Concept Note Writer: Program Development, West Bank

Near East Foundation

Consultancy Announcement

Consultancy Title: Concept Note Writer: Program Development, West Bank

Job Class: Consultant

Location: Remote

Eligibility: NEF will consider offers from West Bank national consultants or firms.

Reporting to: SVP Programs and Impact

Approximate Start/ End Date: ASAP in October early November 2024

Level of Effort (Days): 5 Days

Background

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking a consultant for the development of a new programming concept in the West Bank, Palestine. For over 100 years, NEF has worked to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through education, governance, and economic development initiatives. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently operates in nine countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and Sudan. Its programs are organized around three themes: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate Resilient Development, and Peacebuilding and Stabilization.

NEF has extensive experience operating in Palestine with recent multi-sectoral programming concluding in 2020, including women’s economic development and agricultural development programming. This experience involved innovative partnerships with financial institutions, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, relevant ministries, trade bodies, and civil society organizations.

In June 2024, NEF completed a scoping exercise for programming prospects in the West Bank which includes priority options for programming covering technical, programmatic, sectoral, geographic, modality, and partnership options.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The consultant will develop a concept note for NEF to present a scalable programming offering for MSME and agricultural value chain development in the West Bank leveraging NEF’s recent Palestine assessment and current regional programming.

Work and Deliverables

The consultant will work with NEF staff and technical experts retained by NEF, review related NEF materials, and develop a compelling concept note outlining NEF’s offering in the space, including: NEF’s operational model and technical approach; The case for NEF led intervention(s) based on current evidence; priority geographies and targeting; the prospect of scalable interventions.

The consultant may also mobilize, propose, and/or work with potential partners to further refine the offering and develop strategic partnerships for delivery and/or sustainability.

DELIVERABLES

1. One or two concept notes outlining NEF’s offering in MSME and/or agricultural value chain development.

Required Skills & Experience:

1. Minimum of 5 years’ experience contributing to proposal and/or concept note development in Economic Recovery, private sector, MSMEs and Agribusiness development for US and non-US funded proposals (e.g., EU, UK donots);
2. Demonstrated deep understanding of the context in the West Bank, Palestine;
3. Strong conceptual, analytical, writing, and editing skills, including the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise, clear, and compelling narratives;
4. Knowledge of competitive proposal processes;
5. Strong organizational skills, including time management and task prioritization, adherence to tight deadlines, and the ability to handle multiple activities simultaneously;
6. Strong MS Office computer skills;
7. Strong written and oral fluency in the English language is required.