Finance Specialist - Consultant

I. INTRODUCTION Project Background Information The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative is an ongoing, multi-year project funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the United States Forest Service (USFS), implementing a community-based reforestation program that has resulted so far in the planting of more than half- a-million native trees throughout Lebanon since 2011.  The project promotes a community-led approach to reforestation, bringing together diverse committed municipalities, community stakeholders, Lebanese civil society organizations, and other actors such as the private sector, to restore and replant degraded community lands. With administrative offices in Beirut, LRI technical experts manage a multi-year work program of activities throughout Lebanon in collaboration with grassroots organizations and local communities. NFF (National Forest Fund) In recognition of the significant value of Lebanon’s forests, and in response to the persistent threats they face, the Government of Lebanon has committed to a range of strategic objectives to protect and further harness opportunities the sector provides.  Two programs guiding this effort are the National Forest Program (2015-2019) and 40 million Trees Program, both of which focus on large-scale, sustainable reforestation linked to environmental and socio-economic benefits.  Establishment of an independent National Forestry Fund (NFF) to support increasing of forest cover from 13% to 20% by 2030 is central to the implementation of these programs’ objectives.  Phase 1 (Feasibility): Completed. In response to the Lebanese Government guidance for a large scale and sustainable reforestation programme, FAO supported a feasibility assessment on establishing a National Forest Fund (NFF) for Lebanon in close collaboration with the Lebanese Reforestation Initiative (LRI). The feasibility study was carried out in Q4 of 2016 and was presented during Q1/Q2 2017 to the government, the civil society and the development partner stakeholders, along with the Banque du Liban (BDL).  The NFF feasibility study highlighted options for the NFF establishment based on the FAO technical report “Towards effective national forest funds”.  Accordingly, the study framework consists of four components key to the success of the Lebanese NFF: 1) governance, 2) utilization, 3) capitalization, and 4) oversight. Phase 2 (Design): Underway. Each of the four NFF components was discussed with stakeholders to determine preferred options for future NFF design work. The NFF Design Phase is currently underway and is planned from August to December 2017. To support design phase activities, a core team comprised of a: 1) NFF design team leader, 2) local coordinator, 3) financial specialist and 4) forest management specialist is being established.  The local coordinator and specialist positions will be based in Beirut to facilitate the day-to-day stakeholder engagement informing key deliverables under the overall guidance of the International team leader (home based).  Additional backstopping support including technical advisory and review services, administrative and logistical support will be provided by the FAO offices in Beirut and Rome. The core fund design team will work to deliver on the below priority activities over the 5-month design project.  The development of the Fund Design Document, Operational Manual and TORs in particular will feature substantial and iterative stakeholder engagement and co-development, in the case of BDL and MoA.  *Note: exact dates and nature of stakeholder engagement events (e.g. kick-off meetings and validation workshops) are TBD. Under the overall supervision of NFF expert team at both FAO and LRI, and in close collaboration with the NFF Design lead, and the local coordinator, the financial specialist consultant will support the development of detailed financial instruments and modalities to be used by the Fund in partnership with the BDL for operationalization in the Lebanese context. Key tasks of the financial specialist will include supporting development of relevant inputs for the: NFF Design Document, NFF Operational Manual, Resource Mobilization Strategy and Other Operational Phase preparations as needed.  The above inputs will require intensive stakeholder consultation and co-development with BDL to ensure that design modalities are of international standard and well suited to the unique context of Lebanon. The total number of working days (WD) for the input assignment is 50 WD. II. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNEMENT LRI seeks a Finance Specialist as a consultant to help in the designing phase of the National Forest Fund. The tasks are divided as follow: NFF Design Document The NFF design process will begin with development of a founding document for the NFF or NFF Design Document.  This document will follow the framework and component structure of the NFF Feasibility Study (governance, utilization, capitalization, M&E).  Below are key sectional elements for financial specialist inputs to the NFF Design Document: Utilization of Funds:  Covering elements including investment framework (technical appraisal), as well as the Fund’s financial structure, instruments and terms and conditions Capitalization and replenishment:  Covering key elements including public and private resource mobilization M&E and oversight:  Covering key elements including the overall design of financial management and oversight   Output: Detailed sectional inputs to the Design Document covering the above elements.       