Accounting Tool Development Consultant in Northwest Syria

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultant: Development of Accounting Tools

Project: Revolving Credit Fund (RCF) to Support Livelihoods Recovery in Northwest Syria – Phase II

Organization: Near East Foundation (NEF)

Background

For over 100 years, the Near East Foundation (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.

In Northwest Syria (NWS), NEF is implementing the Revolving Credit Fund (RCF) program, which supports livelihoods recovery and inclusive economic growth. Strengthening the financial management skills of MSME particularly women-led businesses, is a key part of ensuring that RCF investments are sustainable and impactful.

Objective of the Consultancy

NEF is seeking a qualified consultant to design and deliver a workshop on Accounting Tools for MSMEs as part of the RCF program in NWS. The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the financial literacy and accounting capacity of MSMEs to:

Understand the importance of basic accounting for business growth and sustainability.

Record daily transactions systematically.

Prepare and interpret simple financial statements (Cash Flow, Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet).

Use manual and digital accounting tools for record-keeping.

Apply accounting knowledge to make informed business decisions.

The primary beneficiaries of this training will be women and youth entrepreneurs engaged in the RCF program who need practical accounting knowledge to effectively manage their enterprises.

Scope of Work

The consultant will:

Review existing training materials within the project to ensure consistency and alignment.

Develop a detailed training curriculum and facilitator guide tailored to MSMEs in NWS.

Prepare training materials, including:

Participant handouts (templates for cashbook, P&L, cash flow sheet).

Case studies, role-play exercises, and practical examples.

Digital and low-tech accounting tool options (Excel templates, free apps).

Deliver the training workshop(s) to selected MSMEs/start-ups (1–2 days each).

Provide post-training support materials (ready-to-use templates, recommended tools list).

Submit a final workshop report summarizing delivery, participant feedback, challenges, and recommendations.

Workshop Content Modules will include:

Introduction to Accounting for MSMEs – importance, common mistakes, accounting cycle.

Bookkeeping Basics – transactions, ledgers, invoices, receipts.

Understanding Cash Flow – inflows/outflows, simple cash flow statement.

Profit & Loss (Income Statement) – revenues, expenses, profitability analysis.

Balance Sheet (optional advanced module) – assets, liabilities, equity.

Accounting Tools – manual tools (cashbooks, Excel) and digital solutions (Wave, Zoho Books, QuickBooks Simple Start, Odoo, Khatabook, TallyPrime).

Using Accounting for Business Decisions – profitability tracking, cost reduction, preparing financials for banks/investors.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

Training curriculum & facilitator guide.

Workshop materials (presentations, handouts, templates, case studies).

Delivery of training workshops for MSMEs.

Post-training support package (digital templates, recommended tools).

Final report summarizing training delivery, participant feedback, and recommendations.

A review of current training materials with a short gap-analysis report.

Level of Effort (LoE)

The consultancy is expected to require a total of 20 days, which include preparation, training delivery, post-training support, and reporting.

Qualifications

Advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

Proven experience in designing and delivering financial training for MSMEs/start-ups.

Strong knowledge of practical accounting tools (manual and digital).

Demonstrated experience in participatory training methods and adult learning.

Excellent communication and facilitation skills in [Arabic/English, as required].

Familiarity with the MSME context in Syria or fragile/conflict-affected settings is preferred.

To Apply:

Interested candidates/consulting firms should submit:

Resume (for firms, CVs of key staff).

Technical proposals include methodology, work plan, relevant experience, and examples of past work.

Financial proposal includes the expected daily rate in USD and confirmation of the 85-day Level of Effort (LoE).

Contact details of three professional references.

Applications should be submitted by email to with the subject line:

“Accounting Tools for MSMEs – Consultancy”

NEF will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin on September 7, 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.