Expression of Interest for Business support to 40 existing companies in North Lebanon / UDP_NL project

1.  Background

In the framework of the Lebanese German cooperation between the government of Lebanon and the government of Germany, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in close cooperation with the Lebanese partner ministry “Ministry of Social Affairs” (MoSA) is implementing the “Local Development Programme for Deprived Urban Areas in North Lebanon” (UDP_NL). The programme is commissioned by Federal Republic of Germany and co-financed by the European Union.

The North Lebanon Local Development Programme for Deprived Urban Areas (UDP_NL) proposes as an overall objective to contribute to political stability in North Lebanon through addressing critical issues to stability and conflict prevention in that region: more inclusive economic development and social stability. The main target groups are vulnerable youth and women. The specific objectives of the programme are the following:

• Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Reduction of the social frustration in North Lebanon. The programme will tackle the social frustration linked to a) poverty - unemployment and b) poor environment urbans.
• Specific Objective 2 (SO2): Strengthening of inter-communitarian relations in North Lebanon. The programme seeks to strengthen these relations notably by improving the inter-communitarian relations at youth and children level.

This request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) is launched to support the Modul 1 of UDP_NL which aims to contribute to more inclusive economic development. The Module is tackling poverty and unemployment by promoting income generation capacities particularly of youth and women, by supporting the development of MSME, strengthening business development services, strengthening of selected value chains and skills development.

1. Objective

This request for Expression of Interest (EOI) is intended to identify training providers who are experienced in providing training, coaching and other support offers to 40 existing companies over a period of one year and who are interested in being included in a short list of pre-identified implementing partners. These partners will be asked in a next step to prepare detailed technical and financial proposals.

Support for existing companies

GIZ UDP_NL (2018-2021) aims at supporting 40 existing companies in North Lebanon (Tripoli + T5, Tripoli, Koura, Bcharri, Batroun, Dannieh and Zaghrta) for about one year which have the potential to create new jobs for young people and women.

GIZ defines “existing companies” as companies which have been on the market for more than 2 years, are at least registered with the municipality and the Chamber of Commerce / Commercial Registry (or similar, depending on type of company) and which have the capacity to create jobs.

UDP_NL will provide support to companies in the following six sectors: Agro-food, construction, creative industries, health, ICT and) tourism. The providers should have experience and networks in at least one of these sectors.

The support offer should enable and capacitate companies to grow their business to achieve at least two of the following four aims:

• extension of products and services,
• increase in product quality,
• increase in revenue or
• development of new customers and markets.

The goal is that they create or at least sustain jobs in the current economic situation.

GIZ is open to all formats of support (trainings, coaching, in-kind grants, knowledge exchange, business linkages etc.) and is looking for suggestions from service providers or organisations to create effective combinations of activities to achieve the goals even in the current situation.

GIZ expects the service provider or organisation to have tested formats, have a pool of experienced trainers/coaches/consultants and the necessary premises to implement the activities. The service provider or organisation should also be able to organise and implement the outreach to the target group, as well as the pre- and post-test and the monitoring of the progress of the companies.

The support offers will need to be conducted in North Lebanon (T5). It should also possible to implement the activities in a remote, virtual way to ensure the implementation despite the current restrictions of movement and contact.

1. Qualifications and Requirements

Eligibility Criteria:

• The service provider or organisation must have experience in supporting existing companies in at least one of the following sectors: Agro-food, construction, creative industries, health, ICT or (eco)tourism, entrepreneurship.
• The service provider or organisation should have a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities of companies in the governorate of North Lebanon (T5) and a good network among companies in the North.
• The service provider or organisation should have experience in receiving grants from international donors or having service contracts with international donors as well as the financial and team capacity to implement such projects.
• The service provider or organisation must be registered under the Lebanese rules and regulations. It can be either an NGO, a public organisation or a private sector company.