UN Women: Strategy, Budget Oversight and Executive Learning Consultant, Beirut, Lebanon - National Consultant - Home-Based

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women’s mandate includes supporting inclusive governance for Member States. Globally, UN Women is a partner of choice for the provision of technical support, capacity building, research and data and facilitates platforms to convene stakeholders around inclusive governance issues. UN Women supports governments and national institutions in strengthening inclusive governance systems that promote accountability, participation, transparency and equality. Through its work on women's leadership, gender-responsive public administration, institutional transformation and governance reform, UN Women contributes to building public institutions that are representative, responsive and capable of delivering equitable public services. Recognizing that governance excellence and inclusion are mutually reinforcing, UN Women promotes governance systems that integrate gender equality, women's leadership, disability inclusion, ethical leadership, integrity and citizen-centred approaches into institutional policies, systems and decision-making processes.

UN Women’s approach is grounded on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, particularly goal 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. 

Strengthening effective, accountable, transparent and inclusive public institutions remains central to Lebanon's governance reform agenda. In line with ongoing efforts to strengthen public sector governance and institutional performance, the Government of Lebanon, through the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR), has established the flagship National Governance Program for Public Boards and Leadership (NGP). The programme responds to the recent appointment of more than 140 public officials across public boards, regulatory authorities, first-grade positions and other public institutions, recognizing the need to equip newly appointed and existing public leaders with the competencies required to effectively discharge their governance responsibilities.

The NGP seeks to establish a common governance foundation across Lebanon's public institutions by strengthening the leadership, oversight and governance capacities of board members and senior public officials. The programme contributes to improving institutional effectiveness, accountability, transparency, integrity and public trust by promoting sound governance practices, ethical leadership and evidence-informed decision-making across the public sector. Designed as a sustainable executive learning programme, the initiative is intended to become an institutionalized induction programme for current and future public board members and senior public officials.

The programme consists of ten integrated executive learning modules covering key governance themes, including public administration, board governance, strategic oversight, risk management, procurement governance, integrity, digital transformation, institutional oversight, public value and innovation, culminating in a governance simulation laboratory. Module 3: Strategy and Budget Oversight focuses on strengthening the capacity of public board members and senior public leaders to provide strategic direction, oversee institutional planning, monitor organizational performance, and exercise effective oversight of institutional budgets and financial resources. The module equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to oversee the development and implementation of institutional strategies, monitor performance against strategic objectives and key performance indicators, review and approve budgets, oversee financial performance, and promote accountability, transparency, and the efficient stewardship of public resources. It further strengthens participants' ability to exercise strategic oversight while ensuring alignment between institutional priorities, financial planning, and long-term organizational sustainability in accordance with international good governance standards and the Lebanese institutional context.

In cooperation with the OMSAR, UN Women seeks to recruit a National Consultant to design, develop and deliver Module 3: Strategy and Budget Oversight of the National Governance Program for Public Boards and Leadership (NGP). Building upon the approved curriculum framework, the consultant will develop and deliver a comprehensive executive learning package adapted to the Lebanese institutional context. 

The consultant is expected to design, develop and deliver a high-quality executive Learning Module that equips board members and senior public leaders with the competencies, judgement, practical tools and leadership capabilities required to exercise effective, accountable, ethical and inclusive governance. The module shall emphasize experiential learning, executive-level instruction and practical application through Lebanese governance case studies, board simulations, governance diagnostics, practical tools and decision-making exercises that participants can immediately apply within their respective institutions.

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UN Women Representative and the direct supervision of the Governance and Participation in Public Life Programme Manager, in close coordination with OMSAR and relevant national stakeholders contributing to the implementation of the National Public Board and Leadership Governance Programme. The consultant will be reporting to the Governance and Participation in Public Life (GPPL) Programme Manager along with OMSAR’s focal point, and will be supported by GPPL Programme Associate, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Objective of the consultancy

The overall objective of this consultancy is to design, develop and deliver a Learning Module on Strategy and Budget Oversight that strengthens the governance capacities of public board members and senior public leaders to exercise effective strategic oversight, monitor institutional performance, oversee financial planning and budgeting processes, and promote accountable, ethical and inclusive governance in line with international standards and the Lebanese institutional context. 

