 19-24 and offer the PYE core interventions including healthy well-being for youth, learning activities, youth pathways, and youth-led small-scale initiatives in addition to technology and innovation-driven learning programs with a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics), green solutions, and entrepreneurship.

:Purpose of Consultancy Services

The consultant will be responsible for leading the (1) enhancement of the interiors of up to 10 youth-friendly safe spaces under the PYE program in West bank and East Jerusalem, and (2) development and implementation of up to youth-friendly murals and other visual elements ex. stickers, wallpapers, signs, calendars. The design process should aim at promoting the identity of each safe space and at creating a welcoming and an engaging environment for youth and the community through development of murals, wallpaper/sticker designs for the multipurpose hall, PSA Clinic, Fablab, entrances, and other space elements aligned with PYE values and as needed and agreed upon during the process.

Throughout the consultancy timeframe, the consultant shall ensure the active participation of youth at communities in the design and installation of the murals and other space visual elements, employing a participatory approach through interactive sketching and painting/installation sessions. This aims to promote the teamwork spirit and the ownership of youth towards their community safe spaces.

:Consultancy Deliverables

Comprehensive design concepts including sketches and designs for murals, room/space wall designs or/and stickers and interactive calendars. The concept should also include detailed material specifications such as size, printing material and other materials for the murals, wall stickers/papers.
Final designs include finalized sketches and file designs for the murals, wallpaper/stickers, and interactive personalized calendar. All designs shall enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the spaces based on community input during the design process.
Up to 10 Progress Reports in English documenting both the design workshops and the installation. The progress report shall summarize the participatory design methodology and process including the sketching workshop objectives, outline, outcomes, list of participants. The report should also include the installation of approved painted murals when applicable, the installation of wallpapers, stickers and other design elements, highlighting the community’s involvement and how their input was incorporated. Each progress report per safe space shall include 6 high quality photos.
Final Report in English, documenting the full progress and the implementation methodology including the design workshops and implementation/installation sessions for all safe spaces. The final report shall include finalized sketches and design files, at least 60 photos from the design workshops and from the implementation/installation sessions, catching the final implemented / installed sketches/stickers/wall papers/signs/calendars. The final report should also include key outcomes and insights, recommendations and lists of participants.
Provide Service completion report documenting the submission of the deliverables.

:Timeline

The consultant will be engaged for the period from December 2024 to June 2025.

:Relevant Experience and Qualifications

Minimum of 4 years of experience in interior or / and exterior design, with proven experience in designing youth-oriented or community-focused spaces.
Proven experience in participatory design processes and engaging with diverse community groups.
Strong portfolio demonstrating creative and functional design solutions.
Proficiency in design software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Strong understanding of cultural and social contexts within the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including youth, community members, and organizational staff.

:Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

:Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

:Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field
Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.