National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Investment skills - LEBANON

Polish Center for International AID (PCPM) is seeking a National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Investment skills - LEBANON

MASAR for Local Governments is a programme funded by the EU MADAD trust fund and implemented in Lebanon and Iraq. The overall aim of the programme is to strengthen the long-term resilience of targeted subnational governments and their host, refugee and IDP populations to deal with displacement.

MASAR has three objectives:

• To improve the capacities of subnational governments to engage in holistic, area-based planning and consider different scenarios that respond to the needs of host, refugee and IDP populations.
• To improve service delivery to generate greater social stability outcomes based on the needs of host, refugee and IDP populations.
• To empower subnational governments and service providers to facilitate local economic development and to have better access to municipal investment that benefit the extension of safe public services and create economic opportunities for host, refugee and IDP populations.

Background specific to the assignment:

On the Local Economic Development level, the three areas of interventions (AoI) of MASAR project in Lebanon face the same challenges related to long-term crisis in unemployment or consequences of displacement. Moreover, all the AoIs  have been severely affected by the consequences of the financial crisis as well as Covid-19 pandemic, which are likely to durably impact demographics, social relations, income generating activities, markets and consumer behaviour.

More then ever subnational governments need technical assistance to attract investments that create economic opportunities.

Whether in the North Lebanon area (Menieh Union of Municipalities and Wasat wa Sahil Qaytaa Union of Municipalities) or in Akkar (Dreib Unions of Municipalities) or Bekaa area (Deir El Ahmar Union of Municipalities and Municipality of Arsal), the implementing partners approach the LED with capacities development, promotion of community and cooperatives initiatives and economic and municipal investment plans.

In Menieh, the presence of active and committed economic stakeholders can bring added value to any future development plan at the union level. The geographical position of the union increases the readiness of small businesses and commercial activities developed around the highway.

The agricultural cooperatives in the Union of Municipalities of Deir El Ahmar and in Arsal municipality can be usefully capacitated to enable them to access the European and international market.

In Akkar, the planned activities in LED will benefit both cooperatives and SME’s and target as well the Tourism development.

Where possible MASAR Local Economic Development Pilot Projects are embedded in capacities development support such as entrepreneur/staff training & coaching, setting up and/or improvement of organisational systems & systems and or improved subnational coordination and regulations.