Market Needs Assessment and Vocational Training Status Study

Terms of Reference – Call for Proposal

Market Needs Assessment and Vocational Training Status Study

Guidance, Employment and Training

Beirut, Lebanon

PROJECT BACKGROUND   

IECD (Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement) is a French non-governmental organization founded in 1988 and operating in the field of social and economic development in partnership with local institutions. IECD’s main sectors of action are vocational training and professional integration, assistance to micro and small enterprises and access to education for the most vulnerable. In Lebanon, IECD has been operating in the country since 1994 and opened a regional office in Beirut in 2007. Semeurs d’Avenir (SDA) is a Lebanese association, created in 2010, registered under the number 1905. It is the operational partner of IECD in Lebanon.

Since its operation in Lebanon, IECD has launched projects focusing on youth training and employability. The guidance, employment, and training (GET) project throughout Lebanon promotes youth’s access to employment and sets a network of guidance and employment offices (GEO) in technical partnering schools to promote technical education and to integrate technical graduates into the labor market.

The main objectives of this project:

• Bridge the gap between students’ qualifications and companies’ expectations
• Offer soft and business skills development sessions and individual scholar orientation
• Concretize efficient recruiting strategies for fresh graduates through a strong companies’ network and an alumni network
• Develop a winning internship strategy for all interested parties with job forums and job/internship placement
• Explore potential activities and events for a better collaboration between technical schools and companies
• Promote technical education

The Long Vocational Training Program, launched in 2010, covers three main majors electrotechnics, industrial maintenance and coding. These majors are established in 16 partner schools and have as main objective, fostering the socio-economic integration of the Lebanese youth.

In addition, IECD implements Short Vocational Trainings in different regions across Lebanon covering more than 13 specializations (electricity, AC maintenance, plumbing, carpentry, childcare, sewing, etc.). The main objective of these trainings is to promote the professional integration of vulnerable people through the acquisition of technical and personal skills.

IECD and its partner SDA plan to further develop their activities. To succeed in these developments while guaranteeing the quality of the projects, IECD is looking for a consultant or consultancy agency to conduct a national level market study.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT  

The economic and financial meltdown coupled with the restrictions of the Covid-19 confinement have dealt the final blow to the ecosystem of businesses and industries that thrived in previous years as a new form of economic development. Many companies have closed, others have decided to relocate and move their businesses to regional and international markets, and those that have remained are adapting their activities to face the evolving challenges. To meet the IECD objectives, IECD decided to call upon a consultant or consultancy agency to conduct a two-stages study. This study will allow IECD to have a clear overview of Lebanese job market needs, gaps and opportunities to ensure the quality of the implementation and develop its projects.

SUGGESTED RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  

First phase study: Identify the impacted sectors

The first phase of this study will focus on literature review and evaluation of previous studies done by local and international entities on Lebanese job market. The objective is to identify the main sectors that have been affected by the Lebanese economic crisis and that have had to adapt their business models to sustain the change and overcome the challenges with potential opportunities for growth. This primary study is expected to be reinforced by twenty key interviews with key players from different sectors (like and not limited to: production industries, e-commerce, marketing and sales, hospitality, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceutical…). IECD needs to agree on the key players identified by the agency before conducting interviews.

Expected outputs on this level:

• Summary report for the reviewed previous studies
• Report highlighting ten main sectors impacted by the economic crises and/or having growth potential
• Report strategies adapted by companies to overcome the challenges
• Identify potential new business opportunities and new business models
• Identify key technical skills required by the labor market and need to recruit technicians
• Suggest up to five main sectors to intensively study and an action plan for the second phase

Second phase study: In-depth study of five selected sectors

After submitting the first phase report, IECD will review the findings and recommendations and shortlist up to five sectors for in-depth study. The five selected sectors will be studied by the consulting agency during the second phase.

The second stage of the study will focus on targeting business owners, HR managers and mid to senior technicians taking into consideration proportional sample of companies from different regions and company size per sector. IECD needs to agree on the sample of companies identified by the agency before conducting interviews and focus groups.

Expected outputs on this level:

• Identify the main sectors requiring and hiring technicians as well as the TVET majors required
• Identify the companies’ strategy towards hiring technicians and their suggestions to enhance the cooperation with IECD for better technicians’ placement.
• Identify the needed technical and soft skills for technicians
• Identify technical and soft skills training needs to facilitate technicians’ transition and/or integration in the job market
• Identify from technicians their reasons behind taking the vocational path, their challenges during their integration in the labor market and the skills they were still needing after graduation to better meet the jobs requirements.
• Highlight training topics and suggested training programs (either vocational or non-vocational) to be offered, based on the study’s findings. 
• Formulate concrete recommendations for IECD to address the community’s needs and highlight the specializations which gain market interest, training topics and suggested training programs (either vocational or non-vocational) to be offered to youth and technicians (males and females), based on the study’s findings, to integrate them into the labor market. Include companies’ suggestions to enhance the quality of TVET and facilitate the technicians’ placement.

This study should include:  

Field Research 

To carry out the study, the consultant will:  

• Develop a questionnaire that permits to gather and analyze data relevant to the points mentioned above in addition to conducting the needs assessment and the market study
• For the data collection of the needs assessment, meet business owners, HR representatives and senior technical representatives of companies to conduct structured/standardized interviews (preferably in person).  For the data collection of the needs assessment, hold Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews with the community (mid to senior technicians – both males and females)
• For the data collection meet with some school administration, a DGVET representative and representatives from the Ministry of Education and other relevant ministries.

Data Analysis and Interpretation:

• Based on the information collected, the market observations, and on a broad contextual analysis, the consultant will make concrete recommendations for: 
  • IECD to identify the learning needs of the community
  • IECD to design short, specialized training programs in the needed fields and in other identified non-technical skills
  • IECD to contribute in TVET reform
  • IECD to sign MoU and partnership agreements with companies willing to cooperate in the TVET reform and technical graduates’ employability raise

The analysis should be, whenever possible, supported by references, factual and quantified data.

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE  

 The research will cover all Lebanese regions: South, North, Bekaa, Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

MISSION:

The mission will start in mid-June, after signature of the contract and should be finalized in 6 months and in two phases. Phase one should be done in 2 months with submission of the first report and phase two in 4 months with the final report.

FINAL DELIVERABLES  

Upon completion of his/her assignment, the consultant will deliver:  

• A report for phase one written in English 
• A report per sector in phase two written in English 
• A consolidated report for the whole study conducted an executive summary and full needs assessment report written in English 
• A MS PowerPoint presentation summarizing the needs assessment findings in English and Arabic
• A session during which the consultant will share their needs assessment findings to IECD and its partners
• All raw data in an MS Excel file  
• Transcriptions and/or recordings of the interviews and data collection

 All deliverables should be in the form and format agreed upon by IECD.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED  

The project will be awarded to either an independent research consultant or a recognized research institution which meets the following criteria: 

• Proven experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research across Lebanon
• Experience conducting community and market needs assessments and/or similar studies in Lebanon
• Strong ability to present and analyze data concisely and clearly 
• Fluency in English and Arabic  
• Strong knowledge of the technical educational system and stakeholders in the field of TVET 
• Proven capacity for network and outreach to a wide range of companies (i.e., factories, corporates, registered companies, etc.)
• Strong analytical and presentation skills
• Neutrality and sense of diplomacy
• Strong information technologies skills
• Can navigate and produce results within a complex and challenging environment.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and professional integrity.
• Consultant must be located in Lebanon
• Knowledge of gender issues is a plus