Reform Manager

Reform Manager – Lebanon Economic Reform and Infrastructure Investment (LERII) Programme

(Note – over the lifetime of the programme, the below job description may be changed by mutual consent to reflect changing programme needs and priorities)

About DAI

DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

Objective of the Programme

LERII is a 4-year DFID-funded programme that will support the Lebanese Government in implementing economic reforms related to electricity, roads, water, waste management, PPPs, PFM, investment climate and macro-fiscal reforms. The overall outcome of the programme is to increase likelihood that the Lebanese government:

1. Implements key economic reforms;
2. Reaches agreement on the construction of key donor-financed infrastructure;
3. And that such projects are successfully built and operated.

To achieve these objectives two type of delivery vehicles will be used:

• Support preparation and investment in large infrastructure projects through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Delivery of this component will be linked to progress on economic reforms.

• Technical assistance (TA) delivered through a flexible and adaptive facility managed by DAI to support Lebanese government ministries and agencies who are involved in direct planning and delivery of infrastructure and economic reforms.

Roles and Responsibilities:  

The Reform Manager plays a key role in the identification and delivery of LERII supported reform initiatives. The role will support the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead to build relationships with stakeholders, providing technical knowledge and input.  The role will also support the identification of reform areas through the development of technical approach papers, mini Theories of Change; workplans and proposals for reform initiatives. They will work closely with the Government of Lebanon departments to shape the nature of the technical assistance requests to ensure that they are financially feasible, sustainable and align with the programme Term of Reference. The Reform Manager is responsible for management of the successful and compliant delivery of the reform initiatives including managing the short-term technical assistance experts who are engaged to deliver assignments. 

Reform Identification:

• Support the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead in the process of identifying reform initiatives;
• Regularly assess their sectoral contexts and emerging opportunities that will inform programme strategy and approaches;
• Developing technical approach papers; mini Theories of Change, and work plans to support reform identification and validation;
• Support GoL counterparts to develop and submit proposals for TA support for identified reform initiatives for the approval of LERII senior management team and strategic advisors;
• In close collaboration with the MEL Manager, develop MRM framework for each reform intervention (associated indicators, data collection method defined, disaggregation approach defined) to be verified by the MEL Manager.

Implementation of Reform Initiatives:

• Facilitate the provision and quality assure of all TA provided through the Facility;
• Act as the focal points for their respective GoL counterparts and lead the engagement, planning and implementation for respective technical support and ensuring that changes in the political or implementation context, lack of uptake, delays or new opportunities are flagged early and responded to proactively;
• Oversee, coordinate and manage work flows of technical delivery, in close coordination with the technical experts and TAF manager;
• With MEL Manager, track reform initiatives from initial request through to completion;
• Provide technical support or advice to the Senior Reform Lead in managing down-stream partners;
• Manage the short-term technical assistance experts who are engaged to deliver assignments, in close coordination with the technical experts and TAF manager;
• Develop synergies with other programmes operating in the same sectors and with the same key stakeholders to mitigate risk of overlap and duplication;

Learning, adapting and knowledge management:

• Collect data under the MEL Manager’s review and guidance and support data cleaning and analysis where appropriate;
• Identify and respond to opportunities arising from existing initiatives as well as challenges arising from political pressures;
• Using performance data, work with GoL focal points and other stakeholders to review progress of reforms to recommend a response as relevant (stop and document lessons; scale down or scale up and replicate) for the consideration of senior management;
• Development (or outsourcing of) Sectoral or Thematic research pieces and Policy Briefs;
• Support the documentation of and flow of feedback loops, ensuring frequent learning and horizon scanning throughout the LERII programme.

• Any other related duties assigned by the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead

Requirements:

• Prior reform experience - specifically in Lebanon with one or more of the following: Judiciary system; Electricity sector; Procurement system; Water sector
• Minimum of 7+ years of experience in public administration and/or economic reform and policy making in Lebanon
• Knowledge and understanding of the:
  • Lebanese economic and political context
  • Government of Lebanese confessional system and the “rules of the game “
  • Prior experience in implementing the principles of good governances
• Previous experience of having worked in an advisory capacity to government or other relevant national and international stakeholders.
• Experience and comfort interacting directly with senior members of the Lebanese Government, donor community, private sector, or civil society  

• Excellent ability to write comprehensive and well-articulated professional writings, policy assessments, notes, research, analyses and reports on governance and economic reforms, and donor reports
• Understanding of bilateral donor programmes (ideally DFID) and experience in the development field
• Very good presentation and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to manage, process and work with large amounts of data
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to relate to and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under tight deadlines on a continual basis
• Self-starter and taking initiative.
• Accuracy, attention to detail, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a fast-moving high- performing team
• Fluency in English and Arabic – oral and written
• A degree in Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Public Administration, Sociology or other relevant discipline.

Supervision: The Reform Manager reports to the Senior Reform Lead

Main office location: Beirut, Lebanon

Full time position