CALL FOR PARTNERS | Cultural and Creative Industries

The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s worldwide cultural institute. We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and cultivate international cultural cooperation.  

The Goethe-Institut Libanon is implementing since 2019 the project FANTASMEEM, which is part of the global project “Cultural and Creative Industries.” The aim of FANTASMEEM is to support the design industry in Lebanon through targeted capacity building, fostering cultural, social, and environmental entrepreneurship, and encouraging collaborations and knowledge sharing.

OBJECTIVE OF THIS CALL

Within the framework of FANTASMEEM, the Goethe-Institut is looking for two separate local partners to plan and facilitate the following two separate programs. One program will be assigned to each partner separately.

Deadline to Apply: 19 MARCH 2023

Partnership/ contract duration: between April and November 2023

Program 1: Pitching for Women Entrepreneurs

• Description: A short training on pitching, storytelling, and securing investors; followed by a pitching event in front of investors (local, regional, international)
• Target group: advanced/established female design entrepreneurs (up to 40 participants)
• Objectives: To strengthen the pitching & storytelling skills of female design entrepreneurs, and enabling them to secure investors. To support women in obtaining leadership roles and develop their businesses.
• Format: Online with 2 physical networking events (opening event & Pitching event)
• Potential timeframe: One-month training (up to 10-15 hrs) in July, followed by a big pitching event (in-person) in front of investors by end of Aug/ early Sep

Program 2: Capacity Building Workshops 

• Description: capacity building workshops on sustainability, business development, and social entrepreneurship in different design fields. Customized to 3 different groups of designers (Interior & Furniture, Architecture & landscape, Fashion, product design etc.).
• Target group: Designers/creative professionals who have a project idea or an early-stage startup/freelance practice
• Objectives: To strengthen the creative skills and entrepreneuial & business skills of designers in Lebanon, while enhancing the sustainability & social entrepreneship aspects in their creative practices, in order to scale up/ develop their projects and increase their income or prospects of employement.
• Format: Online with 2 physical networking events (opening & closing event)
• Potential timeframe: 3 months between mid-June to mid-September (20+ hours of training)

SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED by each Partner

Each partner (separately) is expected to deliver the following services (Services 1 & 2 below) for a program they are assigned to (program 1 or program 2 above), in close coordination with FANTASMEEM team.

The following services are allocated a maximal remuneration fee of 15,000 EUR, as service fee for each selected partner (each program).

The costs for external stakeholders (trainers, experts, event costs, venues, catering etc.) is exclusive; and it will be covered separately by the Goethe-Institut, FANTASMEEM project.  

Service 1: Conceptualizing and Planning

1. Conceptualize and structure the program’s content, components, training topics, and objectives
2. Plan the overall budget & schedule and action-plan to achieve each component and intended outcomes.
3. Launch a call for applications to select the program’s participants, followed by a needs assement and customization of the program’s plan.
4. Identify and select experts, trainers, venues and relevant stakeholders/ service providers (in Lebanon or abroad) to conduct the program’s sessions/activities. This includes requesting offers from different providers, screening, and selecting candidates in accordance to Goethe-Institut’s procurement regulations and instructions (fair competitions based on payment thresholds). Contracts and payments wil be handled by the Goethe-Institut.
5. Prepare necessary program materials and support FANTASMEEM’s graphic designer to create a digital booklet involiving the program’s details and bios of involved stakeholders.

Service 2: Implementing and Facilitating

1. Coordinate and communicate continuously with experts, stakeholders, and all service providers to ensure compliance of the services conducted
2. Handle all communication and correspondence with participants, ensure they follow deadlines and guidelines, and collect documents from them on a timely manner as needed.
3. Ensure visibility and exposure for participants’ profiles and businesses, by orienting networking events towards giving exposure to relavant actors (partners, investors, funders, scholarships, etc.), and inviting relevant guest speakers, and planning matchmaking opportunities etc.
4. Coordinate with FANTASMEEM communication assistant to ensure social media exposure of the program’s activities and participants’ profiles.
5. Ensure constant monitoring throughout the programme on various levels and setting up corrective/remedial actions if needed
6. supporting FANTASMEEM team in the M&E processes (i.e. collecting feedbacks, conducting and chanelling surveys etc.)
7. Report timely to FANTASMEEM team

 Requirements

• At least five years of professional experience in offering capacity building and mentoring programs to entrepreneurs, creative professionals, designers etc. with a focus on business support and development.
• Proven experience in the conception, development, and successful implementation of training programs in the cultural and creative field in Lebanon. (Cooperation with local and/or international partners or NGOs is a plus.)
• For Program 1: Experience in implementing pitching programs and competitions, and securing investors. Experience in women empowerment programs and women-led entrepreneurship
• For Program 2: Experience in conducting programs or trainings relevant to green & social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and business development
• Knowledge of the design and cultural scene in Lebanon is a plus
• Experience in implementing online and hybrid education formats
• Proficiency in English and Arabic communication
• Available to start immediately