Rural entreprise support expert

Fondazione MICRA is a non-profit organization that promotes financial inclusion and sustainable economic development through activities and projects in microfinance, financial education, and technical assistance for microenterprises. It operates in Italy, across Europe, and in developing countries, and collaborates with public and private stakeholders, civil society organizations, and financial institutions.

Fondazione MICRA implements and coordinates programs, applied research, and training initiatives (seminars, conferences, and educational pathways) with an impact-oriented approach, focusing on measurable results and the testing of innovative and sustainable financial instruments.

Since October 2025, Fondazione MICRA, in partnership with other Italian and Lebanese organizations, implements the CARE project, financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The project takes place in the Beqaa Governorate (West Beqaa District and Zahle District) and in the Mount Lebanon Governorate (Shouf District and Aley District) and aims at improving the ecosystem of the target areas by working with the agricultural sector as a source of environmental, social and health well-being. In this context, Fondazione MICRA has developed a financial inclusion component as a support to the economic dynamics of actions, to ensure the beneficiaries’ local ownership and the sustainability of actions.

Fondazione MICRA's approach to financial education and coaching and assistance is motivated by the objective of autonomization and resilience of local farmers and producers from a financial, social, and environmental perspective. In fact, the ESG reporting obligations for European enterprises draw attention on the need of extra-European countries which entertain business relationships with Italy to become familiar with certain practices.  By focusing specifically on small enterprises, the certification and tracking of the whole value chain by larger producers would be facilitated.

Therefore, Fondazione MICRA’s main activities include financial education on topics such as access to finance, productivity, and business savings, with a focus on environmental sustainability, as well as technical assistance and coaching for producers and businesses. The project has an overall duration of 3 years. Project key tasks are concentrated between February 2026 and the June/Decembre 2027.

The consultants will support activities carried out by Fondazione MICRA in the Beqaa governorate and Mount Lebanon governorate. The roles include implementing project activities under the supervision of Fondazione MICRA's senior international experts and other key staff and assisting them with organizational and technical tasks.

The number of days will be distributed depending on each specific activity. A detailed time sheet will be requested, indicating the planning of activities which will be carried out with Fondazione MICRA.  

Tasks:

• Field Assessment on financial education and access to finance needs;
• Participation in the design of a targeted survey aimed at identifying needs of agricultural businesses; 
• Identification of target beneficiaries; 
• Coordination of local enumerators, especially during data collection on field assessment surveys (data quality and timing);
• Regular field visits to businesses during the selection of target beneficiaries; 
• Support activities related to data analysis and reporting of survey results.

Expected deliverables

• Conduct a minimum of 120 valid surveys in digital format, over a period of 3 months (number to divide with enumerators);
• Produce at least a partial analysis of gathered data, as well as a short report.

Skills required 

• University degree in economics & finance and management, agroeconomics, rural development, or equivalent experience;
• At least two years' experience in development cooperation projects; 
• Understanding of the dynamics of the financial inclusion sector in Lebanon and rural finance for entrepreneurship;
• Experience in supporting agricultural businesses is an asset;
• Presence in the Beqaa region (at least 75% of the time), with travel to Beirut for partnership meetings.