Expression of Interest - TA to MEHE Senior Consultant – Establishment of Finance and Planning Unit (FPU) - 72.3038.6-001.00

1. Introduction

About the Project: The Technical Assistance (TA) to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) is a critical initiative funded by the European Commission under contract NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/440-883. This project aims to build a more resilient education system that delivers quality, inclusive, and safe education for all children in Lebanon, even in the midst of ongoing crises including war and other challenging circumstances.

This EOI invites qualified professionals to express their interest in the position of Senior Consultant for the establishment of MEHE's Finance and Planning Unit (FPU) to provide specialized expertise in institutional financial system development and Public Financial Management (PFM) reform.

2. Description of the Assignment

The Senior Consultant will serve as the principal technical advisor for establishing a fully operational Finance and Planning Unit within MEHE. This role requires working directly with the Minister of Education, Finance Manager, and Chief Accountant to design, implement, and institutionalize financial structures, workflows, and tools that ensure sustainability and alignment with national and international PFM standards and donor expectations.
Duration: Up to 50 working days (within 6 months)

Reporting to: Minister of Education (via coordination with Finance Manager and Chief Accountant)

3. Key Responsibilities

The selected consultant will be responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• Institutional Framework Design: Develop the internal governance structure for the FPU including roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines, along with comprehensive SOPs for financial workflows
• Foundational Tools and Systems: Prepare a Budget Preparation Toolkit (v1) aligned with MEHE's reform plan, develop a Donor Coordination & Reporting Matrix, and draft a Capacity Development Plan for FPU staff
• Integration and Alignment: Ensure compatibility of MEHE's financial processes with MoF Chart of Accounts and donor reporting standards, provide recommendations for data integration between accounting, EMIS, and donor tracking systems
• Capacity Transfer and Institutionalization: Conduct training workshops for finance staff, provide coaching to Finance Manager and Chief Accountant, and deliver a comprehensive exit package with sustainability roadmap

4. Expected Deliverables

• Inception Note (within 10 working days): work plan, methodology, priority areas
• Draft FPU Governance Framework & SOPs (working day 30)
• Budget Preparation Toolkit (tested and validated)
• Donor Coordination Matrix (aligned with UNICEF, WB, GPE)
• 2-3 staff training sessions with comprehensive materials
• Final Institutionalization Report with sustainability roadmap (working day 50)

5. Qualifications and RequirementsEducational Requirements:

• Master's degree in finance, Economics, Public Administration, or related field.

General Professional Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in PFM reform or donor-funded technical assistance in ministries or large corporates
• Proven experience in politically sensitive and challenging environments

Specific Professional Experience:

• Proven record in setting up financial units, governance frameworks, and institutional structures
• Extensive experience in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for financial workflows
• Solid track record in budget preparation systems and donor reporting frameworks
• Hands-on experience in capacity building, coaching, and mentoring of finance professionals and senior officials
• Experience in financial system integration and data management across multiple platforms
• Knowledge of Lebanese PFM standards and donor frameworks (IPSAS, GPE, WB) (highly desirable)

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Arabic and English