The Learning Module should integrate principles of inclusive governance and gender equality and disability inclusion, among others (refer the section Guiding Principles of this ToR), and will be institutionalized within the National Governance Program for Public Boards and Leadership.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work 

The consultant will be responsible for designing and developing a high-quality executive learning module on Strategy and Budget Oversight as part of the NGP. Building upon the approved curriculum framework, the consultant shall produce a comprehensive executive learning package that equips board members and senior public leaders with the competencies, practical tools and decision-making capabilities required to exercise effective, accountable, ethical and inclusive governance within Lebanon's public institutions. 

The consultant shall undertake, at a minimum, the following tasks: 

Task 1. Drafting of an Inception Report

The consultant is expected to submit an Inception Report outlining the proposed methodology of the Learning Module, including workplan and suggested outcomes, methodology and practical application. The inception report will be reviewed by UN Women and OMSAR before approval.

The inception report should demonstrate a clear understanding of the NGP’s objectives and relevant governance frameworks to ensure that the executive learning module reflects both the Lebanese institutional context and internationally recognized governance standards, including understanding of:

• OMSAR’s Module architecture, learning objectives and expected competencies for Module 3 of the NGP.
• Relevant Lebanese constitutional, legal and institutional frameworks governing public administration, public institutions, governing bodies and boards;
• Applicable governance legislation, administrative regulations and institutional policies relevant to board governance and public sector oversight;
• Internationally recognized public governance standards and good practices on inclusive governance and high-level formation of public officials, including Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, OECD Public Governance Principles, IFC Corporate Governance Methodology, United Nations governance frameworks (including SDGs) and other relevant international guidance.

Task 2. Development of the Learning Module Package 

Based on the approved inception report, the consultant shall design and submit the Learning Module package, aligned with OMSAR’s Module architecture and technically validated with UN Women and OMSAR. The package shall be technically sound, practically relevant, and ready for implementation within the NGP. All materials shall integrate practical examples, governance tools, and integrate international good practices and align with the consultancy’s Guiding Principles (see below), adapted to the Lebanese public sector context.

It shall include, at minimum:

• A Learning Guide outlining the module rationale, competency framework, learning outcomes, methodology, facilitation approach, and assessment strategy.
• A Participant Handbook/Workbook containing technical content, practical guidance, governance tools, reflection questions, templates, and recommended readings.
• A Facilitator Guide with detailed session plan, facilitation notes, discussion questions, learning activities, and debriefing guidance.
• Executive-level presentation materials (e.g., PowerPoint presentations) supported by speaker notes and appropriate visual aids.
• Lebanese governance case studies, practical scenarios, and simulations relevant to the roles and responsibilities of boards and governing bodies.
• Interactive learning activities and practical exercises, including governance diagnostics, role plays, decision-making simulations, peer learning activities, or other experiential learning methods.
• A Governance Toolkit, including decision-making frameworks, governance tools, templates, checklists, and self-assessment instruments to support effective board governance.
• Additional learning resources, including recommended readings and digital learning resources, where appropriate.
• Time allocation for the content section per session.

The consultant is also expected to ensure quality assurance and consistency across all learning materials, including:

• Apply consistent terminology and visual identity.
• Maintain consistency in learning outcomes, instructional methodologies and assessment approaches.
• Ensure an appropriate level of complexity for junior and senior executive-level participants.
• Ensure alignment with Lebanese legislation and international governance standards.
• Maintain coherence with the overall NGP architecture to ensure seamless integration with the remaining executive learning modules.

Task 3. Delivery of the Module

The consultant shall be responsible for the effective delivery of the Module, ensuring a high-quality, interactive, and participant-centred discussion that supports the programme's objectives and promotes the practical application of governance principles within the Lebanese public sector. 

The consultant shall:

• Deliver the Module of the NGP in accordance with the approved package and methodology.
• Tailor the delivery to the profile and experience of participants while ensuring consistency with the programme's learning objectives.
• Encourage peer learning and the exchange of experiences among participants, drawing on practical examples and international good practices relevant to the Lebanese public sector.
• Respond to participants' questions and provide technical guidance throughout the sessions.
• Document key observations, recurring governance challenges, and recommendations emerging from the sessions, and submit a brief post-session report.

Guiding Principles

• Innovation and Executive Learning Methodology

The executive learning module shall move beyond traditional lecture-based training by incorporating interactive and experiential learning approaches appropriate for executive-level participants. 

