Business & Investment Enabling Environment Lead - USAID LEBANON TRADE AND INVESTMENT FACILITATION (TIF) ACTIVITY

Project Background:

The USAID/Lebanon Trade and investment Facilitation (TIF) Activity will facilitate the export of Lebanese goods and services to generate foreign exchange through investments and business enabling environment reform that simultaneously promote job creation, income generation, and improved livelihoods throughout the country. TIF has three objectives: 1) increased exports of Lebanese goods and services, 2) investment facilitation leading to increased domestic investment, and 3) improved business and investment enabling environment. Communicating results through outreach and sharing knowledge with private and public sectors is a crosscutting objective.

Purpose:

The Business & Investment Enabling Environment (BIEE) / Objective 3 Lead will build on partnerships formed through TIF’s work under Objective 1 and Objective 2 by building the capacity of partner firms and business associations to mitigate or unblock binding policy, regulatory, and administrative constraints to their competitiveness and investability.  S/he works with Government of Lebanon (GOL) stakeholders to address key constraints to improving the business and investment enabling environment.

Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

• Conduct research to identify and target bottlenecks hindering trade and investment deals and use evidence from stalled deals to drive policy change.
• Guide team in developing evidence, analysis, advocacy strategies, and accountability mechanisms to drive BIEE reform.
• Develop and maintain evidence-based list of priority policy reforms.
• Conduct risk/reward analysis to assess and drive program partnerships.
• Oversee development and implementation of activities that build capacity of ecosystem actors to effectively advocate for BIEE reform. Activities may include co-designed grants combined with technical assistance.
• Collaborate with short-term experts to develop the capacity of sector associations to implement effective advocacy strategies.
• Lead development of online milestone index for targeted reforms.
• Supervise 1 – 2 Legal & Regulatory Policy Specialists.
• Other duties as required by supervisor or Chief of Party.
• Additional responsibilities for Grade 12:
  • Maintain in-depth understanding of structural and contextual issues impacting Lebanon’s political and institutional environment.
  • Mentor and train TIF staff on conducting political economy analyses.

Qualifications:

• Grade 12:
  • At least 12 years of professional experience.
  • Senior-level experience advising private sector firms, business associations, and organizations in evidenced-based advocacy strategies for improving the business and investment enabling environment through policy, regulatory, and legal reforms that promote trade, finance, and investment.
  • Experience advising government entities in the formulation and implementation of policy, regulatory, and legal reform.
  • Experience analyzing and developing strategies and mechanisms to drive BIEE reform.
• Grade 11:
  • At least 10 years of professional experience.
  • Experience in evidenced-based advocacy strategies for improving the business and investment enabling environment through policy, regulatory, and legal reforms that promote trade, finance, and investment.
  • Experience advising government entities in the formulation and implementation of policy, regulatory, and legal reform.
  • Experience supporting BIEE research, analysis, and evaluation efforts.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred. Degree in business, economics, law, or related field preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with team members and institutional and private-sector partners and stakeholders.
• Must be results, detail and deadline-oriented and able to work in a fast-paced environment. 
• English and Arabic fluency. Excellent English writing, speaking, and reading skills.