Market linkage Consultancy

1. Background Information on Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and are now active in more than 70 countries. 

About the commissioning office

Plan International Lebanon (PIL) has had an operational office in Beirut since 2017 and received its registration in October 2019. Across the country, we work in partnership with local, national, and international organizations to strengthen capacities and address the needs of Lebanese and refugee children in Lebanon. With a focus on adolescent girls and young women, PIL implements projects in the sectors of child protection (CP), Education, Youth economic empowerment, and participation. The organization also promotes equality by addressing the root causes of discrimination against girls and young women.

2. Background/Context

The DAEM Project is a 35-month intervention implemented by Plan International Lebanon in partnership with Al Majmoua under the Regional Development and Protection Programme III (RDPP III), funded by the Embassy of Denmark.

The project aims to improve economic self-reliance, resilience, and well-being of youth particularly young women from refugee and host communities in Central Beqaa and Saida.

DAEM combines youth employability, entrepreneurship support, SME strengthening, access to finance, and gender-transformative community engagement. While the project directly supports 75 SMEs and youth beneficiaries, sustainable employment outcomes require structured engagement with a broader ecosystem of employers, buyers, distributors, and market actors.

To operationalize this ecosystem engagement, Plan International Lebanon seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to conduct a Market Employment and SME Linkage Consultancy.

3.  Description & Objectives

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assignment is to identify, operationalize, and strengthen market employment and value-chain linkages that connect DAEM youth beneficiaries and supported SMEs to sustainable employment, income-generation, and market opportunities in Central Bekaa and Saida.

The consultancy will translate existing market analysis into actionable employment pipelines and structured SME market linkages, ensuring measurable contribution to DAEM log frame indicators under:

• Outcome 2: Wage Employment
• Outcome 3: Self-Employment

The assignment aims to ensure that employment and income generation outcomes are market-driven, scalable, and sustainable.

Methodology

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to identify, operationalize, and strengthen market employment and value-chain linkages that connect DAEM youth beneficiaries and SMEs to sustainable employment, income-generation, and market opportunities in Central Beqaa and Saida.

The consultancy will translate market analysis into actionable employment pipelines and business linkages, ensuring measurable contribution to DAEM outcomes and indicators.

Specific Objectives

The consultancy seeks to:

1. Identify current and emerging labor market opportunities for youth in wage employment, internships, apprenticeships and entry level jobs.
2. Expand access to employment opportunities beyond the 82 DAEM supported SMEs, engaging a wider ecosystem of employers and market actors.
3. Map local, national and where relevant export market channels for SMEs supported under DAEM.
4. Support SMEs in pivoting or adapting products and services to meet market demand, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
5. Facilitate business matchmaking, including meetings with customers, distributors, and partners, and support deal negotiation and closure.
6. Contribute to improved employment retention, decent work conditions, and income sustainability, in line with DAEM outcomes, Log frame indicators and RDPP priorities.

Scope of work and detailed Tasks:

Task 1: Labor Market and Employment Opportunity Mapping

The consultant will conduct a structured mapping of employment opportunities in Central Bekaa and Saida, by:

• Identifying sectors with current or potential labor demand, building on the DAEM market assessment and aligned with the training skills selected by youth.
• Mapping employers, SMEs, and private sector actors with recruitment potential, including those outside the DAEM SME cohort.
• Analysing required skills profiles, entry requirements, working conditions, wage ranges and job stability.
• Identifying opportunities suitable for youth, young women, and vulnerable groups, while ensuring inclusion and adherence to protection and decent work standards.
• Identifying opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level employment that can serve as stepping stones to longer-term jobs.

Task 2: Market and Value-Chain Linkage Mapping for SMEs

The consultant will map market and value-chain opportunities for SMEs supported under DAEM by:

• Identifying local, national, and (where feasible) export markets relevant to targeted sectors
• Mapping potential buyers, distributors, wholesalers, aggregators, and service providers
• Analysing market access constraints, including:
  • Quality and certification requirements
  • Packaging, labelling, and branding standards
  • Regulatory and legal compliance requirements
  • Logistics and delivery constraints
• Identifying opportunities for SMEs to integrate into existing value chains.

Task 3: SME Product Adaptation and Market Readiness Support

Building on the market mapping, the consultant will provide hands-on technical support to selected SMEs to enhance their market readiness, including:

• Advising on product or service adaptation to align with market demand
• Supporting SMEs to improve quality, consistency, packaging, pricing and presentation.
• Assisting SMEs in understanding and complying with market regulations, standards, and contractual requirements
• Providing guidance on cost structures, margins, and pricing strategies linked to identified markets.
• Ensuring alignment, where relevant, with SMEs grant utilization plans and access to finance or green investment pathways under DAEM

Task 4: Business Matchmaking and Deal Facilitation

The consultant will actively facilitate market connections, moving beyond analysis into implementation by:

• Shortlisting potential customers, distributors, and partners for supported SMEs
• Organizing and facilitating business-to-business (B2B) meetings, site visits, or virtual matchmaking sessions
• Supporting SMEs during negotiations, including:
  • Clarifying terms and conditions
  • Supporting contract preparation and review
  • Advising on delivery schedules and quality control
• Assisting SMEs in closing deals and initiating delivery processes where possible.

Task 5: Employment Placement and Youth Linkages

In coordination with DAEM project staff, the consultant will:

• Identify job placement opportunities for youth beneficiaries with both DAEM-supported SMEs and external employers
• Support alignment between youth skills profiles and employer requirements
• Provide recommendations to improve employment retention and decent work compliance, including transportation, working hours, and workplace safety considerations
• Contribute to employment events, job fairs, or targeted recruitment initiatives where relevant.

Task 6: Documentation, Reporting, and Knowledge Transfer

The consultant will ensure that all outputs are MEAL compatible and operational usable by:

• Documenting all identified employment opportunities, market linkages and employer commitments in formats compatible with DAEM MEAL tools and trackers
• Producing clear, actionable reports and tools usable by the DAEM team
• Developing an Employment and market linkage pipeline Matrix consolidation:
  • Employers and market actors identified
  • Job types and Skill requirement
  • SME market linkage and follow up actions
• Identifying key market, regulatory and contextual risks affecting employment and market linkages with mitigation recommendations
• Transferring knowledge and contacts to DAEM staff to support sustainability beyond the consultancy.