Public Tender no. 83497415 - Business Continuity Management - Training & Coaching - ACE 21.1823.0-001.00

I.  Context

Lebanon is facing severe challenges such as an economic crisis, increasing poverty causing worsening food security, a financial crisis due to the constant depreciation of the Lebanese lira and all this exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the explosion in the Beirut port. Economic downturn, business closures, a deterioration in working conditions and lost livelihoods are consequences of this multi-layered crisis that the Lebanese population is going through. Due to the value loss of the Lebanese Lira, imports have become so expensive that importing necessary production inputs has become almost impossible putting food security at risk. 

The project Strengthening Agriculture, local Communities, and small and medium Enterprises (ACE) aims to strengthen economic stabilization and improve social stability through targeted measures to promote cooperation and exchange in three areas of action: 

1. Agriculture: Support farmers to form agricultural associations and to produce in accordance with market needs, including training and sharing of good agricultural practices.

2. Support of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME): Targeted promotion of income prospects with financial and capacity-building measures to promote entrepreneurial action and closing important gaps in the value chains.

3. Local communities & social stability: Joint planning & implementation of low-threshold community initiatives both within civil society and together with local governments to strengthen positive intergroup experiences as well as increasing confidence in local capacity to act.

The project is categorized as part of the transitional development assistance, and under the second area of action will promote private sector engagement, improving individual skills so that the parties responsible in agricultural businesses, food processing enterprises and other MSMEs downstream of food security and climate change, will be able to understand changes and adapt their actions.

This will involve the provision of knowledge for the development of new products or the adaptation of existing products, in addition to helping MSMEs complete a just transition towards green energy via in-kind grants and technical assistance. Our objectives also include realizing the potential of local agriculture. They involve MSMEs, for example, exploring alternative sources of procurement from the local agricultural sector, re-evaluating and, where necessary, adjusting the sales strategy for the local and international market. In addition, ACE project will help MSMEs evaluate and, if necessary, adjust the product range in line with changed demand on the local market and analyse and, if applicable, reduce the costs of maintaining a business. GIZ’s private sector support in the ACE project will focus on, but not specific to, seven main value chains: Olive, Dairy, Honey, Legumes, Wheat and Barley, Agroforestry, and Protected Agriculture value chains. 

Under the second area of action (MSME support), ACE is providing targeted assistance to food security–relevant MSMEs in Shouf, Aley, Zahle, and Hasbaya. Following the recently conducted Needs Assessment & Baseline Study, this intervention focuses on equipping 60 MSMEs (approximately 20 micro, 32 small, and 8 medium enterprises) across the agri-food, food processing, agri-tech, and agricultural value chain sectors with the skills and tools to ensure business continuity.

This assignment therefore aims to design and implement a comprehensive Business Continuity Management (BCM) training and coaching program. The program will strengthen MSMEs’ resilience to crises, improve their preparedness and crisis navigation capacities, and enable them to sustain operations, retain jobs, and adapt their business models in an uncertain environment.

Objectives of the Assignment

The main objectives of this assessment are:

• To design and deliver BCM training and coaching tailored to the specific needs of 60 MSMEs, based on the findings of the Needs Assessment & Baseline Study.
• To provide each MSME with a tailored BCM action plan, integrating risk mitigation, operational strategies, and growth pathways.
• To strengthen MSMEs’ competitiveness, financial resilience, and market adaptability through structured training across 9 core BCM topics, with each MSME receiving support in up to 6 topics.
• To promote inclusive and sustainable development by ensuring the active participation of women, youth, and people with disabilities.
• To contribute to ACE’s broader resilience-building framework by safeguarding local livelihoods, supporting food security, and promoting just transition pathways (including renewable energy and resource efficiency.

Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is responsible for designing and delivering a comprehensive Business Continuity Management (BCM) training and coaching program for 60 MSMEs in Shouf, Aley, Zahle, and Hasbaya. The program will build on the results of the Needs Assessment & Baseline Study and will provide MSMEs with practical tools to strengthen their crisis preparedness, financial resilience, and long-term competitiveness.

