Business Consultants - Food System Challenge – FSC

The consultants will work under the overall direct guidance of the Program Director, in close coordination with Agri-Food Specialists. Key deliverables will include:  

• Providing advice and counsel to the SMEs and cooperatives regarding the application process.
• Reviewing candidate’s proposed solution and support in ensuring all selection criteria are addressed in the full application including scalability, added value, impact, innovation, feasibility, and cost effectiveness.
• Identifying areas of weaknesses in the applications (business analysis, business plan, etc.) and support the SMEs and cooperatives in fixing them and developing a full and comprehensive application.
• Focusing on candidates in depth understanding of the solution provided and the impact it is bringing and how it is aligned with the program’s objectives.
• Supporting the candidate in developing the financial proposal for the proposed solution.
• Supporting the candidate in developing or strengthening impact for vulnerable groups through ensuring the inclusion of at-risk women, youth, elderly people, people with disabilities, low-income individuals such as agriculture workers in the business’ solution.
• Working closely with applicants and adopt a constructive approach to consolidate applicant’s pitching abilities and skills.
• Advising candidates on how to clearly demonstrate and highlight the impact of the solution in the pitching deck.
• Delivering direct technical assistance face-to-face (or through online conferencing for convenience) with candidates to ensure fulfilling the above-mentioned objectives.  Documents of any type (trainings, specific notes, etc.) shared with candidates will be collected by FSC team for post-intervention assessment.
• Conducting a mock presentation for candidates and reviewing their final pitch decks to ensure their readiness for the final presentation in from of the jury.
• Providing the FSC team with a briefing at the end of the intervention clearly demonstrating the milestones achieved in terms of the candidates understanding and comprehension of the above-mentioned objectives and depicting the candidates remaining areas of development.

Note: A survey will be filled by candidates upon completion to assess the input of the consultant by the FSC team.

  Qualifications

• Be able to comply with national fiscal context and rules for receipt of international funds.
• BSc/BA diploma in management or a relevant field; MSc/MA is a plus
• 5 to 7 years of experience in the business consultancy field  with specific knowledge in the Lebanese agro-food industry, in-depth understanding of the Lebanese mass consumer base, and with proven experience in working with businesses operating in volatile environments.
• Proven experience in writing proposals and/or designing projects and business planning, including financial proposals, with a focus on the Lebanese SMEs and Cooperatives working in the agro-food sector.
• Knowledge of the local agro-food market, needs, challenges, strengths and potentials.
• Knowledge of vulnerability-related concepts.
• Excellent moderation skills
• Excellent English writing skills

The selected Consultant is expected to start his/her activities at the soonest after selection; the exact timeline and effective working days are to be set based on both the company’s and the Consultant’s availability.

Candidates should submit the following documents:

• Technical (maximum two pages) describing the methodology to conduct the work based on the content suggested in section: “Scope of Work, Outputs, and Deliverables” elaborating it further.
• Profile and project references (maximum two pages): A brief explanation of the consultant(s) background should be submitted (CVs shall be included as annex) along with project references on the topic.
• Financial Proposal describing the expected renumeration and the proposed timeframe of the intervention.