Market Assessment Consultant

Purpose of consultancy:

The investigation is aimed to identify the main challenges and opportunities for the micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) including accessing to microfinance and green economy opportunities and barriers for the employment of women, youth and people with disabilities, in the North Governorate.

The MSME market assessment will be focused on the following main aspects, each of them disaggregated by gender, age and disability and focused on green and circular economy:

• Demographic analysis of the most represented sectors in the area;
• Market size focus on volume and value for each identified sector;
• Reference market focus on demand drivers for each market sector;
• Barriers to market entry and opportunities for each sector with disaggregation by gender and age groups and with an indication of the priority investments to be made;
• Regulation by sector.

The labour market assessment will be focused on the following main aspects, each of them disaggregated by gender, age and disability:

• Demographic analysis of the unemployed, inactive and NEETs present in the identified area;
• Dimensions of the labour market in the identified area with indication of the sectors that absorb the most of the demand;
• Entry barriers and opportunities with a focus on the training sector (supply and demand);
• Regulations relating to professional placement (internships, school-work alternation, etc.).

 Transversal axes:

• Linkages between the deteriorating socioeconomic situation in Lebanon and how to strategically support MSMEs in selected sectors, boost labour market integration improving local production and consumption of basic goods and job creation (or preservation);
• Local development plans designed by local authorities including Union of Municipalities and Municipalities axes on local development and youth employability (Master Plans, Professional placement plans, etc.);
• Stakeholder analysis with a focus on the current initiatives implemented and carried on by relevant national and international stakeholders.

Scope of work:

Design and develop a comprehensive market assessment report based on:

• Desk reviews on the above-mentioned topics, bringing together past relevant research realized by local, national and international actors.
• Coordinate, organize and conduct primary data collection (KII, FGD, etc.) and analysis with relevant local and national stakeholders in coordination and consultation with COOPI;
• Market assessments report, containing:

1. Overview of the situation of the MSMEs and the labour market in North Lebanon in linkage with the deteriorating socioeconomic situation in the country and Initiatives;
2. Main challenges and opportunities of the MSME and unemployed, inactive and NEETs including legal barrier;
3. Overview and primary data analysis on the access to employment in the North Governorate;
4. Green and Circular economy opportunities for the MSME in North Lebanon.
5. Recommendation on How to strategically support MSMEs in selected sectors and boost labour market integration of women and youth;
6. Annex of disaggregated data analysis for each assessed location.

Required expertise and competencies:

•  A minimum of three years’ experience and expertise of working directly in relevant development and humanitarian interventions, including local development and livelihoods sectors.
• Experience in conducting market assessment/proposal writing.
• Experience in social science methods and data analysis.
• Excellent oral and written Arabic and English skills.
• Sound MS Office and IT skills.