Strategist Consultant

 1.     Background:
The Middle East Partnership Initiative Lebanon Alumni Association (MEPI LAA) has created a good reputation for innovative capacity development programming which truly impacts its partnering organizations.  It is currently implementing such grants funded by MEPI and the Beirut US Embassy.  MEPI LAA is also implementing a large capacity development/civil society strengthening project.
Under the patronage of H.E. David Hale, US ambassador to Lebanon, MEPI LAA organized an Open Space Forum (OSF) entitled “Lebanese Civil Society: Challenges & Opportunities” which gathered 60 Lebanese Non-Governmental Organizations, from 20 to 22 February 2015, in Bethania, Harissa.
The forum assembled more than 80 active Civil Society leaders from across Lebanon; they strived to work together, share their experiences and knowledge and agree on a future action plan; they were able to identify their common priorities, objectives, opportunities and to generate creative ideas for the development of the Lebanese civil society. The forum was conducted using the Open Space Technology.
OSF is part of the “Together We Grow” project funded by MEPI DC, which aims to support MEPI alumni in promoting and engaging in civic involvement at the community level. Moreover it encourages MEPI alumni members to translate their capacity, advocate and engage in projects and to promote positive change in their communities.
 2.     Consultancy Objectives :
MEPI LAA would like to subcontract a strategist consultant to build a vision  with MEPI LAA team that will generate in the future a strategy and action plan based on the findings of OSF; develop OSF final report; evaluate the OSF’s developed material and topic reports; revise and adapt a project proposal drafted by MEPI LAA aiming at implementing this vision.
3.     Main Tasks :

Have background discussions with MEPI LAA team about the OSF mission and vision.
Draft the forum report.
Build a strategy and outcome using OSF recommendations and findings.
Draft MEPI LAA & its partners’ vision based on OSF outcomes.
Monitor project reports drafted during the OSF by the Civil Society leaders based on the varied thematic groups established.
Contact the civil society members involved when needed.
Engage in writing a narrative strategic report of discussions, the outcomes and recommendations generated from the thematic working groups established during the OSF. The report will be of approximately 15 pages along with the annexes. This report will be used as a basis to  transform the vision into tangible results that will include strategy  , a plan of action and future activities for MEPI LAA’s network.
Liaise with MEPI LAA and the involved Civil Society Organizations for future work plan to be mentioned in the report.
Design a civil society common strategy for the mid and long term where coalitions of MEPI LAA’s constituencies and their respective NGOs are part of.
Review MEPI LAA’s Project Proposal drafted in light of the designed  vision.

4.     Deliverables :

Final written OSF comprehensive and strategic report that includes   outcomes and vision.
Revised Project Proposal to implement the vision.

5.     Required Qualifications :
-          Expertise in report and strategy writing.
-          Expertise in Lebanese Civil Society needs, challenges, status and capacity.
-          Expertise in donors’ grants requirements and policy priorities.
-          Expertise in capacity building approaches and tools.
-          Experience in MEPI grants & project proposals evaluation.
-          Capacity to work under pressure and with a diversified group of people.
-          Capacity to reconcile priorities and find common complementary goals for an inclusive strategy.
 

Start date:  13 March 2015
Completion date: 27 March 2015