Request for Proposal Business Development Support training to MSME

Request for Proposal

Business Development Support training to MSMEs _ SUPPORTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR IMPACTED BY THE BEIRUT EXPLOSION (SPS Beirut)

RFP LBN/22/01

FOR

DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL (LEBANON)

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.  

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Operating since 2004 in Lebanon, DRC has addressed the needs and rights of vulnerable populations, working with both Lebanese and displaced communities, working initially with Palestinian refugees (since 2004), Iraqi refugees (2007-2010), Lebanese IDPs (during the 2006 conflict), migrant domestic workers (since 2009) and, since 2011, responding to the Syrian refugee crisis.

DRC Lebanon is delivering programming in protection, basic assistance, livelihoods, and community development interventions. DRC seeks to address the immediate needs of displaced populations and concurrently support vulnerable host populations. DRC has three offices spread throughout Lebanon in, Beirut, the Bekaa and North Lebanon.  For further information about DRC, please refer to our website: https://drc.ngo/

Objectives:

Along with Al Majmoua, Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam and Mercy Corps, the Linked SPS program aims to contribute to the sustainable economic development of vulnerable job seekers, Syrian refugees, and Lebanese host communities in Lebanon and to strengthen the resilience of MSMEs affected by the Beirut blast. The Consortium is funded by the European Union.

In order to achieve the program's objectives, the consortium is providing MSMEs with tailored support, including technical assistance (business development support-BDS), business grants, financial management support, guidance on decent work conditions at the workplace, for both employers and employees, and finally referrals to access loans. 

The MSMEs assisted will be based in the 5Km Beirut Blast Zone and will be selected based on a set of predetermined criteria mentioned within the program description. It is expected that most of the businesses will be micro or small businesses and will fall within the following categories: Food and Beverage, Retail, Services, Beauty and Cosmetics, Manufacturing, and Maintenance.

DRC, as a member of LINKED Consortium, will short-list eligible businesses in line with the program targets based on an In-Depth Business Profiling tool as well as an elaborated business plan developed by the MSMEs.

Based on the data generated from these tools, DRC will identify the specific need of BDS for each MSME and group them according to training needs.

Responsibilities:

The Danish Refugee Council, under the LINKED Consortium, is thus seeking a consultancy firm to deliver the BDS training sessions on general topics related to business development and tailored according to the fast-changing business environment and the profiles of MSMEs that are located within the Beirut Blast Radius.

The specific objectives of the consultancy firm would be:

1. To develop/adapt exisiting Business Development curriculum tailored to the needs of vulnerable MSMEs in Beirut, in coordination with DRC team.
2. To conduct BDS group training for MSMEs.

RFP Issuing date: 18^th of January 2022

Online technical meeting: 26th January 2022, 12:30 pm (Join the online meeting from here via TEAMs)

RFP Closure Date: 31st of January 2022 at 14:00 (Beirut time)