The consultant shall integrate, where appropriate:

• Real Lebanese governance dilemmas.
• Executive decision simulations.
• Board deliberation exercises.
• Role plays.
• Committee simulations.
• Peer learning.
• Executive roundtable discussions.
• Reflection exercises.
• Governance clinics.
• Problem-solving workshops.
• Scenario-based learning.
• Governance diagnostics.
• Executive coaching questions.
• Structured debriefing sessions.
• Integration of Cross-Cutting Themes

• Integration of Cross-Cutting Governance and Inclusivity Principles

The consultant shall ensure that the following themes are mainstreamed across the executive learning module rather than presented as standalone topics:

• Gender equality.
• Women's leadership and participation in public decision-making.
• Disability inclusion and accessibility.
• Integrity and ethics.
• Accountability and transparency.
• Conflict sensitivity.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Citizen-centred governance.
• Public value.
• Prevention of discrimination.
• Inclusive leadership.
• Evidence-informed decision-making.

These themes shall be integrated across learning outcomes, case studies, practical exercises, governance tools, facilitator guidance, discussion questions and assessment methodologies.

Deliverable	Expected completion time (due day)	Payment Schedule
Deliverable 1: Inception Report: Submission of an outline detailing the proposed methodology of the Learning Module, including workplan and suggested outcomes, methodology and practical application.	Two weeks after contract signature	15%
Deliverable 2: Draft and Submit Executive Learning Package: Development and submission of a complete draft executive learning package for Module 3, including the Learning Guide, Participant Handbook, Facilitator Guide, PowerPoint presentation, Speaker Notes, Lebanese Case Study Pack, Practical Exercises, Governance Toolkit, Assessment Package, Reference List, Style Guide and all editable source files, and conduct the technical validation workshop with UN Women and OMSAR.	Twelve weeks after contract signature	30%
Deliverable 3: Delivery of the Module (6 sessions): Delivery of the approved package submitted under Deliverable 2 to the first six cohorts as per the workplan agreed during the inception report and post-session observation reports.	Sixteen weeks after contract signature	30%
Deliverable 4: Delivery of the Module (4 sessions): Delivery of the approved package submitted under Deliverable 2 to the remaining cohorts as per the workplan agreed during the inception report and post-session observation reports.	Twenty-two weeks after contract signature	25%

Language and Format

• All deliverables shall be developed and submitted in Arabic.
• UN Women may request an English executive summary of key deliverables for internal coordination, reporting, or donor communication purposes.
• All deliverables shall be submitted in fully editable electronic formats (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as applicable). 

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a hybrid consultancy. The consultant will primarily work remotely and is expected to attend UN Women, the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR), or other designated venues in Lebanon, as required, to deliver in-person sessions under the National Governance Program and participate in related meetings, workshops, or consultations. No official travel outside Lebanon is anticipated under this assignment unless otherwise agreed in writing with UN Women.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated expertise in public sector governance, institutional governance, board governance or public administration.
• Strong knowledge of governance principles, accountability frameworks and oversight mechanisms.
• Excellent instructional design and curriculum development skills, particularly for executive or adult learning programmes.
• Ability to translate complex governance concepts into practical and engaging learning materials.
• Experience designing competency-based learning programmes and executive education curricula.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent drafting, editing and presentation skills in Arabic, with the ability to prepare professional documentation in English when required.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of gender-responsive governance, women's leadership and disability inclusion is an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills with a strong drive for results and the ability to work independently while managing multiple stakeholders and competing priorities are desirable.
• Excellent drafting, communication, and presentation skills in Arabic and English are required.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or above) in Public Administration, Public Policy, Governance, Business Administration, Law, Political Science, Organizational Development, Adult Education, Institutional Development, or another relevant field is required.
• A first-level university degree in one of the above fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Professional certification or specialized training in corporate governance, board governance, instructional design, executive education, adult learning, or project/programme management is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in designing, developing and delivering executive learning, capacity-development or professional training programmes public-sector strategic planning, public financial management, budget analysis, performance management, budget oversight or a closely related field is required.
• Experience in the public budget cycle, including budget formulation, approval, execution, monitoring, reporting and evaluation is required.
• Knowledge of budget oversight and accountability mechanisms at both national and international level is desirable.
• Experience adapting international governance principles and good practices to national and institutional contexts is required; experience in Lebanon is desirable.
• Experience applying adult-learning methodologies and translating complex technical material into practical, accessible and action-oriented learning content is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
• Knowledge of French is desirable.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.