Skill Gap Analysis

Skill gap analysis -Terms of Reference-   1. Background The economy of Lebanon; which host 1.5 million Syrian Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) and 30,000 Palestinians from Syria (PRS), is undergoing major challenges. The Lebanese GDP growth rate has dropped from an average of 9% between 2007-2010 to less than 2% after 2011. The percentage of the Lebanese population living below the natinal poverty line has increased from 27% to 30%. Over the past years, the unemployment levels, particularly among unskilled youth, has doubled to above 20%. This situation is coupled with increased rate of school drop outs and other social problems.   A similarly alarming high unemployment rate is evident among the Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; heavily linked to the set legal framework.  Syrian refugees are required to have a work permit(1) or a sponsorship to work in specific sectors only (agriculture, home service, construction, and environment). In such a sitation, Syrian refugees resort to negative coping mechanisms (ex: loans, credits, etc..), and engage in the informal market (specifically the agriculture) where they are not legally protected.   In 2017, Oxfam carried out a study to better understand the reasons behind the high unemployment rate among Lebanese and Syrian youth. The results outlined the following reasons: lack of competencies linked to the market demand, reduced access to soft skills and business skills, low motivation and self-esteem, strong influence of stereotypes linked to religion-culture-ethnicity-gender, legal framework that permit to Syrians, as well as to Palestinian, to work only in determined sectors.      2. Brief Presentation of the project AVSI Foundation and Oxfam are implementing a project entitled “From vulnerability to resilience: interventions to improve the life conditions of Syrian refugees and receiving population in Lebanon and Jordan”. The project aims to improve the life conditions of there refugees’ vulnerable groups, in particular Syrian, and of the local population, through strengthening of their capabilities.   The project aims to full fill the following Specific Objectives (SO) SO1: Improved working and social inclusion capabilities of youth and women coming from the vulnerable groups of Syrian and Palestinian refugees and of the local population. SO2: Improved public and private sector’s capabilities of training and absorbing the work force.   The project will be implemented in Donniye-Minniyeh (Assoun, Bqarsouna, Bqasifrine, Bhanine), Bcharre, Tripoli and Akkar (Aabdeh, Halba) and the Palestinian camps of Beddawi and Nahr el Bared, Central Bekaa  (municipalities of Nasriyet Rizk, Nabi Shit, Ali el Nahri, Tamnine, Chtoura),   3. Purpose of the resreach/rational AVSI and Oxfam aim to carry outs a Skill Gap Anlaysis (SGA)  in Akkar (Aabdeh, Halba), Donniye-Minniyeh (Assoun, Bqarsouna, Basifrine, and Bhanine) and Bcharee, and Beddawi and Naher El Bahred (Palestinian Camps). This research will be a market driven skill gap, which will be focused on the skills required by the labor market, and the skills that the jobseekers want to develop. The research will focus on the agriculture, agro-industry, construction, services, etc(2)... Particularly, the results will serve the following purposes:   Identify the compentency needs by the private sector especially among the SMEs in sectors that  indicate growth potential. Provide an overview of the experience and education desired by private sector companies showing absorptive capacity for employment and the employability patterns preferred by the private sector, including contract duration, typology of contracts, provision of benefits (payment into the NSSF, leave allowance), employment policies, men/women ratios (including incentives in place for youth employment schemes), salary scales, linkages with employment offices, NGOs, local authorities (job referral system), barriers to engage with job seekers with the right skill set and others as identified during the course of the research. Identify the current patterns of engagement of Lebanese and non-Lebanese workforce.   4.Methodology(3): The research consultant is expected to develop the methodology for the research, manage the research through the use of a qualitative tools, and write up the research report. It is important to note that the data collection tools are already available. It is expected that the research consultant adapts the available tools rather than develop new ones. As such, the research consultant is expected to:   Conduct a very quick literature review Develop the methodology for the research (based on the previously used methodology and set tools) Identify and train the data collection team Carry out the research (manage the data collection, and analysis) Consolidate the reports   Oxfam and AVSI will be requested to share relevant documents, information and contacts to facilitate the research. In addition, key stakeholders such as Chamber of Commerce, Local Economic Development Agencies, Municipalities, and Unions etc. will be strongly engaged throughout the research.    5. Expected Deliverables: The below following deliverables are expected to be submitted by the research consultat as per the final research workplan that will be based on the below timeframe but verified set in due time:  Mapping of the enterprises, and their characteristics, present in the target areas; Mapping of the actors that provide vocation training; Desk review of secondary data about skills required by the private sector; Report detailing the:            -  Business support services required to nurture growth at enterprises level;            - Skills gaps to be fulfilled at the level of the SMEs to strengthen human capital of current employees;            - Skills gaps (as identified by SMEs) to be fulfilled to strengthen the human capital and employability of job seekers;            - List of recommendations of skills (including soft and life skills) to be developed            - Preliminary indicative training curricula development to inform the vocational training component of the wider intervention.            - Barriers (related to skills, legal framework, cultural practices etc.) for the private sector to engage with job seekers;  (very briefly)            - Incentives for the private sector to engage with job seekers (i.e. willingness to hire linked to the growth of the SMEs)            - linkages to social cohesion   6. Timeframe: Tentative – will be finalized with the selected research consultant-   Phase Type of Activity/deliverable Deadline(4) Kick-off meeting   July 12th Pre-data collection phase - Kick-off meeting - Methodology (approved data collection tools - Research workplan July 14th Data  collection phase - Prelimanary research report (presentation of results) August 4th Post data collection phase - Draft 2 of the research report August 18th Final phase - Final report with all lists August 25nd   The specific workplan for the research will be set with the selected research consultant in due time However, it is expected tha the consultancy will last for a total of 40 days; including the data collection and write up of the report.   Interested applicants to send CV, methodology, tentative workplan, and quotation to lebanonjobs@oxfam.org.uk by July 7th, 2017   (1) Permits are not always granted. (2) The research consultant will have to identify the sectors specific in each area (3) The methodology will adopt a gender-lens and youth-focus, taking into consideration factors of relevance to understanding the incentive structure around men’s and women’s engagement in the labor market, the division of skills and the constrains for women and men to meet those required skills, and the untapped opportunities for the young labor force.   (4) Deadine for the phase as a whole (including all the activities)