Consultancy:business Development Services (Bds) Market Assessment

Terms of Reference   Business Development Services (BDS) Market Assessment   Background Information   With the support of the Madad Trust Fund under the Regional Resilience and Livelihoods Program for Syrian refugees and host communities and the DANIDA Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP), the LEADERS Consortium in Lebanon (composed of DRC, ACTED, CARE, Makhzoumi Foundation and Oxfam) aims to contribute to the economic self-reliance, resilience and social stability of displacement-affected populations in Lebanon as prioritized by the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP). The Program aims at working towards enhancing economic stability of all displaced and displacement affected populations.   Scope of Work   Within the consortium activities, Oxfam is conducting a rapid qualitative Business Development Services (BDS) Market Assessment to identify BDS providers who can assist the LEADERS consortium in providing support to Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) activities. The BDS assessment will provide a mapping of the business development services available in the Bekaa and Baalbeck-Hermel governorates, with a focus on Zahle and Baalbeck. The assessment will identify and profile BDS providers that can assist the beneficiaries of the project, in terms of training, capacity building, and on the job business coaching and follow up, through the whole project process.   Specifically, Business Development Services that the consortium has identified preliminary needs for among MSMEs include: how to prepare business development plans; facilitate access to information on markets and entry points, including on-going calls for bids; technical support on how to participate and be successful in bidding and tendering processes; information on how to access financial services and capital including micro-credit, institutional subsidised funding and loans from Lebanese banks; assistance to prepare the paperwork to file requests for financial services (including loans); information on technologies that can be applied to their processes; match making and networking to suppliers and clients; legal counselling, for instance on HSE and ISO certification, and export requirements, counselling and support for obtaining permits as well as international quality standards certifications.   Target & Geographical Focus   The geographic focus of the assessment will compromise of the Bekaa and Baalbeck-Hermel governorates, with a focus on Zahle and Baalbeck cities and their surroundings.   The assessment will encompass:   Desk review of secondary data Primary data collection – Through direct contact with BDS providers. Analysis of primary collected data   Deliverables:   Mapping of the business development service providers with their characteristics in the targeted areas, detailing: Area of expertise and sector of work Vocational topics and manuals used and certification status Type of services offered to entrepreneurs and MSMEs Timeframe for delivery and target groups Training Topics, Calendar and Cost Training Delivery Monitoring and Follow Up Tools Training Experience Recommendations - of interviewed BDS -  on local MSMEs needs Input on needed steps to improve livelihood opportunities/ efforts in the regions of intervention – from the perspective of the BDS providers.     A roster of national and international experts and mentors for specialized business support in the Bekaa and Baalbeck-Hermel.   Synthesized notes consolidating feedback and comments on the support needed for MSMEs and the recommended opportunities to improve livelihood opportunities. Findings of the two points will feedback to the market analysis research undertaken by Oxfam.   Time Frame:   The period of initiation is end of February and the deadline is the third week of March.