UNIDO is looking for a Home based International Expert – Mapping Landscape for SME financings in Lebanon!

Home based International Expert – Mapping Landscape for SME financings in Lebanon

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Grade: ISA-Specialist 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Contract Duration: 30 working days over a period (incl. mission to Lebanon)
Application Deadline: 06-Feb-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

International Expert – Mapping Landscape for SME financings in Lebanon Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The Division of Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment.

The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

This International Expert – Mapping Landscape for SME financings in Lebanon position is located under the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEP/CER) which is responsible for supporting capacity development to scale up and mainstream the production of sustainable products and adoption of circular and resource-efficient cleaner patterns of consumption and production along value chains, circular economy policies, programmes, and practices, including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT PROJECT CONTEXT

The project entitled “Private sector transition to a green and circular economy in Lebanon” (210028) will contribute to a reform, recovery and reconstruction Framework (3RF) for Lebanon. The framework prepared by EU, WB and UN in consultation with government, donor and civil society, following the Beirut explosion in August 2020, aims building back better of Lebanese economy with promoting growth and job creation. The project funded by EU is executed by UNIDO. Through the project, EU and UNIDO collaborate to strengthen private sector and support “Startups, Micro and Small Enterprises, including women-led enterprises, develop sustainable, socially and gender responsive green and circular economy business models”.

UNIDO within the projects MED TESTII and III, contributed significantly to capacity building and identification of barriers, challenges and road map for future growth of industrial sector. Agricultural production in Lebanon is very much limited and perceiving adversity because of Climate Change (CC). Some agro-produces like citrus, grapes, olives, cereals, various other fruits and vegetables are very important resources and its efficient use and further value addition via industrial production is extremely important. Hence Food and Beverage (F&B) is priority sector for value addition and imports minimization. Energy import and power shortage has further constrained the industrial growth in the country.

With the overall objective of transitioning to green and circular economy, the project embraces Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology (TEST); resource efficient production and sustainable consumption following Circular Economy (CE) approach; facilitating the mobilization of investments and use of radially available renewable energy resources for the growth of Lebanese F&B industrial sector to generate more jobs and attain greening economy.

 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MAIN DUTIES

The execution of technical assistance to participating companies of the 2Circular project will result in the development of a pipeline of investment-ready projects in the resource efficiency and circular economy spaces. Most of identified projects will typically require capital investment to be implemented.

The 2Circular project supports the mapping exercise of national and international development finance schemes currently active or potentially interested in promptly investing in green and circular economy initiatives in Lebanon. The study shall provide detailed information about scope and target of available financial opportunities, commercial terms and conditions for accessing available products, compliance requirements, detailed information about application, evaluation and due-diligence processes; and other pieces of information essential for delivering effective technical assistance to participating companies and facilitating their matching with potential financers.

The assessment also explores the level of national financing institutions awareness about the link between ‘sustainable practices and profitability’ and, if not active in the sector, their potential interest in developing credit lines dedicated to industrial resource efficiency and green and circular business models.

Overseen by the Project Manager in Vienna, supervised by the Industrial Development Expert leading the project in Lebanon and in close collaboration with other members of the PMU, the International Expert – Mapping Landscape for SME financings will carry out the following tasks:

• Desk review of project documents, relevant literature, reports and databases related to SME finance in Lebanon. Propose approach, methodology and work plan to conduct a mapping study of national and international development finance schemes currently active in Lebanon.
• Design a clear framework for mapping including various parameters like financial institution details, product segment and typologies, investment ranges, target audiences, compliance requirements, and application processes. The framework must also include the appraisal of the awareness level that the analyzed financial schemes/institutions have regarding green project financing and their potential interest in offering financial support dedicated to industrial resource efficiency and green and circular business models.
• Identify key stakeholders and financial institutions, government and donor programmes and private initiatives providing investment and financial support to SMEs in Lebanon. 
• Engage with the Project Team to support the development of the presentation for showcasing RECP projects that have already been identified and implemented with UNIDO support in the country or in the region, along with their financial characteristics. This effort aims to raise awareness among Financial Institutions and prepare for upcoming interviews.
• Conduct the mapping assessment and collect data and information on existing financial services available for SMEs, as well as those in the pipeline for establishment. As part of this task, the expert is required to conduct a field visit in Lebanon to collect data over a period of 12 days (DSA for the mission is provided in addition to consultant fees) Additionally, the expert will need to employ online methods for further data collection and analysis.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced degree in Finance, Banking, Economics, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum 5 years’ professional experience in the field of development finance, banking, microfinance, with a specific focus on SME financing developed with relevant financial entities is required.
• Ability to conduct market research and feasibility studies is required.
• Strong financial and analytical skills and proficiency in assessing financial products and services targeting SMEs is required.
• Experience in emerging markets or developing countries in roles involving financial inclusion and SME development is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing SME finance projects, program development, in emerging markets and developing counties is highly desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values: 
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially. 

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner. 

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective. 

Key competencies: 
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity. 

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world. 

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work. 

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another. 

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