International Expertise in Economic Strategic Planning -Expertise France Retour vers les opportunités

Background and objective of the project

Considering the Libyan context and current economic needs, establishing the E-nable project has been essential to support Libyan institutions and the private sector in economic governance and digital transformation. The project utilizes the expertise acquired by Expertise France in Libya over the past several years while building on the World Bank’s analyses and OECD studies to brace the transition towards a dynamic, diversified digital economy and a competitive private sector.

The European Union funds this three-year project to the tune of €5M and entrusts Expertise France with its implementation. E-nable aims to complement, support, and deepen the work carried out by the ongoing EU4PSL and RAQAM-E projects. The overall objective of the action is to improve the capacities of key economic institutions for sustainable, diversified, and digital economic recovery to institutionalize the private sector’s economic growth with the support of both private and public sector organizations.

E-nable consists of three main components which are closely linked in terms of the objectives and activities they seek to achieve, they mainly focus on: strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Economy and Trade and related stakeholders in designing public policies for economic diversification (C1), contributing to leveraging digital innovations for inclusive and sustainable development in Libya (C2), and encouraging financial institutions to extend credit to the private sector and provide financial tools and solutions to SMEs (C3).

Targeted audience

This action targets The Libyan economic and financial institutions, stakeholders and partners (public and private) depending on the implemented activities in each component. It mainly targets: the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Ministry of Finance and tax administration, the National Bureau of Statistics, The General Information Authority (GIA), selected Chambers of Commerce (CoC), Prime Ministry Office, The Central Bank of Libya, Libyan Post, Telecommunications Information Technology Company (LPTIC), MSMEs, startups and investors, universities, CSOs and financial institutions.

Specific outcomes

The E-nable project seeks to assist the government of Libya and all relevant stakeholders in their efforts to promote the development of an open, dynamic and diversified economy in Libya. 

Following are more specific outcomes the action seeks to achieve: 

Outcome 1: Public policies for economic diversification and enabling business environment are enhanced.

• Economic knowledge and data base are improved.
• Shared and concerted vision on sustainable economic development issues.
• Knowledge and capacities for enabling business environment, facilitating private sector development and fostering domestic and foreign investment are improved.

Outcome 2: Digital innovations related to economic governance are taken up among public institutions.

• Public actors are supported in developing and implementing a national digital and innovative strategy.
• Capacities of MoET and CoCs’ staff on a strategy and digital tools are strengthened.
• Digital tools and relevant capacities within the tax administration are improved.

Outcome 3: Services and products provided by financial institutions are improved.

• • A political and organizational framework for establishing a leasing company for accessing credit is developed.
  • Organizational and technical capacities of the Libyan Credit Information Center are strengthened.
  • Knowledge on micro-finance is increased among banks.

• A new regulatory framework for enabling local market fintech actors is supported.

This mission is part of Outcome 1 activity.

Missions and tasks

The aim of any national development plan is to use the available resources more effectively to achieve well-defined objectives. Planning is also necessary to remove large disparities in development between regions. It should be participatory and inclusive to enhance the legitimacy of policy and decision making by creating local ownership and ensuring consideration of citizens. To this regard, actions designed below will be carried on by considering local stakeholders and vulnerable groups. This action will enable Libya and more precisely national and local stakeholders to identify together the main obstacles to the economic development (especially private sector development), to unify their vision and to define a joint road map for social and economic development. Three main areas of intervention will be considered at the local level (West, East and South). Therefore, it will take into consideration local development plans carried out by municipalities. 

To implement this work, the expert will bring his in-depth knowledge and understanding on strategic planning for economic diversification. Particularly, he will have to support the following activities:

• Situational assessment & methodology definition for the economic diversification strategy: the methodology will take into consideration lessons learnt from the past (desk review) and best practices worldwide for economic diversification (focusing on countries with similar context than Libya’s). The methodology will be in line with international agreement (SDG’s, Paris Agreement, etc.) and will integrate cross-cutting approaches such as gender, human rights, decentralization, etc. Workshop sessions will be organized with related institutions to jointly build and validate scenarios of implementation. 

Expected deliverable: Assessment report 

Workload estimation: 30 days

• Support to the establishment of a national committee: the strategy for economic diversification will be developed in close collaboration with key national stakeholders and will be based on a bottom-up approach. To this end, a national committee headed by the MoET which gather key stakeholders will be created. Interactions between national and local level will be defined on the initial methodology. Complementarities with others project, especially PPD project, implemented by OECD as well as GIZ project to support local municipalities will be searched. 

Expected deliverable: National committee with clear definition of responsibilities, objectives, tasks is created

Workload estimation: 10 days

• Carrying out a participatory diagnosis: based on methodology validated with Libyan authorities, a participatory diagnosis will be conducted. This exercise will include several workshops at the local and national level. It will also be an excellent opportunity to train stakeholders (especially national committee members) involved on strategic planning. 

Expected deliverables: Participatory diagnosis for economic diversification

Workload estimation: 30 days

• Design the strategy and action plan for economic diversification: this process will be carried on in close consultation with the private sector, local communities, and civil society: in addition to the diagnosis, technical support will be provided in designing an action plan. Stakeholders will be trained to do that, and a matrix will be provided to consolidate all the suggested project at the national level. 

Deliverable: Strategy and action plan for economic diversification.

Workload estimation: 30 days

• Technical support for project priorization at the national and local level: methodology for project priorization will be drafted Based on this methodology, experts will provide tools to facilitate process of selection and workshops will be held in Tunis or Tripoli to define the accurate lists. 

Expected Deliverable: list of prioritary projects

Workload estimation: 20 days. 

• Set up of a M&E system: expert will support MoET and the national committee to define and manage tools which will facilitate strategy follow up, and to track results and impact. To this end, Training on M&E will be provided.

Expected Deliverable: Monitoring and Evaluation plan

Workload estimation: 15 days. 

• Presentation and validation of the strategy for economic diversification: the national strategy for economic diversification will be presented and validated in a high-level meeting. Meetings at the local level might also be considered if needed.

Expected Deliverable: National strategy for economic diversification endorsed by the Minister of Economy and Trade.

Workload estimation: 10 days. 

• Draft 3 pilot projects in each region: Expert(s) will support MoET and national committee to design 3 projects (template will be provided by EF). These projects will be selected by the MoET, in close collaboration with members of the national committee. They will be submitted to national and international entities for funding. 

Expected Deliverable: Description of actions (with timeline and budget) for the 3 pilots projects

Workload estimation: 60 days. 

Expert(s) profile

• Master’s degree in economics or other related fields;
• Sound experience in strategic planning and project design;
• Knowledge of the institutional landscape in Libya is an asset;
• Relevant work experience with international cooperation agencies and public bodies. 
• Knowledge or experience on fragile or conflict state;
• Work experience in government bodies at national and/or local level is desirable;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Fluent in English. Arabic language is an asset.
• Fully-computer literate.

Location and duration

Duration: Up to a maximum of 205 days

Period:  18 months – From May 2022 to November 2023

Location: Tunisia (with missions to Libya)