Legal Consultant

The Alliance2015 Partnership, represented by lead agency ACTED, Cesvi, Concern and Hivos, is running a program that aims to address root causes of conflict and instability in Lebanon, through the creation of sustainable income-generating and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations. Over three years, Alliance2015 partners will work directly with 1,800 individuals, 18 Social Development Centers (SDCs) and at least 27 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Lebanon.

The integrated program targets vulnerable communities with economic inclusion activities through three main pathways:

(A) Building the capacity of SDCs leads to an improved delivery of livelihood-related services;

(B) Improving the technical and soft skills of vulnerable individuals to ensure increased participation in the private sector job market; and

(C) Improving the capacity of the private sector leads to growth and job creation.

Activities include providing livelihood-related resources, assets and renovations to each targeted SDC; offering TVET and soft skills training, paid apprenticeship programs and job-matching services to vulnerable individuals; and providing businesses development services and value chain support to MSMEs.

This assignment is solely focused on Outcome Pathway C with specific focus on activity 3.1: Provide counseling and coaching to MSMEs, including establishing linkages to existing business development services.

Lebanon has been recently developing a conducive ecosystem for MSMEs due to their role in transforming the Lebanese economy into an open one. MSMEs are now considered an essential part of the economic recovery plan where 90% of enterprises currently active in Lebanon can be categorized as MSMEs. If on the one hand MSMEs contribute to the vitality of the market economy, on the other hand they still face significant obstacles to their development: unstable economic conditions, fast-changing technologies and globalization, high presence of small family-run and informal business, stagnation and high emigration levels with subsequent poor talent retention, lack of technical expertise and highly skilled workforce, and other legal, regulatory and taxation challenges.

In addition to that, many Micro and Small businesses are run by individuals with a high level of expertise in a specific industry, but who often lack basic knowledge in business management, administration, human resources, etc.

In order to tackle these obstacles and support MSMEs in their growth, Cesvi is currently supporting 8 MSMEs through financial, technical and in-kind grants. Within this component, Cesvi is hiring a Legal Consultant who will fully assist 5 business owners in registering their entrepreneurial activity (the final number will be confirmed before the contract signature) so that they will be able to complete their BUSINESS REGISTRATION in front of the relevant national authorities.

The business consultant will work together with Cesvi’s staff to:

• Carry out a registration assessment on the selected businesses (5): the assessment should aim at identifying the best registration process for each business, inclusive of timing and costs, and should be fully reported to Cesvi
• After consultation with Cesvi team, provide the selected businesses with full assistance on the registration process, assembling all the required documents for them to obtain the registration, presenting the above mentioned documents to the relevant authorities and face any bottleneck that might arise during the registration process.
•  Share with Cesvi all the relevant information on each business registration in order to be able to follow up in a timely manner.
• Ensure the smooth process of registration
• Manage any obstacles or challenges that hindering the registration process.

In order to achieve the expected results, the consultancy will entail, among other things preparing recommendations and presenting them to Cesvi and business owners.

General coordination

• Attend all meetings as requested by Cesvi
• Meet with business owners when needed and according to the workplan established with Cesvi

Assessments and field visits to business sites

• Meet with business owners when needed and according to the workplan established with Cesvi

Draft reports and recommendations 

• Prepare a first report inclusive, for each business, of all the needed steps for the business registration
• Prepare intermediate reports with recommendations, as established by the work plan approved by Cesvi

Requirements

Knowledge/Experience

• At least 3 years of experience working as Legal Consultant
• At least 3 years of experience working in the field of companies’ registration
• Should possess a proven knowledge and expertise gained through similar assignments
• Law background

Skills

• Excellent writing and organizational skills, with high attention to details
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Analytical and problem solving skills, willingness to collaborate in problem-solving

Personal Attributes

• Be honest, trustworthy, and respectful
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity to needs of vulnerable populations
• Take initiative and is open to continuous learning and constructive criticism