Business development Expert

1. Objective

The global objective of the project is to provide a long-term response to the crisis for food producers in the Bekaa region in order to maintain their production while enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities, stimulate the local economic growth and promote Bekaa’s culinary heritage.

By increasing numbers of visitors in the region, this project will support Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and contribute to the long-term sustainability of local agriculture and food systems, while promoting social and economic inclusion of vulnerable population in particular youth, women and refugees

2. Scope of work

Training of up to 10 MSMEs on business and tourism including Women, Youth and Refugees, through training and assistance.

The project will enable up to 10 selected MSMEs to successfully adapt their activity for the tourists need, operate it properly and keep a minimal standard of hygiene and quality service.

60 persons from the selected MSMEs will attend the trainings including (at least 50% of them women, 25% youth and 25% refugees).

In light of the needs assessment, technical coaching (one to one session) will be directly calibrated to address farmers and producers .

To optimize the product diversification activity and provide them with the needed skills and knowledge to deal or behave around tourists.

Coaching will accordingly allow MSMEs to adapt their products in light of the business plan drafted during the design sprint phase.

Coaching will be done during four months on the following:

Business development (5 coaching sessions for each MSMEs distributed over 4 months).

The consultant will dedicate 18 days of a period of 8 months to develop and implement the intervention with beneficiaries of the project

3. Outcomes

The following outcomes are what the activity aims to achieve:

• Beneficiaries having improved skills enabling them to work in the diversification activities of the 10 selected MSME
• Improve the enabling environment for food tourism activities through supporting members from MSMEs and 20 members from other touristic activities in Zahle region to promote food tourism initiative10 MSMEs are able to develop plug-in touristic income generating activities experiences in Zahle region

4. Deliverables

• To prepare the workshop material for the sessions
• To prepare the pre-post test and evaluation for each of the sessions
• To facilitate workshops with the participants
• Conduct a mapping of existing rural tourism activities in Zahle and analyzing their challenges, their training needs and potential to grow.
• Upscaling business plan draft to sustain tourism activity beyond the funding period
• Report on results of conducted mapping and surveys, including Food tourism market analysis, situational analysis of existing works, target areas, identification of existing gaps and opportunities for development
• Report on food tourism marketing strategy and action plan for Zahle region, including Objectives & Key Results, Key performance indicators, and efficient workflow for booking
• Capacity building report

5. Qualifications

• Higher university degree in business administration   
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a consultant
• Strong experience in implementing development projects
• Ability to work with a broad spectrum of people, both staff and stakeholders/beneficiaries
• Able to synthesize large data sets to reach conclusions and strategic recommendations
• Proven knowledge of Fair-Trade principles
• In depth knowledge of the Lebanese context
• Proven presentation skills
• Drives results

6. Skills

• Adheres to FTL values
• Good interpersonal communication skills
• Engaged in developing self and others
• High degree of self-motivation
• Excellent leadership, team building, and management skills
• Good time management
• Organized and able to create multiple timelines and schedules
• Good knowledge of Arabic and English