Senior Non-Key Expert (SNKE)

The EU-funded Project “Promotion of Social Dialogue in Lebanon” aims to enhance the capacity of the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Social Partners and Civil Society to be promoters of Social Dialogue in order to strengthen social protection and improve and enforce labour legislation.

This project is funded by the European Union under the “Social Justice Programme” (SJP), which is comprised of eight projects. The SJP programme’s objective is to advocate for democracy, human rights and social justice in Lebanon, promoting good governance and gender equality at its core. Overall, the SJP programme supports the strengthening of the institutional framework for the protection of human rights and the development of democratic governance in Lebanon

The specific purpose of the Technical Assistance Contract between the EU and GOPA Consultants is to increase the capacities of the Ministry of Labour and Tripartite Social Partners to be promoters of social dialogue.

Three results have to be achieved in order to reach the purpose:

1. Operational and legal framework for social dialogue developed
2. Institutional and technical capacity of the Ministry of Labour and its tripartite social partners is reinforced to promote social dialogue
3. Tripartite social dialogue and collective bargaining are promoted at national level

The main beneficiary of the project is the Ministry of Labour (MoL), especially the “Professions and Trade Unions Department” and the “Labour Inspection, Prevention and Safety Department” of the MoL.

Other beneficiaries and partners of the project are the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the National Employment Office (NEO), Employer Organizations, Trade Unions, Civil Society Organisations and other relevant stakeholders involved in Social Dialogue.

The purpose of this TOR is to define the tasks and responsibilities of a Senior Non Key Expert (SNKE) for the reinforcement of the capacities of ECOSOC to better perform its role as coordinator between various economic, social and vocational sectors in Lebanon and to better act as promoter of a genuine social dialogue.

In close collaboration with the Team Leader (TL), the technical services will be delivered by the SNKE for a period of up to 90 (ninety) working days.

1. Objectives of the assignment of the SNKE

The overall objective of the assignment of a SNKE is to enhance the networking, communication and coordination capacities of ECOSOC in order to better engage into social dialogue and become the promoters of a genuine social dialogue in Lebanon.

Under the supervision of the TL, the SNKE will mainly act as Coordinator and Liaison officer for ECOSOC and will provide advice, coaching and support for the Office of the ECOSOC President in establishing and maintaining proper working relations between ECOSOC and all relevant stakeholders of tripartite Social Dialogue in Lebanon, i.e. answer queries received by ECOSOC namely at policy level.

In addition, the SNKE will foster the cooperation and know-how transfer between ECOSOC and other, similar organizations for Social Dialogue abroad, mainly similar Economic and Social Councils from EU countries. Since ECOSOC is also a member of the Association of Arab Economic and Social Councils (AAESC), the Francophone Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (UCESIF), and the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS), the SNKE will also support ECOSOC and its President in maintaining and fostering the cooperation with these organizations.

2. Methodology and scope of work

The following key aspects shall be taken into consideration when designing and implementing capacity development activities for ECOSOC:

• Issues for tripartite social dialogue;
• Mission and mandates of tripartite bodies and organizations (e.g. core competencies);
• Structure of the organization (groups of constituents, presidency, executive office and functions, assemblies, specialized committees, secretariat, etc.), defined by the Lebanese Legislation
• Structure of similar organizations abroad (Best practice from the EU)

Under consideration of these methodological guidelines, and in close collaboration with the Team Leader (TL) and the President of ECOSOC, the SNKE will:

1. Prepare an implementation concept / work plan for approval by TL and the President of ECOSOC that clearly lays-out all the works to be undertaken under this assignment
2. Assist the office of the ECOSOC President to perform its role as coordinator between various economic, social and vocational actors in Lebanon and to better act as promoter of a genuine social dialogue in Lebanon
3. Assist the office of the ECOSOC President to further develop the cooperation with similar tripartite bodies for Social Dialogue in EU member states and other countries, relevant to the needs of ECOSOC
4. Support the office of the ECOSOC President in preparing and signing memorandums of cooperation, including provisions for know-how transfer
5. Provide administrative and conceptual support to the office of the ECOSOC President in organizing visits of delegations from international councils to Lebanon and arranging visits of ECOSOC Delegations to international councils abroad
6. Conduct research and review of best practices regarding organizational set up of organizations within the EU, similar to ECOSOC
7. Conduct a review and documentation of current work processes in ECOSOC
8. Review existing ECOSOC archiving system and databases and provide recommendations for improvement and further development
9. Foster the transfer of know-how between ECOSOC and other similar Economic and Social Councils, mainly from EU countries

