Call for Proposals – Implementation Agreement for the Roll-out of Job Search Clubs in Lebanon

Lebanon has been facing a prolonged and severe economic and financial crisis since 2019, which has had devastating consequences on the labour market and overall employment prospects—especially for youth. Described by the World Bank as one of the most severe global crises since the 1850s, the Lebanese economy has experienced a massive GDP contraction, triple-digit inflation, and widespread poverty, severely limiting job creation across sectors. Unemployment has surged, with overall rates reaching 29.6% in 2022, and youth unemployment hitting an alarming 47.8%. In parallel, Lebanon’s NEET rate—particularly among young women—remains one of the highest in the region, estimated at over 30%.

While the economic collapse has drastically reduced labour demand and limited job creation, there are also substantial challenges on the supply side. Many young people do not possess the market-relevant skills that employers are seeking, due to an outdated education system and limited access to vocational training. Even when they do have technical skills, they often lack the necessary know-how to search effectively for jobs. This includes limited awareness of available opportunities, poor CV writing and job application skills, weak networking capacities, and a lack of interview preparedness. Many do not know how to identify roles that match their skillsets, how to approach prospective employers, or how to market themselves effectively. This often results in extended job search periods or complete disengagement from the labour market.

Against this backdrop, the Job Search Clubs (JSC) methodology—developed by the ILO—emerges as a timely and impactful intervention to be implemented in Lebanon. The JSC is designed to activate and engage young people in structured, intensive job search activities, with the objective of enabling them to find a suitable job in the shortest feasible time. It brings together groups of young jobseekers who share similar needs and provides them with a supportive environment where they can build skills, share resources, and receive ongoing coaching from trained facilitators. while it usually serves those who have been for 6 months or more outside the labour market, it can also target a wider segment of young people, including those who just started their job search.

A JSC is a place where young people meet daily over a two-week period under the guidance of an ILO-certified facilitator. During this time, participants receive hands-on coaching and peer support to enhance their job search efforts. They learn and practice key skills including:

• Telephone and interview techniques,
• managing stressful situations,
• gathering job leads from various sources,
• conducting informational interviews,
• discovering the “hidden job market,”
• writing effective CVs,
• completing job applications.

The clubs also raise awareness about the range of formal and informal job types available, discussing their respective advantages and disadvantages. In addition to group sessions, each participant also receives one-on-one coaching tailored to their specific career goals and challenges.

Compared to other job search trainings that are often short-term—ranging from one hour to two days—JSCs are far more intensive and structured. They are particularly suited for disadvantaged job seekers who may lack adequate job search skills or confidence in approaching the labour market. Through group dynamics, mutual encouragement, and expert facilitation, the clubs foster motivation, self-efficacy, and active labour market engagement. The ILO also conducts Training of Facilitators (ToF) programs to certify new JSC facilitators, and implementing partners are encouraged to participate to ensure sustainability and local ownership of the approach.

In a context like Lebanon, where both economic and social barriers hinder young people’s access to decent employment, the Job Search Club methodology offers a holistic and proven solution. It addresses not only the technical and strategic aspects of job hunting but also the psychological and motivational dimensions, helping youth to overcome inertia, isolation, and discouragement in their journey toward employment.

Objective

The ILO is soliciting the services of an experienced implementing partner to roll out JSC club programme across Lebanon in two main platforms:

1. Within public TVET schools (nationwide - 5 schools with the possibility of expansion).
2. Within the community development centres (CDCs) of the UNHCR (12 CDCs nationwide)

Partnership Key Activities

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

PREPARATION PHASE:

1. Recruit a trainer of facilitators as per the ToRs outlined in Annex 3. Nominate and recruit 24 potential facilitators
2. Coordinate with the DGVTE for the nomination of at least 5 schools distributed across BML, North, Akkar and Bekaa and follow up on the nomination of at least 3 facilitators per school, to be trained.
3. Read and fully understand the JSC Facilitator’s Manual and all training material
4. Ensure JSC programme design responds to the JSC facilitators’ manual.
5. Develop a work plan that will ensure the proper implementation of all activities, meeting the targets and within the designated timeframe.
6. Run an outreach campaign advertising and promoting the activity across Lebanon following the visibility guidelines of the ILO and utilizing media and social media platforms.
7. Identify at least 1500 target beneficiaries to be enrolled in the JSC across Lebanon.
8. Consult and engage national implementing partners in assignment activities as relevant, particularly in reaching out for candidates, and in promoting the clubs.
9. Conduct all procurement activities and requests related to the setup of all locations across Lebanon, whether CDCs or DGVTE schools and make sure the set up meets the requirements of the club.

