Political Economic Local Expert

Assignment Description:

In order to better understand the context in which USAID/Lebanon can support businesses in, designing new economic growth programs, and improving on-going activities, USAID/Lebanon requested an assessment of business sector (MSME), access to trade finance and trade facilitation. The assessment will uncover how businesses access trade finance during these times of political and economic stress, and how trade facilitation is taking place.   It will look at current practices challenges and opportunities as well as provide recommendations moving forward based on the context. The assessment will start with a brief broad review of the current banking and finance sector and how they evolved into the dire state that is now observed. The assessment will also address Business Enabling Environment (BEE), private sector development, and the journey to self reliance (J2SR).  The assessment will focus on business sectors where USAID/Lebanon’s private sector development is invested.

SI is seeking an Assessment Team Member (Senior), with expertise in conducting Political Economic Assessments (PEA) and can provide the framework needed for this assessment. The TM will join a team of experts including two to three international and local experts and PMSPL II staff members to conduct the assessment. The expected start date for the expert is September 15 2020. The expert will be hired for the duration of the assessment. The deadline for the submission of the Draft Report to USAID is November 10 2020. The team member should be available for few days to review the final draft to be submitted to USAID in December. The expected number of LOEs is 40 days.

**Please note: This is a local position. Only candidates with [Lebanese] citizenship will be considered**

Responsibilities:

• During the pre-field work period, under direction of  TL, the TM will work with the assessment team to develop the assessment framework, fine tune the questions, design the methodology and data collection strategy, design the assessment tool guides (KIIs & FGD), and prepare an outline for data analysis.

• During the kick-off period, the TM will support the TL and assessment team to finalize the interview guides, finalize the logistics for the field work, draft and submit the inception report for USAID.

• At the field level, the TM will support the TL  and assessment team to finalize the interview guides key as well as prepare summaries of the interviews and meetings to be included in the assessment report.

• At the post-field work level, the TM will support the TL to analyze the data, write up sections of the report and assist in presenting main findings for USAID.

• The expert is expected to support the assessment team in responding to USAID comments on the draft report and support the team in submitting a final report to USAID mission.