The contractor is expected to provide the following services:

Preparation and Design

• Creating a detailed activity plan per area (Shouf,Aley,Zahle, Hasbaya) that includes: timeline of activities, location of training venues, details and schedules overall.
• Organize a kick-off workshop with the GIZ ACE technical team to align objectives, methodology, timelines, and deliverables.
• Review the results of the Needs Assessment & Baseline Study conducted on the 60 MSMEs to finalize the training assignment per enterprise.
• Segment MSMEs by size, sector, and training needs (e.g., micro vs. medium, agri-food vs. agri-tech) and design differentiated training strategies accordingly.
• Develop a comprehensive training curriculum covering 9 BCM topics, ensuring contextualization to the Lebanese crisis environment and ACE objectives:
  1. 1. Financial Literacy and Cost Management
        Equips MSMEs with the skills to track income and expenses, control production costs, and make data-driven financial decisions. This is critical in Lebanon’s volatile economy to ensure sustainability and avoid cash-flow crises.
     2. Market Access and Sales Diversification
        Guides MSMEs on how to expand their customer base, explore new sales channels, and enter untapped markets. This helps reduce dependency on a single buyer or market, protecting the business against sudden demand drops.
     3. Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning (including Human Resources in crises)
        Helps MSMEs identify operational risks, prepare for disruptions, and maintain productivity during crises. Includes strategies for retaining skilled staff and managing workforce challenges under unstable conditions
     4. Digital Transformation and Operational Efficiency
        Introduces low-cost digital tools for inventory, sales, and customer management. Increases efficiency, reduces errors, and helps MSMEs compete in a more technology-driven marketplace
     5. Green Energy Integration and Resource Efficiency
        Provides MSMEs with practical ways to cut energy costs and optimize resource use. For those receiving solarization support under ACE, this ensures they can maximize the return on renewable energy investments.
     6. Food Safety and Quality Control
        Supports businesses in upgrading product quality, achieving certifications, and adopting standardization practices, enabling them to access premium markets and improve profitability.
     7. Product Enhancement for Agri-Food MSMEs (certification, standardization, quality)
        Supports businesses in upgrading product quality, achieving certifications, and adopting standardization practices, enabling them to access premium markets and improve profitability. (including LIBNOR)
     8. Micro Enterprise Planning & Household Budgeting
        Targets smaller and home-based enterprises, teaching them how to separate personal and business finances, manage household budgets, and plan for reinvestment into the business
     9. Customer Retention & Community-Based Marketing
        Focuses on building strong local customer loyalty and leveraging community networks to sustain sales. Encourages word-of-mouth, social engagement, and grassroots brand building.

Training and Coaching Delivery

• Provide up to 3 one-on-one coaching sessions per MSME per topic after every workshop (i.e. maximum 18 (3 sessions*6 topics) session per MSME) to ensure tailored application of knowledge, ensuring every MSME has a solid strategy and implementation plan of the topic taken.
• Match each MSME with up to 6 out of the 9 topics according to its profile and needs (each MSME will attend 6 in-person workshops followed by 3 one-on-one coaching sessions in hybrid format).
• Deliver two group workshops per BCM topic per area (one for the micro-enterprises group and one for small/medium enterprises), i.e up to 18 workshops per area (Shouf, Zahle, Aley, Hasbaya).
• Ensure workshop group sizes do not exceed 30 participants to guarantee quality and interaction.

Capacity Building and Action Planning

• Develop tailored BCM action plans for every MSME that integrate risk mitigation measures, operational continuity strategies, and growth pathways.
• Incorporate recommendations for business improvement interventions, such as certification, product enhancement, cost optimization, and market linkages.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Prepare and submit:
  • Monthly progress reports
  • One mid-term report summarizing progress, challenges, and lessons learned
  • Overall comprehensive report per MSME
  • One final evaluation report summarizing outcomes, sectoral recommendations, and lessons learned.

Logistics and Delivery

• Coordinate and cover logistics, including venue booking, refreshments, training materials, and transportation allowances for MSME participants during workshops (cost to be included in financial proposal)
• Conduct a final handover workshop with GIZ to present outcomes, tools, and recommendations.
• Submit a Handover Report including final tools, templates, and proposed follow-up strategies for the MSMEs

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table in the TOR are to be achieved during the contract term.