Expression of Interest for a Professional Finance and Admin Expert -CCI project 19.2364.8-010.00

Background on Project :

GIZ implements a global project on Culture and Creative Industries (CCI). The 3-year project, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), aims at improving the prospects for employment and income for micro, small and mediums enterprises (MSME) and entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries in the selected partner countries.

It will do so by working in four different areas of action: 1) improving offers to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities and activities of MSME and entrepreneurs in the culture and creative industries; 2) improving services by local intermediary organizations for MSME and entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries (access to information, advocacy, access to markets etc.) as well as establishment of regular round table formats for improving framework conditions in the sector; 3) transnational exchange between relevant actors in the sector, also for international visibility and promotion of the cultural and creative industries; 4) strengthen resilience of cultural and creative entrepreneurs and their support organisations in times of Covid19.

The target group of the project are male and female cultural and creative entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, business start-ups, owners of MSMEs and their employees. Furthermore, interest representation groups and support groups and systems of the sector are partners of the project. In Lebanon the focus is on the cultural subsector design, fashion, animation and music.

 Context

In Lebanon, Animation is one of the sub-sectors that The GP CCI focuses on. One of the partners in Lebanon, Metropolis cinema,  will be reinforced to improve in procurement procedures, financial reporting and invoicing within a Grant Agreement. To do so, an external consultant hired by the GP CCI is needed.

2. Description of service

1. The contractor shall provide the following service:

• Review current internal policies and advise Metropolis cinema on how to bring these in line with current local and international best practice.
• Collaborate with Metropolis cinema to develop a procurement policy.
• Collaborate with Metropolis cinema to develop processes of accounting and finance that are compliant with GIZ’s and potential other donors’ requirements.
• Draw up policies and appropriate support documentation in the abovementioned fields.
• Document a policy on an exchange rate for international donors.
• Collaborate with Metropolis cinema to develop policies and processes to identify, analyse, monitor, prevent and/or mitigate both the organisation and industry effect on the environment, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), conflict and contextual sensitivity, human rights, gender equality etc.
• Provide mentorship and hands-on advice to Metropolis cinema team members to ensure that they understand the contents of all policies.
• Collaborate with Metropolis cinema to develop processes of accounting and finance that are compliant with GIZ’s and potential other donors’ requirements
• Provide detailed guidelines for the process of submitting invoice and other documents to GIZ after each pre-financing period and upon the final financial statements, including the necessary information that need to be mentioned on the documents. The guidelines should extend to outlining the structure of the reports which are requested in the grant agreement with GIZ.

The resulting policy and process documents as set out above, will need to be drawn up or amended (if already existing) in cooperation with the relevant Metropolis cinema team members. They are to be produced in English language in addition to Arabic. This can include workshops on the same (respecting all valid COVID-19 protocols) and in cognisance of local and international law and best practice.

2.1  Objective of assignment

The assignment seeks the services of a professional finance and/or legal advisor to share his expertise with Metropolis cinema in order to facilitate the procedures and avoid any future problems when it comes to invoicing and other issues.

2.2  Quality standard

The Contractor, having the related d  egree and experience in Finance and Procurement Regulations, preferable in the context of GIZ, guarantees that the advices shared are what is needed to faciliate the procedures of Grant agreements following GIZ rules.

Qualifications desired:

Education: University qualification (post graduate degree/master’s) in Finance and/or Legal Affairs

Professional experience: 10 years’ experience in conducting assessments and due diligence reviews in analysing legislation, policies and procedures

Specific professional experience: 5 years experience in consulting on policies and procedures

Language Skills: Business fluency in English and Arabic

Other: Evidence of experience and familiarity with the GIZ approach and requirements/other donors' requirements of finance and procurement standards would be an advantage, as well as ezperience in mentorship