In relation to the tasks 6, 7 and 8 above, the SNKE will closely cooperate and coordinate with another expert of the project, who is currently defining realistic requirements regarding the design, content and functionalities of a Management Information System (MIS) for ECOSCOC.

This list may not be exhaustive, and additional or other works (similar to the nature of this assignment) may be required by the TL or by the President of ECOSOC.

3. Place of work

The usual place of work is an office within the premises of ECOSOC, to be provided by ECOSOC.

In relation to the tasks of “know-how transfer” and “cooperation with foreign partners of ECOSOC from the EU”, short business trips to selected tripartite social dialogue bodies in EU member states might be necessary on exceptional basis, provided that they are approved in advance by GOPA and the responsible Task Manager at the EU Delegation.

4. Deliverables

The deliverables are as follows (requested language in brackets):

1. Implementation concept / work plan for the assignment (English)
2. Template for memorandums of cooperation, including provisions for know-how transfer (English, French or Arabic)
3. Preparation documents for visits of delegations from international councils to Lebanon (English, French or Arabic)
4. Preparation documents for visits of ECOSOC Delegations to international councils abroad (English, French or Arabic)
5. Report on best practice of organizational set up of organizations, similar to ECOSOC (English, French or Arabic)
6. Report on the current status of work processes within ECOSOC including recommendations for improvement (English, French or Arabic)
7. Recommendations on the set up the Archiving, Establishing Databases etc. (English, French or Arabic)
8. Sample documents, relevant for the development of ECOSOCs capacity, collected from foreign partners and made available for ECOSOC (English, French or Arabic)
9. Monthly Timesheets and short monthly progress reports (English)
10. Final report (soft and hard copy) in English, summarizing the main tasks, fulfilled during the assignment and the achievements. All documents / outputs developed during the assignment have to be attached to the final report.

5. Time line and working days (up to 90 wd)

Works shall be implemented in the period from July 2018 until the end of the project in December 2018.

In order to deliver all the services requested, in total up to 90 working days are foreseen.

6. Language

In principle, documents and deliverables for the official or internal use of ECOSOC are to be provided in English, French or Arabic, as requested by the President of ECOSOC and appropriate according to their nature.

However, Reports and Documents to be presented for approval to the TL and to the EU (i.e. work plan, monthly progress reports and the final report) have to be provided in English.

7. Qualification and Experience of the Expert

Qualification and key competences:

• Master Degree in Public Administration, Social Science, Political Science, Economy, Law or other fields, relevant for this assignment
  or a Bachelor degree with five (5) years of additional specific professional experience, related to the assignment
• Excellent verbal communication skills in English, French and Arabic
• Excellent writing and editing skills in English, French and Arabic (the CV provided will be used as one of the main proofs)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Understanding and application of the consulting principle of capacity development
  (proven by previous assignments and / or relevant further training)

Professional experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience (after first graduation) as expert, manager, researcher or advisor in organizations, related to Economic and Social Development and/or Social Dialogue
• Minimum five (5) years of specific working experience on expert or management level in organizations, concerned with socio-economic development and promotion of social dialogue with focus on networking , cooperation and know-how transfer between organizations
• Experience in ENPI region is an asset;
• Demonstrable working experience in capacity development, communication and networking (at least 3 similar assignments)

• Familiar with the Lebanese Scene and Key Actors in Socioeconomic Development and Tripartite Social Dialogue (like Business Associations, Chambers, Trade Unions, CSO, State Organizations), verified by track record of works / previous assignments, including publications.
• Familiarity with the international scene of Social Dialogue and key actors of Social Dialogue in Europe is an asset