2. NFF Operational Manual Fund operationalization will require development of an Operational Manual approved by the Board of Trustees, once established.  The proposed OM will be comprised of sections including:  Project Screening Procedures, M&E Procedures, Financial Management Procedures, Governance Structure ToRs, Operational Costs, among others. The financial specialist will provide inputs to the OM including relevant support to development of: NFF application forms Technical appraisal process Annual review process for overall Fund performance Financial performance evaluation processes (every 3 years) Roles and responsibilities for financial reporting, M&E Auditing Procurement and financial management procedures Scenario operational costs Output: Detailed inputs to the Operational Manual covering the above elements.       3. NFF Resource Mobilization Strategy The NFF Feasibility study evaluated possible sources of NFF capitalization covering national, international, public and private sources of finance. Further design-stage work is required to develop capitalization opportunities, particularly within the Lebanese private sector and among interested development partners.  Towards this, the financial specialist will support the following activities as part of the NFF’s wider Resource Mobilization Strategy: Closely engage with identified interested development partners (USAID, EU, Italian Corporation, etc) Closely engage with relevant private sector associations and businesses to identify opportunities for direct capitalization, co-financing or technical assistance, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  Continue work initiated by FAO on potential crowd funding opportunities among the Lebanese diaspora. Key question:  How can the capitalization model be self-sustaining in the long-term? What type of mix between sources should be favored? Output:  Support laying the groundwork of initial NFF seed funding and medium-term capitalization modalities, as well as technical assistance (in-kind) support towards operationalization.      4. Other Operational Phase preparatory activities The financial specialist will have a central role in managing a working relationship with BDL on the ground in Lebanon.  The primary outcome of this work will include an: Draft with BDL key principles on the NFF partnership and financial instruments, terms and conditions and operational modalities. N.B. All relevant information and documentation will be provided to the selected consultant prior to the start of the assignment: NFF Feasibility Study (2017) and briefing document The 40 MT Programme The Lebanese National Forest Programme (NFP) First Lebanese NFF concept (based on previous FAO consultations) FAO technical publications on National Forest Funds FAO FLR-Mechanism planning documents for Lebanon BTOR of the scoping mission on NFF establishment on May 9-12 Key milestones and activities for the design phase include: Convert the feasibility study into an NFF fund design document, with additional sections including an NFF results management framework and a resource mobilization strategy (From August to September); Develop an NFF Operational Manual detailing step-by-step how the fund will operate (From August to October); ToRs for NFF governance structures to inform NFF establishment in the context of a project-based approach, i.e. steering and technical committees, and PMU project management unit (From September to October); A resource mobilization strategy with the aim to identify initial public and/or private seed capitalization (From September to November); Initial website including an access mechanism for project applicants (From October to December);  Awareness raising activities in the form of targeted stakeholder outreach (From August to December. In addition to the above essential design phase activities, two complimentary activity areas need to be advanced in parallel: Design of a draft decree for NFF establishment in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture in the form of a Public Benefit Association to ensure administrative and financial autonomy (From August to December); Plan for an operationalization phase of 1-3 years, identifying a development partner willing to support the project to operationalize the fund.  Core operationalization phase activities include: establishing NFF steering and technical committees, staffing an NFF PMU and securing funds and running initial funding cycles (From September to December).  III. REQUIREMENTS The Finance Specialist should possess the following competencies, skills, and experience: At least 7 years of work experience in a relevant field including fund establishment, financial oversight and management. Experience with Lebanese institutions and financial management modalities. Direct experience working with BDL is desired. Must be based in Lebanon for the period of August to December 2017. IV. Contact Information For further information or to submit a letter of interest and accompanying curriculum vitae, please contact: Lebanon Reforestation Initiative:       info@lri-lb.org before August 25th. Interviews will be done on a rolling basis