Call for Proposals – Implementation Agreement for the Institutionalization of the OSH Guide through ToT and Farmer Trainings in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture

The ILO – along with other partners – has identified agriculture as one of the sectors with potential for growth, retention of jobs, and possibly creation of new ones; bearing in mind that agriculture is a sector where refugees are legally allowed to work. However, the agriculture sector faces significant challenges with multiple decent work deficits, as there is a lack of appropriate laws and regulations to protect the rights of agricultural workers and ensure safe and fair working conditions.

A rapid assessment on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in agriculture in Lebanon commissioned by the ILO in May 2022 revealed that the OSH situation in agricultural farms, whether open fields, greenhouses, or orchards, does not meet the code of practice for safety and health in agriculture published by the ILO in 2010 . Both male and female workers are exposed to many OSH hazards with minimal protective measures. Legislative and financial barriers, absence of a comprehensive OSH policy, limited OSH capacities amongst the concerned government institutions, and weak coordination amongst organizations that work in the sector and provide services to farmers are amongst the key reasons behind poor OSH outcomes in the agriculture sector in Lebanon.

Towards this end, the ILO in close consultation with the Ministry of Labour, social partners, academic institutions, and key stakeholders in the sector developed early 2023 an “OSH Guide in Agriculture,” which constitutes a guide for trainers and a training material to train farmers and workers. The Guide’s aim is to enhance the efficiency of occupational safety and health in agriculture in Lebanon and to encourage and facilitate the establishment of safe, healthy and productive workplaces for workers. It is designed for use by facilitators and trainers in the delivery of training to farmers and workers on good OSH practices in the agriculture sector based on international standards, and relevant national legislations

Following the development of the draft guide, the ILO conducted a workshop in May 2023 to validate the training guide with a group of experts and to train trainers (TOT) on the content of the guide, hence creating a pool of national trainers who can then train the end beneficiaries. Building on this, the ILO piloted the guide for the first time in Akkar and the Bekaa, training 400 farmers and agricultural workers directly on OSH in agriculture. A key lesson learned from this intervention was that raising awareness on occupational safety and health requires integration at the upstream policy and institutional level.

Objective

Following several consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture, the ILO and the Ministry co-hosted an official launch event of the guide in relation to OSH in Agriculture on 5 August 2025. During this event, an agreement was reached to build the capacity of the Ministry’s staff across all agricultural extension offices in Lebanon through Training of Trainers (TOT) using the OSH guide. The aim is to institutionalize the guide, equipping extension officers with the knowledge and tools to integrate OSH into the national farmers’ training program led by the Ministry. Through this program, the trained extension officers will then deliver OSH trainings directly to farmers, ensuring that awareness and good practices are incorporated into the technical support already provided. By including OSH in the national training programs, the Ministry and the ILO seek to improve working conditions, reduce occupational risks, and contribute to decent work and healthier workplaces in the agricultural sector.

Scope of Work

The International Labour Organization (ILO), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, is seeking an implementing partner to support the institutionalization of occupational safety and health (OSH) in Lebanon’s agricultural sector. This shall be through the delivery of Training of Trainers (ToT) for up to 85 Ministry of Agriculture staff in regional offices all over Lebanon and subsequent roll-out of OSH trainings for up to 300 farmers in Akkar and Bekaa over a period of 8 months. This intervention forms part of the ILO’s ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture to embed OSH within the national farmers training program and ensure sustainable support to farming communities.

Expected Output: Capacity of 85 Ministry of Agriculture staff on OSH is strengthened, the OSH Guide is institutionalized, and OSH practices on 300 farms are supported.

Activity 1: Training of Trainers (ToT) for Ministry of Agriculture Staff

Activity 2: OSH Trainings for Farmers

Required Qualifications

A prerequisite for selection: a registered institution/organization in Lebanon with a non-profit nature

• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and delivering training programmes focused on agriculture (at least 7 years of experience). Experience in implementing OSH related programs and in raising awareness about decent working conditions in the agricultural sector would be a very strong asset.
• Proven experience in working with the targeted population, more specifically with Lebanese farmers with preferred experience in the regions of Akkar and Bekaa.
• Demonstrated experience in working in close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and its regional offices all over Lebanon.
• Local presence in all the governorates targeted and deep understanding of the local agricultural context including cultural social and economic factors.
• Proven experience in conducting outreach of farmers preferably in Akkar and Bekaa.
• A proven record of strong relations and network with stakeholders in the agricultural sector, municipalities, ministry of agriculture and other local actors.
• Monitoring and evaluation skills: the partner should have the ability to design and implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of the trainings and measure the outcomes achieved by the participants
• Demonstrated record of satisfactory previous work and collaboration with UN and international organizations.
• Senior team lead with minimum 10 years of professional experience; including experience in project management, agricultural development, decent work in agriculture and with strong communication skills.