Call for Strategic Planning Expert(s) - ECF

About Berytech:

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.

About Euromed Clusters Forward:

Euromed Clusters Forward is a 4-year project that aims at establishing and improving clusters legal policies, strengthening clusters capacity & regional cooperation, and strengthening regional value chains. Berytech is the implementing partner of Euromed Clusters Forward in Lebanon, that is funded by the European Union and coordinated by Anima Investment Network with 3 implementing partners and 9 affiliates from the Euromed region.

About Cluster Booster:

Cluster Booster is a technical assistance activity under the Euromed Clusters Forward led by Berytech. It aims at strengthening the skills of cluster managers, staff, and SME members in the South Mediterranean region. This 18-month program offers training and technical help to help clusters grow and succeed.

Key focuses include establishing and improving the governance and sustainability models; developing strategies to attract new members; analyzing value chains for better market positioning; scaling-up their business performances and enhancing technological and innovation capabilities to foster North-South Mediterranean collaboration. 

Cluster Overview:

A Lebanese ICT association with 120 members, of whom 90 are active, founded 20 years ago. It ambitions to enhance the cooperation and collaboration among Lebanese based ICT companies, expand the ICT penetration and adoption in Lebanon, and position Lebanon as a leading provider of ICT products and services in the region. To achieve these objectives, the association offers capacity building services, advocacy services, and access to market services such as the organization of local exhibitions and the participation in global/regional trade shows.

The consultant/expert will:

• Organize interviews with the cluster’s management team to better understand the scope of the assignment and its desired outcomes.
• Review the cluster’s existing documentation to better understand the current state of the association.
• Conduct an in-depth analysis of the cluster’s industry to capture its main features and specificities.
• Administer a survey to the cluster members to determine their needs and aspirations.
• Facilitate strategic planning workshops involving key stakeholders to define the mission, vision, values, and strategic objectives of the cluster.
• Compile all the findings in an exhaustive strategy report that clearly define the cluster’s value proposition, its strategic positioning, its target members and partners, its proposed services, and its marketing and communication approach.
• Create a 3-year implementation roadmap that that will list the key skills, resources, tasks, the required organizational arrangements, and the indicators to be tracked to successfully execute the cluster strategy. It will notably include:
  •  An HR plan that will highlight the desired management and governance structures, the roles and responsibilities distribution, the organizational chart, and the job descriptions.
  • An operational plan that will outline the processes, the detailed services, and the metrics that should be put in place to take the cluster to the next level.
  • A marketing plan that will recapitulate the communication tools, channels, and actions that should be established to raise the visibility and the perceived value of the beneficiary cluster.
• Facilitate a series of debriefing workshop(s) to present the strategy and the implementation roadmap to the cluster’s board and members as needed.

• A comprehensive strategy report that includes, among other things the mission, vision, values and strategic objectives of the cluster in addition to its value proposition, its strategic positioning, its target members and partners, and its proposed services.
• A series of strategic planning workshops that aim to define the mission, vision, values, and strategic objectives of the cluster.
• A detailed 3-year implementation roadmap that encompasses an HR plan, an operational plan and a marketing plan.
• A debriefing workshop that introduces the key components of the cluster strategy and implementation roadmap to the Board of Directors and the members.
• A presentation that summarizes the key components of the cluster strategy and the implementation roadmap to be used during the debriefing workshop.

The total number of working days allocated for this consultancy is set at 60 days.

Activity

Collecting and examining the primary and secondary data (i.e. documentation, survey, etc.) for the strategic analysis

Due Date: 14 March  

Organizing and facilitating the strategic planning workshops

Due Date: 28 March

Drafting the preliminary strategy report

Due Date: 23 April  

Developing the final version of the strategy report

Due Date: 02 May

Elaborating and validating the 3-year implementation roadmap

Due Date: 21 May

Preparing the presentation and facilitating the workshop

Due Date: 31 May

• A consultancy firm/consortium of individual consultants/individual consultant with at least 7 to 10 years of experience in designing and implementing strategies.
• A proven track record in providing strategic planning services to associations of companies and clusters.
• Extensive knowledge of the cluster governance and regional best practices.
• Proficiency in analytical thinking, critical assessment, strategic planning workshops facilitation, and report writing. 
• Fluency in English and Arabic.