Capacity Strengthening Specialist

EF designs and implements cooperation projects addressing skills transfers between professionals. The agency also develops integrated offers, assembling public and private expertise in order to respond to the partner countries' needs. With a business volume of 148 million Euros, a portfolio of over 500 projects in 100 countries, and 63,000 days of expert missions every year, Expertise France promotes French and European development policy goals.

EF operates in various fields of development and institutional cooperation including safety and security reform, public health, human rights, strengthening of institutions and NGOs and governance. Carrying out large-scale, multi-stakeholder programmes, EF can ensure the cooperation between individuals, teams and institutions with very different statuses, cultures and specialties. EF has acquired a sound experience in administrative and financial management of large-scale international programmes. www.expertisefrance.fr.

The main role of the Capacity Strengthening Specialist (CSS) is to oversee the planification, implementation and closure of the Shabake project component related to NGO capacity strengthening and localization/networking activities. Working under the authority of the Shabake Project Manager (PM) of Expertise France in Lebanon, the CSS will be liaising with a team of two (Capacity Strengthening Officer (CSO) and one Field Facilitator (FF). The portfolio of partner NGOs receiving capacity strengthening support services is set at 25 partners throughout Lebanon. The position is based in Beirut, within the Expertise France Lebanon coordination office.

Please note that shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis so if you are interested in this position, we invite you to apply as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to close applications before the indicated timeline, provided a suitable candidate has been identified.

Responsibility 1: Programs

• Along with the Project Manager, prepare the planification of Component 3 of Shabake throughout the project cycle.

Capacity Strengthening

• Oversee the implementation of Organizational Capacity Assessments and identification of needs for all NGO partners.
• Lead on the recruitment of experts to provide tailored organizational and technical support services to the NGO partners based on their individual capacity strengthening action plans. This includes drafting expert Terms of References, sharing it with the partners and finalizing it.
• Lead on the selection of experts in coordination with the Project Manager and the Procurement department.
• Lead on the recruitment of experts to provide tailored organizational and technical support services to the Shabake II team based on internal needs and local context. This includes drafting expert Terms of References, recruiting the consultant, and coordinating with the latter.
• In coordination with the Capacity Strengthening Officer (CSO), monitor the delivery of all capacity strengthening activities, including the validation of methodologies and modules to be delivered by CS experts and conducting quality checks and ensuring that activities are done according to the workplan.
• Support the Capacity Strengthening Officer (CSO) where needed in troubleshooting and finding solutions for any challenges related to the NGO partners and the component overall that may arise.
• Make sure that any major project updates/information needed are shared with partners in due time.

 Localization of Aid

• Provide support to the CC (Coordination Committee) of the Localization Taskforce through weekly/monthly meetings and identifying needs.
• Represent Expertise France at LTF meetings and any external Localization meeting or event.
• Oversee the creation of M&E tools to be used by LNGOs, INGOs, and humanitarian agencies to integrate Shabake’s Localization Framework’s recommendations into their programming.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of a series of national events to foster key localization themes (of which capacity strengthening is a key area) in Lebanon.
• Make sure all documentation related to the CC’s project and Localization is stored and available (proposals, reports, deliverables, budgets, invoices, etc.).

Responsibility 2: Coordination and Networking

• Co-lead the formation of 3 Thematic and sector peer Communities of Practice (CoPs), allowing to promote exchange of good practices and information and collaboration among the project’s NGO partners
• Lead on the drafting of a CoP report following each CoP session laying out the feedback provided by partners, recommendations and lessons learned.
• Report to the PM regularly any context and activity updates related to the implementation of the component’s activities, communicate challenges and discuss solutions
• Ensure that all roles and responsibilities are maintained in coordination with relevant departments at EF (M&E, Finance, Procurement, Logistics, Communication)
• Collaborate with the PM and relevant departments in all planned external evaluations and audits.

Responsibility 3: Management and Support

• Lead a team of two individuals (one CSO (Capacity Strengthening Officer) – one FF (Field Facilitator)).
• Monitor and update Workplans and Tracking Tools (Consultants’ Payments, ToRs, OCAs Processes, Action Plans, etc.).
• Responsible for the overall financial management of the capacity strengthening component (Component 3), in collaboration with the Project Manager.
• Develop and monitor the forecasting of the components expenses, utilizing tools such as budget versus actuals (BvAs), cashflow, activity and procurement planning in collaboration with relevant units to ensure timely implementation of activities and to monitor expenditure.
• Ensure with the team that logistical, administrative, and financial procedures linked to project implementation are followed according to EF requirements.
• Follow up and ensure that all administrative documents related to project implementation are up to date and stored.
• Supervise and ensure accountancy and financial transactions.
• Ensure proper and timely financial and narrative internal and donor reporting in compliance with reporting requirements.
• Develop internal quarterly and ad-hoc information updates summing up quarterly and ad-hoc achievements and planned activities.
• Support in the documentation of best practices, challenges, lesson learning and recommendations of project activities.
• Participate in writing articles and creating and managing communication tools, in coordination with the Project Manager and Communication Team.

Qualifications

Education level

• University degree in Management, Political Science, Social Sciences, or related field.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years in the development field with NGOs/CSOs work experience, including small and medium sized organizations, specifically in the areas of organizational development (experience in project management is a plus)
• In depth knowledge of best practices in NGO organizational and technical development, and capacity strengthening methodologies.
• Knowledge and experience in workshop engineering and facilitation.
• Excellent knowledge of the Lebanese Civil Society, and the Lebanese aid ecosystem in general.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken French is a plus.
• Excellent computer skills: MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Strong relationship skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Previous experience work experience for international agencies would be an asset.