Call for Proposals – Implementation Agreement for the provision of training workshops for 1,000 beneficiaries on Start and Improve Your Business and Financial Education Curricula

ILO is collaborating with different partners to support the recovery of private sector in Lebanon while addressing barriers for access to decent self-employment for forcibly displaced persons. This will take place through provision of entrepreneurship and financial education trainings to enhance investment readiness of early-stage entrepreneurs and existing MSMEs to access financial services.

It is noticeable that the crisis has presented enticing opportunities for new start-ups within various sectors of the economy, where many business incubators and NGOs are subsidizing them with grants. UNICEF, as one of ILO’s partners in PROSPECTS, continues to work as well with young entrepreneurs, equipping them with skills and small grants to pilot their small ideas until they have a minimum Viable product (MVP). However, these enterprises need coaching, preparedness with rigorous business plans, financial literacy and sustainable access to finance that responds to their needs based on the enterprise growth stage.

Entrepreneurship and Financial Education: ILO Toolkits

To facilitate the work on entrepreneurship and Financial Education, the ILO has developed training toolkits that are used worldwide for tens of years in several countries. These include “Start and Improve Your Business/SIYB” training and “Financial Education/FE” curricula. These tools are translated, adapted to Lebanese context and will be used to extend entrepreneurship and financial education trainings to refugees and host communities within targeted governorates in Beirut, North Lebanon and Beqaa.

The implementation modality of the ILO training programs is based on a multiplication scheme through Training of Trainers (ToTs), followed by Training of entrepreneurs (ToEs). ILO has organized two parallel TOTs on start and Improve your Business (SIYB) early April 2025, aiming to certify national trainers from partner institutions on the use of this program. These TOTs were supervised by Master trainers who are overseeing the process with the partner institutions. Once the trainers completed the TOT, they are now requested to provide training of entrepreneurs (ToEs) to become certified; some of the courses offered through this implementation agreement should take place in close collaboration with partner training institutions, their trainers and under the technical supervision of SIYB master trainers. Meanwhile, ILO had previously conducted one TOT cycle for financial education and there is a pool of 9 certified FE trainers, which can be mobilized to deliver the FE training courses.

Access to finance: Partnership with an International Crowd Funding Platform and MFIs in Lebanon 

Prior the referral of MSMEs to access financial services through the above model, it is critical to train the entrepreneurs on advanced concepts related to business planning and management and raise awareness amongst target clients on financial concepts to allow them to better manage their enterprises and finances, while learning how to handle their relations with MFI.

Objective

The overall objective of enterprise development component is to improve the business capacity of MSMEs through provision of financial and non-financial services for new and existing entrepreneurs from refugees and host community members in Lebanon. The specific objective of this TOR is to:

• To facilitate in coordination with partner BDS providers conducting 67 training workshops
• To train 1,000 youth/businesses from FDPs and Host community in line with PROSPECTS target criteria (150 targeted graduates should be in digital and tech economy) on both SIYB and FE programs.
• To coach 150 case studies in line with ILO’s set procedures that could be referred for next steps of the program cycle.

ILO will coordinate with the implementing partner to provide the list of national trainers that will facilitate provision of ToEs with these entrepreneurs.

Partnership Key Activities

Below are the detailed expected activities that the implementing partner will undertake:

1. Support with the promotion of TOEs and filter/selection of participants
2. Preparation and delivery of the ILO’s SIYB and Financial Education Training of Entrepreneurs (ToEs)
3. Provide post training coaching support services for 150 early-stage start-ups and existing business (50 tech/digital and other business types)
4. Follow-up, documentation, M&E and reporting

Required Qualifications

ONLY proposals received from registered non-profit organizations operating in Lebanon, namely in Beirut, North and Beqaa regions, will be considered.

The ILO welcome technical and financial proposals from qualified organizations/entities having relevant experience in delivering business development training services as mentioned in this Terms of Reference (TOR).