Finance Management Training

Terms of References

Finance Management training for CSOs

Background

Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993 providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by conflict, and promoting economic development, good governance at a local and national level, and women’s rights through Oxfam’s work with partners. Oxfam also works with local partners to contribute to the protection and empowerment of marginalized women and men.

Oxfam in Lebanon is currently implementing the “Masarouna” project aiming to support young people to achieve more freedom to enjoy their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in inclusive societies. The project will improve social justice for young people, empowering them to reclaim civic space and speak up for their SRHR to make their societies more inclusive, underpinned by principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Pathway 1 is focused on influencing with and by young people for their SRHR, direct influencing of decision-makers, service providers and other stakeholders, and challenge harmful traditional social and cultural norms and values, countering misconceptions and misbeliefs by providing accurate and up-to-date information on the importance of SRHR for young people.

Pathway 2 is focused on strengthening civil society and reclaiming civic space. We will work with young people and support their inclusion in civil society, build partnerships, and safeguard and reclaim space for young people’s voices.

Purpose and objectives

As part of Masarouna, Oxfam in Lebanon is planning to provide capacity strengthening for 40 CSOs and informal groups aiming at increasing their institutional and organizational capabilities and competencies to operate.

This capacity strengthening is expected to support CSOs and informal groups to plan, manage and monitor financial resources of organizations while ensuring upward and downward accountability.

More specifically the training seeks to:

• Provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of financial management.
• Build participants’ capacity to develop budgets.
• Enhance participants’ understanding of financial planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Strengthen the organizations’ internal control and compliance with donor requirements.
• Equip participants with tools to manage cash flow, monitor finance risks and promote financial accountability.

Scope of work

Oxfam is looking to hire a consultant/consultancy firm to deliver finance management training to a total of 40 CSOs and informal groups in Beirut and Bekaa.

The key responsibilities of the consultant/consultancy firm are:

1. Conduct needs assessment to assess the needs of participants and develop the training material accordingly.
2. Develop comprehensive training modules that are relevant to the context and to the most recent requirements in the finance management in the NGO field.
3. Create training materials to be shared with participants including presentations and handouts, etc. in both languages English and Arabic.
4. Facilitate interactive training sessions to ensure that participants gain the needed knowledge and skills to plan, monitor and report on budgets.
5. Conduct pre and post assessments and training evaluation to measure the impact of the training.
6. Provide a final training report summarizing the training outcomes, challenges, and recommendations.

The topics of the curriculum to be developed should include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. Basics of financial management: definition, principles, and key concepts
2. Financial forecasting techniques and planning process
3. Different forms and types of budgets and funding grid + practical application
4. Introduction to the finance manual
5. Accounting records
6. Introduction about procurement: people, paperwork, process
7. Financial monitoring (financial statement, budget monitoring report, budget forecasts report, variances, etc.)
8. Internal control (addressing fraud, risks of bribery, deterring and detecting corrupt activities, etc)
9. Understanding the relevant types of taxes and contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
10. Understanding legal and regulatory framework for CSOs

The training will be provided in 2 workshops of 4 full days each: 1 workshop in Beirut and 1 workshop in Bekaa.

The training will be provided in hybrid modality in Beirut and Bekaa.

The training will be delivered in Arabic. However, for Beirut training, the material (PowerPoint, handouts, etc) need to be in English and the training in Bekaa will be delivered fully in Arabic. Thus, the consultant must be comfortable providing training in Arabic and English and must provide training material in both languages.

 Oxfam in Lebanon will provide interpretation to participants when needed.

Notes: the participants have different capacities and knowledge related to the topic. The trainer should be able to facilitate hybrid and in-person workshops for 30 attendees in each session from different backgrounds, experiences, and languages (migrants, youth, CSOs staff, refugees, etc.).

Timeline

The total number of working days allocated for this consultancy is set at 20 days starting on April 07, 2025, and running until May 30, 2025.

Activity

Deadline

1. Conduct brief needs assessment to assess the needs of participants

19 April

1. Submit a comprehensive capacity building program (training material, handouts, pre and post-test, evaluation form, etc) for review

23 April

1. Oxfam review and sign-off on curriculum

30 April

1. Conduct 2 trainings (each of 4 days)

16 May

1. Submit a final report

24 May

Expected Outputs

The main expected outputs are:

• Detailed training curriculum and schedule
• Training delivery
• Pre and post assessment and evaluation survey
• Final report

Qualifications of the consultants/consultancy firm

• A masters’ Degree (or equivalent degree/experience) in finance management, etc.
• Extensive experience in finance management particularly in the NGOs sector
• A solid understanding of finance management frameworks and donors’ requirements.
• Familiarity with CSOs work in Lebanon.
• Excellent knowledge of the Lebanese context.
• Proven experience in developing manuals and training materials.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality written reports.
• Experience in using participatory workshop facilitation methodologies.
• Experience in delivering training in hybrid modality
• Excellent communications skills (written and oral) in English and Arabic.

Management of the assignment

The tasks and deliverables of the consultant will be coordinated with Masarouna’s project team at Oxfam in Lebanon. Oxfam team will review and provide feedback to training materials and reports, book venues for trainings sessions, hire interpreters if needed, and coordinate with the participants.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Interested consultant(s)/consulting firms should submit their:

• CVs of consultants and/or role of each consultant recruited under the scope of this assignment for firms;
• A cover letter detailing the interest in the assignment and relevant experience;
• A proposal including a detailed methodology and workplan;
• Financial proposal detailing the consultancy fees as well as all the costs associated with this assignment;
• A sample of relevant previous training material;
• Minimum of three references of similar activities implemented, preferably INGO or local NGO experiences;
• Registration and official government documents, if applicable. Noting that 8.5% will be deducted from the total amount if not registered.

Oxfam in Lebanon reserves the right to reject any and all bids, including the Bidding processes, or not to award the contract at any time, without thereby incurring and liability to the affected Bidders.

Please submit the full application documents (as mentioned above) to lebanonprocurement@oxfam.org.uk by March 23, 2025 midnight mentioning “Finance management training for CSOs” in the subject line.