CONTRACTUALISATION OF A LAW FIRM - AMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL PROCESS ASSISTANCE

GENERAL

For 40 years, the humanitarian aid organization Solidarités INTERNATIONAL has been committed to providing aid in the event of conflict and natural disasters. Our mission is to provide aid as quickly and as efficiently as possible to endangered populations by meeting their vital needs: drinking water, food and shelter.

After an emergency, our humanitarian teams accompany the most vulnerable families and communities until they recover their livelihoods and self-sufficiency, to enable them to deal with the challenges of an uncertain future with dignity.

Solidarités INTERNATIONAL is particularly committed to fighting water-related diseases, the primary cause of death in the world today. Drawing on their expertise, our teams develop and carry out aid programs in the fields of water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as in the essential domains of food security and reconstruction.

1. CONTEXT:

With around 100 national employees and 5 international employees, it is important for the structure to be as close as possible to the respect of the law.

This is why Solidarites International is looking for a law firm that can demonstrate experience in legal advice to International NGOs.

2. OBJECTIVES:

The main objectives of this contract are:

• To assist SI with any legal issues that may happen by answering questions or providing legal advice via emails, messages or phone calls, with a maximum of a 48 hours window.
• In case of emergency, availability of the legal firm to answer our request within the same working day.
• To enable the legal firm to express an opinion on Solidarités International legal documents such as contracts, SoP, and Internal Staff Regulations;
• To assist Solidarités International with any legal and administrative process with the Lebanese authorities;
• To provide Solidarités international with a legal watch that allows Solidarites International to comply with any law or decree;
• To have a focal point from the legal firm dedicated to Solidarite’s International and if the focal point is absent or out of reach, another person (deputy) would answer our requests.
• Always share any legal decree, memo, law, regulation, or similar document relevant to INGOs as soon as it is issued by the government altogether with an analysis of the potential impact on Solidarites International.
• Representation of Solidarties International in front of local authorities.

3. EXPECTATIONS:

In a more specific, but neither exclusive nor restrictive, manner:

• To have a focal point from the legal firm dedicated to Solidarite’s International and if the focal point is absent or out of reach, another person (deputy) would answer our requests.

National regulations

• To provide a legal opinion on the Internal Staff Regulations review and its registration and legalization at the Ministry of Labor, as well as the update of the internal regulation whenever needed. To examine the actual Internal Staff Regulations of Solidarités INTERNATIONAL in regards to the Lebanese Labor Law and amendment acts to provide its recommendations to ensure its compliance with the legal framework.
• To assist Solidarites international with the Follow up and updating of the registration with the Lebanese authorities at the Ministry of Interior – NGO department (replacement of the representative of SI in Lebanon, submitting annual budget, amendments and updating the ministerial decree,...).
• Whenever requested to examine the actual contracts (employment, Daily Workers and  goods and services) of Solidarités INTERNATIONAL in regards to the Lebanese Labor Law and decrees to provide its recommendations to ensure its compliance with the legal framework.
• To provide a legal opinion on working hours, salary payment, holidays, trial periods, leaves, allowances, benefits.
• To assist Solidarités INTERNATIONAL with any contract termination process with the Ministry of Labor within the whole procedure with MoL and provide advices, follow up and updates when arises.
• Drafting and wording of agreements concerning the activities of SI in Lebanon, including lease contracts for office spaces, warehouses, and expatriates housing. Or MoU to be signed with any other partners.
• Introducing and following up administrative procedures in front of the different Lebanese public administrations: Ministry of Telecoms, Electricité Du Liban, Municipalities, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Social Affairs, Customs, General Security.
• To provide legal opinion and updates on any new regulation or legislation potentially affecting the NGO functionning.

Visas and residency, work permit

• To be in charge of handling the administrative process for the residency and Work permits for all the non-Lebanese employees at Solidarités INTERNATIONAL.
• To assist SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with any other legal issues that may happen by answering questions or providing legal advice for the visa and permits related matters via emails, messages or phone calls, preferably within a 24 hour swindow

Legal consultancy

• To assist SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with any other legal issues that may happen by answering questions or providing legal advice via emails, messages or phone calls, preferably a 48 hours window (with the clear exception of cases when longer periods of time are needed or for emergencies).

Representation to the court

• To represent and advice SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL in front of judicial institutions.

4. DURATION:

 1 year, renewable upon agreement.