Key Expert In Access To Finance

Expertise France, the French agency for international technical cooperation, has been entrusted with a major Private Sector Development Programme in Lebanon by the European Union. This project aims at increasing micro, small and medium enterprises competitiveness and participation in the economy by fostering their development and integration into value chains. The specific objective of the programme is to provide integrated non-financial and financial intermediation services to groups of Micro and SMEs in the agribusiness and wood processing sectors through the establishment, management and operation of market-oriented value chains and clusters, with special focus on enhancement of productivity and competitiveness. Value chains and clusters are considered as the most appropriate specific approach for achieving concrete results in terms of effective inter-business, inter-sectoral and private/public institutional linkages. The expected outputs are: - MSMEs are reorganised into stronger groups for a more efficient and cost-effective use of inputs and resources - Market positioning and market access of MSMEs in the targeted sectors are expanded - Access to finance is facilitated for needed investments; available funding instruments are better used - New jobs and inclusive employment are created as a result of increased production and sales The project is structured around 3 different components: Component 1: Agribusiness Value Chains Component 2: Wood Processing Value Chain Component 3: Access to finance More specifically in relation with the component 3 – Access to finance, the main rationale for the intervention in this field is based on two separate work streams: - Intervention to improve the financial inclusion of the value chain stakeholders -Intervention to foster the upgrading of equipment and infrastructure by subsidizing investments across the value chains Component 3 intervention is built around 4 different main actions: A.3.1. Increasing banking activity across the value chains and facilitating private investment A.3.2. Capacity Building of FI agents in lending to stakeholders across the value chains A.3.3. Improving the bankability of stakeholders across the value chains and encourage formal finance A.3.4. Setting up a Grant Fund to support equipment and infrastructure upgrading Position information Position: Key Expert in Access to Finance Country or Region Lebanon: Beirut + missions in Tripoli, and Bekaa region Duration: 2 years (220 men days / year) Deadline for submission of CV : 20/06/2017 Job description The Key Expert in Access to Finance will be responsible for the development and the oversight of the activities of Component 3 “Access to Finance”, aiming at achieving the attempted results of improving the financial inclusion of the value chain stakeholders and fostering the upgrading of equipment and infrastructure by subsidizing investments across the selected value chains. The Key Expert in Access to Finance will report directly to the Team Leader. Key Responsibilities Disseminate information and offer support and technical assistance to MSMEs : - Disseminate information on existing financing programs: start-up loans encouraging innovation in business models or technology, non-collateral loans, bank loans to support improved environmental management, eco-innovation and improved energy use. - Encourage clients to start building banking relationships - Assisting MSMEs in the financial structuring of their projects and loans application whenever needed and facilitate access to loans - Develop crop templates for the agricultural sector - Bank led competition or service to grow the sector (eg. BLC brilliant Lebanese awards and Audi Bank Grow my business). -Bank led service aimed at SME requirements, eg adapt BLC SME toolkit.   Disseminate information and offer support and technical assistance to Financial institutions (banks and Micro-finance institutions) that are likely to serve the sectors considered ; Increase and improve the quality of non-financial services related to access to finance among Business Development Support (BDS) providers by: - Participating in training sessions and agricultural information sessions, develop templates relevant to the sectors being supported. - Meeting with branch managers and staff of the financial institutions (with introductions arranged by the financial institution head office) located in the project target areas. - Share or offer to share publications and reports from the project, particularly sector studies. - Raise awareness within the financial institutions (Banks and MFIs) on MSMEs specific financial needs in both sectors in order to meet the needs. Design the detailed Grant fund mechanism: - Define, together with Kafalat, BIAT and CCIAZ the detailed Grant fund mechanisms (Methodology, tools, processes, logical framework and mitigation plans, continuous improvement activities) - Provide a periodic evaluation on the use of the Grant fund mechanisms and define the potential measures of mitigation if needed. - Provide a final evaluation on the use of the Grant fund detailing the benefit for the beneficiaries, the use of the Grant (Eg. Equipment, infrastructures), the impact on their business and technical capacities and the measures to make it sustainable in relation with other existing financial mechanisms and institutions. Cooperate with insurance companies to investigate development of micro insurance programs for small scale program clients, and with banks/leasing companies to develop leasing programs. More generally, As access to finance key expert, he will undertake the followings : - Identify and liaise with the Lebanese main financial operators for SMEs (banks, private equity funds, credit unions, trade unions…); - Support the team leader in identifying relevant activities to be implemented by the filed units (CCIAZ, BIAT) to support SMEs to overcome lack of finance sources; - Provide guidance and support to the filed units (CCIAZ, BIAT) in the implementation of the access to finance activities; - Ensure quality control of the implementation of the action through the setting up and following up of metrics. Qualifications and skills - University Degree preferably at Master level in Finance, Economics or Business Administration, or equivalent discipline; - Good knowledge of economic development stakeholders in Lebanon; - Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and spoken; French will be an advantage. General and specific professional experience - At least 10+ years’ experience working in economic development; - Experience as a key expert of access to finance related assistance projects will be an asset; - Knowledge of EU technical assistance project and processes. - A proven experience in the agricultural and/or wood sector would be considered as an advantage Contracting model The Key Expert will be recruited through a French service contract for 2 years with Expertise France in Paris. The successful applicant have to provide full coordinates of the company which is to be contracted by Expertise France or will be required to obtain a personal financial number from the Lebanese Ministry of Finance Required documents CV with references and Letter of Motivation Contacts : Nom prénom : Guillaume Vermeulen, CC Alexis Ghosn Courriels : guillaume.vermeulen@expertisefrance.fr  alexis.ghosn@expertisefrance.fr The process of selection of expressions of interest will occur in two phases: As a first step, a shortlist will be freely established by Expertise France. Selected candidates may then be invited for an interview. Fees for the services will be negotiated with the designated candidate.