Call for experts – Food Systems Challenge - Business Consultants

Lebanon has been facing multiple crises growing in intensity since 2019: economic, financial, health, humanitarian, which slowed and continue to slow down the economy and productivity of the country. As a result, the national currency has lost around 90% of its value, 55% of Lebanese live below the poverty line of 3.84USD a day and unemployment rate stands at 39%. Before the crisis, the median salary was 630USD, while it has reached currently less than 50USD.

Prior to the financial and economic crisis, Lebanon’s agricultural sector was already beset with series of challenges such as productivity constraints, limited access to finance in rural areas, insufficient agricultural technologies, weak post-harvest systems, and limited market access specifically to non-traditional markets such as Europe. The crisis added further pressure on the sector, putting food security at risk given the increase in food prices of which 85% if imported. WFP’s assessments conducted in 2020 indicated that deteriorated purchasing power is one of the main reasons why food security in Lebanon is at risk. Lebanese and refugees are increasingly struggling to buy food, pay rent and access health care, with high inflation and stark currency devaluation worsening the situation.

Building a resilient agri-food sector in Lebanon is key in overcoming these challenges and establishing sustainable solutions based on local resources and productions. A resilient food system in Lebanon relies on supporting farmers with credit facilitations, strengthening the linkages between the different segments of the agri-food production, and developing the capacities of SMEs working in the agri-food production in business investment in order to ensure better production that may satisfy a large part of the local market. There is a need to shift from a traditional and conventional food culture to a smarter more efficient one where technology, innovation, sustainability, and optimization take an active role.

Within this framework, World Food Programme (WFP), in line with its Country Strategic Plan, has recently launched a cooperation with Berytech to implement Food Systems Grant Facility programme with the aim of improving food security and resilience of food system actors to economic shocks and stresses. Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon that has been working on the Agrifood sector mainly through the Agrytech program and the establishment of the QOOT Cluster which aims to support innovation in the Agri-food sector, improve its competitiveness and expand employment opportunities. Since then, several programs have been developed and implemented targeting the sector and SMEs resilience and growth.

Spread over 18 months, the programme aims to enhance competitiveness, efficiency and resilience of cooperatives and SMEs working across different streams of the food, supporting around 30 Cooperatives and SMEs with financial, technical, and in-kind support to improve performance and inclusiveness of food systems.

Berytech has recently launched the call for applications. Twenty SMEs and cooperatives are expected to be shortlisted.

These shortlisted entities will be requested to submit a full proposal where they will justify their path to growth and how they intend to use the grant to achieve the needed impact. A jury will then select ten beneficiaries to constitute the first batch of the program.

Berytech seeks external business consultants to support the SMEs (candidates) and cooperatives in developing the proposals and ensuring it covers all details. The consultant is expected to help candidates preparing their pitch decks by assisting them in consolidating their understanding of the impact of the proposed solution, strengthening their business model and financial proposal. This will provide equal chances to all applicants and will allow the less experienced SMEs and Cooperatives to build their capacities in terms of application submission process.

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 counsels 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 adopting 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 front of the jury.
• Providing the FSC team, at the end of the intervention, a briefing 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.

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

• 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.
• Experience with ensuring inclusion of vulnerable groups in value chains and businesses
• Excellent moderation skills
• Excellent English writing skills

The selected Consultant is expected to start his/her activities on April 21, 2022. Total budget per submitted application is USD500 for a minimum of two days of intervention of field work with the candidates.

Candidates should submit the following documents:

• Technical (maximum two pages) describing the methodology to conduct the work based on the content suggested in section: “Objectives and key activities,” elaborating it further.
• Financial proposal
• 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