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Ref.
2023/TORFTFEALOPPL/9498

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Service contract

Deadline date
2023/06/15 18:45

Duration of the assignment
Short term

Duration
4 mois

Mission description

Rationale

The project team wishes to undertake an outcome-focused final evaluation on the Component 2 of the PSD program (Wood processing value chain in Tripoli) and, for learning purposes, to draw lessons on the platform that will be useful for other stakeholders who intend on creating such platforms.

Objective of the assignment
The objective of the consultancy is two-fold, although both segments are intertwined and will feed into one another.

  1. To carry out the final evaluation of Component 2, mainly focusing on outcomes, measuring the effectiveness and the main effects resulting from the intervention, i.e. the “Minjara” program established in Tripoli.
    This outcome evaluation will describe and establish causal links between PSD programme interventions and the changes observed. Some process evaluation questions will also be included in order to be able to explore why some expected results have or have not been delivered. The outcome evaluation will explore who the 2nd component of PSD programme had an impact on, to what extent, in what ways and under what circumstances.
  2. To draw lessons on the creation of the Minjara platform using a collective learning process (“capitalization”) in order to document and share best practices on this subject.
    The lessons learned segment will explore what went well, what did not go so well, and why, according to the experiences of the Minjara program stakeholders.

As the objective suggests, the assignment will mainly support learning purposes, as the project team wishes to capture project successes, to better understand its effects on beneficiaries but also the reasons for potential difficulties or weaknesses, and to share learnings with Expertise France teams and external stakeholders.

Download the ToRs below for more information on intended users, evaluation and learning questions and methodological regards.

Project or context description

Presentation of PSD Programme

Expertise France, the French technical cooperation agency, has been entrusted with a major Private Sector Development Programme (PSD-P) in Lebanon (15M budget) by the European Union (EU). This programme aims to increase micro, small and medium enterprises competitiveness and participation in the economy by fostering their development and integration into value chains. By doing so, it intends to contribute to Lebanon’s economic development and job creation by enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of its private sector with a focus on vulnerable groups. PSD-P started early 2016 and will finish in September 2023.

The outcomes of the Programme are:

  • To re-organize MSMEs1 into stronger groups for a more efficient and cost-effective use of inputs and resources;
  • To improve market positioning and market access for MSMEs in fruits and vegetables and the wood sectors;
  • To facilitate access to finance for needed investments, using available funding instruments;
  • To create new and inclusive employment opportunities as a result of increased productions and sales.

The Programme is structured around 3 main components:
▪ Component 1: Agribusiness value chains in the Beqaa and Akkar region
▪ Component 2: Wood processing value chain in Tripoli
▪ Component 3: Access to finance

Presentation of Component 2 – Wood Processing Value Chain in Tripoli

PSD Programme ambitioned to boost the furniture manufacturing industry, as Tripoli’s woodcraft industry suffered deeply from the long years of war and the emergence of low-cost imported furniture. It was necessary to tackle the following challenges to revitalize the industry:
- Incentivize carpenters to improve the quality and adapt their products to cater market trends,
- Professionalize the industry’s engagement with potential clients,
- Encourage business collaborations,
- Re-build consumers’ trust
- Raise awareness on Tripoli’s wood craftsmanship heritage.

The objective of this component was to upgrade the wood furniture industry in Tripoli by providing non-monetary (capacity building, legal support, communication, marketing, other) support.
To do this a Minjara program was established with two main roles:

  1. Operate a wood manufacturing platform, located in the Rachid Karame International Fair, where carpenters can work using Minjara provided machines and tools
  2. Providing support to the industry by organizing business tours, participating in local and international events, conducting trainings etc.
    The beneficiaries of this component include ~200 MSMEs and SMEs, mainly manufacturers and stakeholders across the value chain.

The program aimed to achieve three outputs:
1) Minjara’s governance model is selected and management structure established.
2) Minjara products and services access local, regional and European markets through clear marketing and communication strategies.
3) Livelihoods and employment opportunities in the wood processing sector are strengthened.

Required profile

The assignment shall be implemented by an independent contractor and may consist of a team of experts/specialists, which is led by the leader of the consultant team. The consultant team is expected to demonstrate the following experience and qualifications:
• Significant experience in conducting impact or outcome evaluations or assessment studies,
• Significant experience designing and leading evaluations and/or reviews based on outcome harvesting or most significant change, including a demonstrable understanding of qualitative and participatory approaches,
• Excellent knowledge and proficiency of the differences between evaluation and learning (capitalization) processes,
• Strong experience and communication skills to facilitate interviews with a range of stakeholders, and to facilitate workshops using participatory techniques,
• Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality, credible reports in English,
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English,
• Sound knowledge of the Middle East, highly desirable knowledge of Lebanese context,
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines

Download the ToRs below for more information on the bidding process.

Additional information

Download the ToRs below for more information on deliverables and calendar.

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :

  • Candidate’s skills linked with the expert mission
  • Candidate’s experiences linked with the expert mission
  • Assessment of the candidate's skills in the sought-after domain
  • Candidate's knowledges related to local context (country or region intervention)

Deadline for application : 2023/06/15 18:45

File(s) attached : Expertise France - Terms of Reference 2023 - Minjara Programme.pdf

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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