Technical Coordinator – Lebanon Economic Reform and Infrastructure Investment (LERII) Programme

LERII is a 4-year DFID-funded programme implemented by DAI that will support the Lebanese Government in implementing economic reforms related to electricity, roads, water, waste management, PPPs, PFM, investment climate and macro-fiscal reforms. To help achieve these objectives, technical assistance (TA) services will be made available to the Lebanese government ministries and agencies who are involved in direct planning and delivery of infrastructure and economic reforms.

The Technical Coordinator plays a key role in the identification and delivery of LERII supported reform initiatives. The role will support the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead to build relationships with stakeholders, providing technical knowledge and input.  The role will also support the identification of reform areas through the development of technical approach papers, mini Theories of Change; workplans and proposals for reform initiatives. They will work closely with the Government of Lebanon departments to shape the nature of the technical assistance requests to ensure that they are financially feasible, sustainable and align with the programme Term of Reference. The Technical Coordinator is responsible for management of the successful and compliant delivery of the reform initiatives including managing the short-term technical assistance experts who are engaged to deliver assignments.

Reform Identification:

• Support the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead in the process of identifying reform initiatives;
• Regularly assess their sectoral contexts and emerging opportunities that will inform programme strategy and approaches;
• Developing technical approach papers; mini Theories of Change, and work plans to support reform identification and validation;
• Support GoL counterparts to develop and submit proposals for TA support for identified reform initiatives for the approval of LERII senior management team and strategic advisors;
• In close collaboration with the MEL Manager, develop MRM framework for each reform intervention (associated indicators, data collection method defined, disaggregation approach defined) to be verified by the MEL Manager.

Implementation of Reform Initiatives:

• Facilitate the provision and quality assure of all TA provided through the Facility;
• Act as the focal points for their respective GoL counterparts and lead the engagement, planning and implementation for respective technical support and ensuring that changes in the political or implementation context, lack of uptake, delays or new opportunities are flagged early and responded to proactively;
• Oversee, coordinate and manage work flows of technical delivery, in close coordination with the technical experts and TAF manager;
• With MEL Manager, track reform initiatives from initial request through to completion;
• Provide technical support or advice to the Senior Reform Lead in managing down-stream partners;
• Manage the short-term technical assistance experts who are engaged to deliver assignments, in close coordination with the technical experts and TAF manager;
• Develop synergies with other programmes operating in the same sectors and with the same key stakeholders to mitigate risk of overlap and duplication;

Learning, adapting and knowledge management:

• Collect data under the MEL Manager’s review and guidance and support data cleaning and analysis where appropriate;
• Identify and respond to opportunities arising from existing initiatives as well as challenges arising from political pressures;
• Using performance data, work with GoL focal points and other stakeholders to review progress of reforms to recommend a response as relevant (stop and document lessons; scale down or scale up and replicate) for the consideration of senior management;
• Development (or outsourcing of) Sectoral or Thematic research pieces and Policy Briefs;
• Support the documentation of and flow of feedback loops, ensuring frequent learning and horizon scanning throughout the LERII programme.

Any other related duties assigned by the Team Leader and the Senior Reform Lead 

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in public administration and/or economic reform and policy making in Lebanon addressing issues key to LERII programme (such as fiscal management reform, infrastructure investment, key sector reforms, governance, social accountability, anti-corruption). 
• Previous experience of having worked in an advisory capacity to government or other relevant national and international stakeholders.

• Excellent ability to write comprehensive and well-articulated policy assessments, notes, analyses and reports on governance and economic reforms.
• Strong understanding of Lebanon’s political economy and governance
• Understanding of bilateral donor programmes
• Very good presentation and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to manage, process and work with large amounts of data
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to relate to and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under tight deadlines on a continual basis
• Accuracy, attention to detail, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a fast-moving high- performing team
• Fluency in English (written and spoken)
• A degree in Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Public Administration, Sociology or other relevant discipline.