Project Description

The European Union (EU) is financing the “Green and Circular Economy (GCE) in the Southern Neighbourhood” programme to support the strengthening and promotion of the GCE as a vector for job creation and expansion of economic opportunities; while contributing to achieving the external dimension of the Green Deal in the Mediterranean and promoting European green standards. This action focuses on 3 levels of intervention: macro (policy framework), meso (institutions) and micro (enterprise) levels. The regional layer will serve as catalyzer to mainstream ideas, stimulate peer competition, sharing EU expertise, and standardized messages and seize the “building back better” momentum.

As part of this program, Expertise France is implementing the macro level named “GREEN FORWARD - Advancing GCE Policies in the Southern Neighbourhood Countries”, a 48-month project launched in January 2024 with a total budget of 4 M€. It aims to promote, develop and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of inclusive GCE through advocacy and peer exchange and increase the level of collaboration between stakeholders.

Public policies are the foundation to the development of a cleaner and greener economy. In this context, Green Forward addresses the need to mainstream inclusive GCE’s objectives at a policy level. The project promotes also a policy convergence on GCE with EU policy framework and within the region.

The project has two specific objectives (outcomes):

• Outcome 1: Public authorities at regional level share a common vision of inclusive GCE inspired by EU best practices
• Outcome 2: Inclusive GCE principles, inspired by EU policies best practices, are mainstreamed in national policy and regulatory frameworks of the countries of the Southern neighbourhood.

Mission Description                                                  

The Green Forward project team is based in Amman, Jordan and operates under the leadership of the Project Manager, supported by an Implementing Expert, a Communication and Events Officer, a MEAL Coordinator, and short-term national experts across the beneficiary countries. At country level, the programme engages designated focal points from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Industry, ensuring cross-ministerial coordination on green and circular economy policy.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and in close coordination with the Implementing Expert, the Project Officer (Middle East) will be duty-stationed in Amman, Jordan. He/she will ensure the operational coordination of project activities in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, with particular responsibility for expert management, activity oversight, procurement support, and implementation monitoring. The Project Officer works in complementarity with the Project Assistant, who provides day-to-day administrative and logistical support.

The main tasks entrusted to the Project Officer will be as follows:

1. Expert Coordination & Deliverable Management

• Serve as the primary administrative and operational contact for all national experts recruited in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, ensuring smooth day-to-day coordination.
• Follow up on expert deliverables, ensuring timely submission and compliance with contractual and administrative requirements, prior to technical review and approval by the Project Manager and the Implementing Expert.
• Manage the administrative lifecycle of expert contracts, including the preparation of purchase orders, the processing of timesheets, and the compilation of invoices for payment.
• Ensure that no expert payment is processed without prior written approval from the Project Manager and the Implementing Expert.
• Coordinate with the relevant national task forces and committees established in each country, in liaison with the Project Manager and the Implementing Expert.
• Maintain an up-to-date expert deliverable tracking matrix, flagging delays and ensuring contractual deadlines are met.

2. Activity Implementation & Logistics

• Support the logistical coordination of national and regional activities (workshops, capacity building trainings, policy dialogues, study tours, regional exchanges) taking place within Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, in coordination with the Project Assistant and the USP.
• When required, travel to the countries of operation to lead or support on-the-ground activity execution, particularly when multiple events occur in parallel across different countries.
• Ensure the collection of all required participant and vendor documentation during and after activities, including attendance sheets, signed participant lists, boarding passes, and invoices.
• Follow up with participants on travel documentation, reimbursement forms, and any post-event requirements.

3. MEAL Support

• Support the MEAL Coordinator by conducting on-the-ground data collection for the project’s indicator tracking table during and after activities.
• Assist in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data (surveys, feedback forms, pre/post assessments) from participants and stakeholders.
• Support the entry and updating of data on the OPSYS platform (EU results framework), including the project’s logical framework indicators, on a semi-annual basis or as required.

4. Procurement, Finance, Communication & Reporting Support

• Contribute to the preparation of procurement documents for activities within the assigned region, in coordination with the USP Procurement Team.
• Assist in tracking expenditures related to regional activities and expert contracts.
• Facilitate coordination with national experts for communication activities led by the Communication Officer, ensuring alignment with project planning and availability of required technical inputs.
• Support the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project reports, including the EU annual review.

5. Cross-Cutting Support

• Actively participate in the project’s internal coordination (team meetings, planning sessions, etc.).
• Coordinate the archiving (both paper and digital) of project documents related to the assigned region.
• Ensure compliance with donor rules and internal accounting, financial, and legal procedures, in coordination with the USP.
• Demonstrate flexibility to contribute to activities beyond the primary geographical assignment, in order to ensure programme coherence, continuity and balanced workload distribution across the regional portfolio.
• Liaise with the USP on logistics, procurement, finance, and HR-related matters.
• Contribute to additional tasks aligned with the objectives of the programme, as reasonably required for its effective implementation.