Research Expert

1. Project Description: 

One of the main issues observed in Lebanon for agri-food businesses and cooperatives is the big disconnect between what can be produced versus what is being produced. This is even more accentuated by the growing demand of the market for locally produced agri-food products. Local producers are facing high pressure in order to meet the market demand, volume and quality expectations.

Therefore, it is important to support and give valuable data and skills for companies to create new products for the local market. Producers must not adapt to market conditions but create new untapped local markets for which demand is low but growing. MSMEs and cooperatives are in theory flexible and can adapt to shifting market demands and trends; however, this is not really the case in Lebanon. Creating new alternatives to international brands for energy bars, chocolates, pasta is the only logical step for a sustainable agri-food sector in Lebanon. The traditional “Mouneh” products are becoming less and less profitable and the market is extremely saturated especially for MSMEs and cooperatives. Therefore, a more structured process and more intelligent strategic planning is needed through an incubation program.

To respond to the identified needs, FTL will implement an incubation program supporting 25 agri-food MSMEs and cooperatives in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. The project will be conducted over a period of 10 months.

1. Duties and Responsibilities:

The specific responsibilities of the Research Expert will include the following:

1. Carry out a search and review of academic and non-academic literature in the areas of business development in English
2. Carry out data analysis
3. Prepare reports which compile information
4. Keep a record of all documents reviewed
5. The topics will be the following:
   1. Market Access Sales Training - Local & Global markets
   2. Food Export Procedure and Requirements
   3. Food Packaging & Labelling
   4. Marketing Management / Strategy – Focusing on Digital Marketing + Content Planning & Creation
   5. Food Hygiene & Safety – General topics including HACCP & others- GHP - GMP
   6. Finance for Startups (accounting and finance, P&L…)
   7. Startup Funding: Access to loans and grants
   8. Product Development & Innovation (R&D)
   9. Pitching & Presentation Skills
   10. Entrepreneurship Training – Summary of all training sessions with guidelines for writing a viable business plan.

1. Skills
   1. Adheres to FTL values
   2. Good interpersonal communication skills
   3. Engaged in developing self and others
   4. High degree of self-motivation
   5. Excellent leadership, team building, and management skills
   6. Good time management
   7. Organized and able to create multiple timelines and schedules
   8. Good knowledge of Arabic and English