Expert Consultant in Entrepreneurship

1. Background Information:

The Community Organization for Development and Empowerment-TCODE-INITIATE is a Nongovernmental, nonprofit, youth-oriented organization based in Lebanon and dedicated to assisting vulnerable communities through youth inclusion and empowerment. While keeping youth at its focus of its mission, TCODE-INITIATE continually endeavors in creating comprehensive and inclusive programs aimed towards the empowerment of youth, and its concentric circles of influence.

In the process of delivering its Mission TCODE-INITIATE aspires to keeping its status as a hub for youth allowing them to: access a safe space, and acquire knowledge and access to a network of social and political influencers enhancing their social participation in decision making processes.

Under the ‘MESO 2- Multipliers Empowered for Strategic Opportunity’ project, and in partnership with GIZ, TCODE-INITIATE is aiming to create uunder MESO project opportunities to support Social Measures in order to increase the economic income of the youth group and ensure their social role and participation.

This project will build on the experiences and lessons learned of the PART I program, specifically MESO (Multipliers Empowered for Strategic Opportunity). Under MESO project we previously supported general initiatives which were economic, socio-economic, or social initiatives with different purposes to enhance social participations as such we learned that it is better to support Social Measures in order to increase the economic income of the youth group and ensure their social role and participation. Also under the previous project the support for some groups was solely for economic initiatives which were initially formed for the purpose of implementing the proposed initiatives and had only an economic purpose. At the same time some existing groups were left behind in which are in need for support that can be classified as internal capacities in order to enhance their social participation. Along that there are the lessons learned through working with Palestinian youth activists which also resulted that working with individuals is not the ideal approach in increasing social participation.

Adding to the direct effect of the economic situation on youth in specific, men who are burdened with the responsibilities as the middle east society relies on men for securing the economics and finances of the family. Under this current situation they are forced either to immigrate in order to secure a living, or receive financial support from leaders and people of power in the society which affects their social participation and their active role.

Based on the listed lessons and Initiate’s vision (Empowering Youth for safeguarded community) the project will aim at enhancing Social Measures to reduce conflict.

The first level of intervention focuses on increasing the internal capacity of the organization’s staff who were already trained and have different skills and capacities which aligns with community’s needs. As internal organizational development of Initiate would strengthen the organization’s role in overseeing the target groups and be more responsive to their needs for the current trained group, and for future groups and partners. In particular, to institutionalize the concept of Leave No-One Behind (LNOB) in its approach and strategy. It also seeks to train the team based on needs identified through specialized trainings were an end outcome guiding manual and handbook to be produced and followed in overseeing the targeted social measures groups within this project and for future use as well.   This means that staff will receive capacity-building trainings based on the internal assessment conducted at the beginning of the project.

The second level of intervention will target established youth groups in the targeted communities, in order to bring them together. Youth groups that will work closely on exchanging knowledge, experiences and skills. The targeted groups would be receiving soft skills trainings on two levels; trainings provided by Initiate’s trained staff to increase social measures based on the produced guiding manual and handbook. The purpose is to build their capacities and empower them to assess the gabs and in-secured economic situation within their groups/ organization. As addressing gaps would ensure stability would enhance active participation in the society. The second level of trainings would be provided by Youth mentors we will coordinate with. Also, the youth groups will be meeting with beneficiaries targeted in initiatives under the previous project in an information sharing session on lessons learned and experiences. 

At last, on the third level of the project would be after the completion of the training cycle to implement the social participation measures (internal capacity building, economic support, etc.) suggested by the trained representatives of the groups to be supported by INITIATE either for internal capacity or implementation of a social measures.

This project is to be considered as a pilot first phase for MESO-2, the project is to be implemented over the course of 15 months in which it includes 2 months of mapping preparatory phase for utilizing the existing community youth groups, including people with disabilities. In addition to setting an actual implementation work plan, M&E plan, and preparing reporting tools, and hiring staff as needed. The project is to be reviewed based on the reporting, evaluation, and lessons learned to enhance and make the needed changes after the project pilot phase is concluded.

2. Purpose of the Contract:                                                                                                                         

TCODE-INITIATE is looking for an Expert Consultant in Entrepreneurship to train the INITATE’s management staff. The consultant is to conduct an assessment on the current needs of the management staff on entrepreneurship topics from but not limited to Project management cycle, communication, monitoring and evaluation etc. based on the findings the consultant is to design an intense training for the internal staff to be fully capacitated to follow-up and train youth groups on how to have their own social measures to be economically independent and have an active social role. The Consultant is to produce a training manual that includes all the needed information on how to Analyse the situation, build the ideas, manage the project, and advertise the work. The ABMA (Analyse, Build, Manage, Advertise) manual is to be a sole product for INITIATE along it the consultant is to produce a handbook to be used by the youth groups during trainings.

3. Tasks:

The Expert Consultant in Entrepreneurship will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct an assessment on the current needs of the management staff on entrepreneurship topics;
• Deliver internal capacity building trainings to management staff based on needs assessment;
• Deliver training of trainers to selected internal staff on Entrepreneurship;
• Produce a training manual that includes all the needed information on how to Analyse the situation, build the ideas, manage the project, and advertise the work. The ABMA (Analyse, Build, Manage, Advertise);
• Produce Presentations and Training tools;
• Produce a handbook;
• Participate in meetings as needed;
• Submit a narrative report on the outcomes of the need assessment;
• Submit a narrative report on the provided training;
•  

4. Qualifications:

The Expert Consultant in Entrepreneurship must have the following minimum qualifications:

1. Academic Qualifications:

• Business Degree, Entrepreneurship certifications, or any relevant Degree   

2. Experience:

• Relevant experience in Entrepreneurship
• Relevant experience in conducting need assessments and capacity building trainings
• Previous experience in conducting Training of Trainers
• Experience in producing training manuals and timeframes

N.A: The consultant is requested to provide materials of previous similar jobs.

3. Competencies/Knowledge:

• Excellent communication skills;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Fluent in Arabic;
• Fluent in English;
• Excellent knowledge of the Palestinian context in Lebanon and the region
• Political sensitivity

5. Timeframe:

The contracting party is expected to provide his services in the period of 15.06.2022 until 15.09.2022