IMPLEMENTATION PHASE:

The implementation phase should lead to a total target of 1500 beneficiary (60% Lebanese 40% Syrians) enrolled in JSCs.

1. Conduct two training of facilitators (ToF) for up to 40 facilitators, and manage all logistical arrangements
2. Conduct the outreach, process of interviews, and selection and enrolment of JSC participants/beneficiaries based on a clear set of criteria.
3. Coordinate with DGVTE the enrolment of beneficiaries in the JSCs at the DGVTE schools and ensure all requirements are met.
4. Conduct the implementation of the club within the CDCs ensuring the provision of relevant technical content as well as the handling of necessary logistical arrangements.
5.  Support the roll out of the clubs within the public DGVTE schools ensuring the provision of relevant technical content as well as the handling of necessary logistical arrangements.
6. Implement multiple clubs in parallel to be able to meet the target in the shortest period of time not exceeding 10 months as a maximum.
7. Carry out any payments required to roll out the clubs.
8. Conduct evaluation of each club edition by the facilitators and participants.

POST-TRAINING PHASE:

1. Develop a tracer study for the trained beneficiaries in all locations aiming to further support them after the JSC trainings, for a period of three months after each JSC edition end date.
2. Follow up and coordinate with the ILO Global team on specific criteria and data needed to conduct the tracers
3. Submit the final tracer report along with the final technical report at the end of the agreement
4. Conduct a closing/graduation ceremony at the end of the agreement in line with the ILO communication and visibility strategy.

Required Qualifications

The bidder should be a registered non-profit organization with experience in the sector of youth training for employment and established credibility in the following areas:

1. Demonstrated capacity and experience in youth employability and employment programmes or experience in technical and career counselling,
2. Experience in implementing youth employability and employment  programmes in Lebanon particularly addressing the needs of Lebanese labour market,
3. Established relationship with the private sector/Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), chambers of industry and agriculture, or any other private sector group in Lebanon that can support in the identification of local economic development needs and identification of job opportunities for the beneficiary group
4. A proven track record in linking young people with on-the-job training or employment
5. Experience in working with the UN or other international organizations in implementing programmes targeting youth and supporting them to transition to employment (through skills training, career guidance, counselling etc..) is a strong advantage.

Submission Requirements

Interested non-profit organizations and entities are advised to check the enclosed Terms of Reference for further elaboration of the tasks and deliverables expected within the scope of this partnership.

The duration of the assignment is for approximately 19 months over the period June 2025 – January 2027.

Interested organizations must submit the following:

• Technical proposal: The Technical proposal is expected to be submitted in the following structure:

• Organization’s profile demonstrating capacity and experience in youth economic development programmes or experience in technical and career counselling
• Detailed description of relevant past works and assignments related experience in implementing youth economic development programmes in Lebanon
• Detailed description of relevant past work in Establishment relationship with the private sector/chamber of industries/chambers of commerce or any other private sector group in Lebanon that can support in the identification of local economic development needs and identification of job opportunities for the beneficiaries
• Project Summary: An abstract of the proposal that should include geographic location selection, a brief description of the rationale, goal(s), objectives, specific project activities, target beneficiaries, and expected outputs.

Project Narrative Description: this section should include the following:

• Project Goals and Purpose: Project goal(s) must be clearly defined and directly relevant to the need(s) identified above. Project purpose must be measurable, realistic (aligned within the project’s period of performance) and be directly relevant to the priority area identified.
• Project Activities and Methodology: Discuss all proposed project activities and describe the methodologies to be applied to implement the project. In this section the relation between project objectives, outputs and activities should be clear.
• Logical Framework and M&E methodology and plan: Describe the quantitative and qualitative outputs that the project expects to deliver. Explain how you will monitor progress as well as the indicators that will be used to assess if the expected outputs are achieved.

• Detailed work plan with a timetable related to the different activities.
• CVs of staff involved in the project implementation demonstrating their capacity to conduct the assignment.
• Risk registry and mitigation matrix highlighting expected challenges and obstacles during the implementation of the project and mitigation methods
• Financial Proposal: The organization/entity should submit their financial proposal as per the template found in ANNEX 2
• Registration Documents