Call for a Research Partner

1.Background and Rationale

Asmae - Association Soeur Emmanuelle is a French international NGO founded in 1980 and operating in Lebanon since 1986. The organization focuses on child protection, education, and socio-economic inclusion. Within the framework of the Youth for Change Phase II (YFC2) project, Asmae seeks to promote youth empowerment, enhance employability, and encourage sustainable engagement of the private sector in development processes.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Lebanon’s economy, representing more than 90 percent of active enterprises and employing the majority of the workforce. In the context of Lebanon’s prolonged economic and political crises, SMEs face major challenges, including restricted access to finance, market instability, and weak institutional support.

Several international and national actors have launched initiatives to support SMEs; however, these efforts are often fragmented, short-term, and insufficiently aligned with broader youth employment strategies. To design effective and sustainable interventions in the upcoming Phase III of YFC, Asmae seeks to generate robust, evidence-based insights on how international and national support has been provided, what gaps remain, and how SMEs can act as dynamic partners in advancing youth employability and socio-economic progress.

This research aims to produce a comprehensive analytical mapping of international assistance to Lebanese SMEs, assess its impact, and propose actionable recommendations to optimize the synergy between SME development and youth empowerment.

2.Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to analyze and document the current landscape of  the support to SMEs in Lebanon, assess existing gaps, needs, and opportunities, and explore how SMEs can be strategically engaged in advancing youth employability in the light of the Youth for change programme and overall work supported by Asmae.

3.Specific Objectives

• Provide an overview of the SME landscape and situation in Lebanon, including key sectors, geographical distribution, and types of SMEs that are most active in employing youth and/or have strong potential to employ youth, taking into account their capacity to train, coach, and support young employees, ensure safe working conditions, and apply sustainable economic and environmental practices.
• Identify and categorize international and national initiatives targeting SME development in Lebanon, including donors, agencies, programs, instruments, and geographical scope.
• Assess the relevance, coherence, and effectiveness of these initiatives in addressing SME challenges and promoting youth employment.
• Examine unmet needs, systemic weaknesses, and duplication areas within the SME support ecosystem.
• Explore potential mechanisms for linking SMEs with civil society and youth employment programs, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), internship schemes, vocational training partnerships, and innovation initiatives.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for Asmae and its partners to design future interventions that strengthen private sector engagement for youth inclusion.

4. Scope of Work

The assignment will cover all Lebanese governorates, including the grey areas surrounding the camps, in particular the surroundings of Ein El Helweh and Nahr El Bared camps, to ensure the inclusion of both refugee and host communities, and to reflect the full diversity and specificities of Lebanon’s economic empowerment context. and will include both desk-based and field-based approaches.

Phase 1: Inception and Desk Research

The selected institution will conduct a systematic literature review of international and national reports, donor and NGOs strategies, evaluations, and policy documents related to SME development and private sector engagement in Lebanon.
An analytical framework will be developed to categorize actors, typologies of support (financial, technical, capacity-building, policy, and others), and thematic priorities.
An Inception Report will be submitted outlining the research design, methodology, sampling frame, data collection tools, analytical approach, ethical considerations, and detailed work plan.

Phase 2: Fieldwork and Data Collection

Primary data will be collected using mixed methods across all Lebanese governorates.
Qualitative and quantitative tools will include:

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with SME representatives, chambers of commerce, donor agencies, government entities, and youth organizations, and selected youth involved in youth entrepreneurship, start-ups and employment support as a result of current Asmae Programmes
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with SME owners, youth entrepreneurs, and local stakeholders, including a limited number of young entrepreneurs or employed youth who can provide practical insights on SME–youth linkages.
• Online and field-based surveys to capture perceptions and emerging trends.
  Representation will be ensured by sector, region, gender, and enterprise size.

Phase 3: Data Analysis

Collected data will be analyzed using appropriate qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, such as thematic analysis, cross-tabulation, and triangulation.
Findings will be synthesized around three main dimensions:

• Overview of the SME landscape in Lebanon, including key sectors, geographical distribution, and types of SMEs with stronger potential for youth employment.
• The support landscape, identifying who supports SMEs, how, and where.
• Effectiveness and gaps, highlighting what works, what does not, and why.
• Prospects for engagement, showing how SMEs can contribute to youth employability and private sector growth.

Phase 4: Reporting and Dissemination

The institution will prepare a comprehensive research report integrating quantitative and qualitative findings, evidence-based conclusions, and actionable recommendations.
A concise Executive Summary and Policy Brief (three to five pages) will also be produced for dissemination.
The research team will present findings in a national seminar or roundtable event with stakeholders from academia, civil society, the private sector, and donor organizations.Youth entrepreneurs supported by Asmae and developing their business may be invited to contribute perspectives during the discussion which will enrich the dialogue. The team will also support Asmae’s communication efforts by preparing a PowerPoint presentation and a short media summary.

5. Expected Deliverables

Listed in the attached TOR

6. Methodology and Ethical Standards

The selected institution must propose a rigorous, transparent, and replicable methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The methodology should ensure:

• Validity, reliability, and objectivity of findings.
• Gender-sensitive and inclusive data collection processes, ensuring data is collected and analysed in order to highlight similarities or differences based on gender, on disability status, on age, etc. Intersectionality should be applied.
• Informed consent and confidentiality of all participants.
• Compliance with national research ethics and data protection norms.
• Contextual relevance to Lebanon’s socio-economic and political environment.
• Full adherence to Asmae’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and to its Policy on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). All researchers and data collectors must be informed of these policies and commit in writing to their application throughout the research process.

7. Team Composition and Qualifications

The academic institution or research center must assemble a multidisciplinary team with strong expertise in SME development, labor economics, youth employability, and socio-economic analysis.

Required qualifications include:

• Proven experience in conducting national or sectoral research in Lebanon or the MENA region.
• A Principal Investigator holding a PhD (or equivalent) in economics, development studies, or social sciences.
• Familiarity with the safety and cultural sensitivity aspects all over Lebanon
• Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools.
• Experience in research dissemination and policy engagement.
• Excellent reporting skills in English and Arabic.

8. Coordination and Reporting

The research team will operate under the supervision of Asmae’s Program Department, Regular coordination meetings will be held to ensure alignment, transparency, and adherence to quality standards.
All deliverables will be reviewed and validated by Asmae prior to final acceptance.

9. Duration and Budget

The assignment will last for a maximum of three months from the date of contract signature.
The total available budget is USD 10,000, inclusive of all costs related to professional fees, logistics, data collection, analysis, translation, and production of deliverables. Noting that the venue and logistic for the launching event will be covered by Asmae.

Payment schedule:

• 30% upon approval of the Inception Report.
• 40%t upon submission of the Draft Report.
• 40 percent upon delivery and approval of the Final Report and dissemination event.

10. Intellectual Property and Acknowledgment

All data, reports, and materials produced under this assignment will remain the intellectual property of Asmae. The selected research institution will be acknowledged in dissemination materials but may not independently publish or use the findings without prior written consent from Asmae.