THIS SOLICITATION IS THE EXCLUSIVE, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL (FHI 360). IT MAY NOT BE COPIED, TRANSMITTED, OR DISCLOSED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF FHI 360. BY ACCEPTING A COPY HEREOF, RECIPIENT AGREES TO USE THE SOLICITATION (AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS) SOLELY FOR RESPONDING TO THIS SOLICITATION, AND DESTROY THE SOLICITATION (AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS) UPON YOUR DECISION NOT TO RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION.

REQUEST FOR CONSULTANT SOLICITATION

Solicitation Title:Local Workforce Development Specialist

Solicitation #:

Issued on:May 20, 2014

Proposal Deadline:June 3, 2014 at 5:00 pm EST

Application submission: Meredith Cann at

Period of Performance: June 9 – July 5, 2014

Place of Performance: Lebanon

Background:

FHI 360’s FIELD-Support LWA project will support USAID Lebanon on an assessment of Workforce Development for Private Sector/Entrepreneurship Development and Related Services for Lebanon. The purpose of the assessment is to inform the design of the new USAID Lebanon Country Development Cooperation Strategy for the period FY2014 to FY2018. The assessment findings will contribute to the development of a new Project Appraisal Document (PAD) that will address Lebanon’s employment and skills development challenges especially for youth, women and vulnerable groups. This document will address increased private sector competitiveness under Development Objective 2, Enhanced Economic Opportunities. USAID wishes to explore how increasing private sector competitiveness will expand Lebanon’s export competitiveness, including tourism, and support job growth and expansion at all levels and how focusing on work force demand and supply issues around current targeted sectors and value chains targeting export growth will improve private sector competitiveness and expand employment opportunities.

USAID is particularly interested in targeting vulnerable youth (15 to 35 years of age) living in rural areas (including Tripoli, Sidon, and Zahle regions) and Lebanese women and youth in regions stressed by the influx of Syrian refugees (northern region and Bakaa valley).

The assessment will include an analysis of the demand for and supply of skills upgrading in select sectors that could enhance employment opportunities. Sectors will be selected based on a number of criteria, including but not limited to: growth potential, the potential to generate employment—particularly for the target group living in rural areas—in the next 5-10 years, and complementarily with USAID investments. To date, USAID has identified four potential sectors: Craft/trade skills (both for domestic & export markets), IT/ICT, tourism (including agro-tourism), agriculture, and food processing industry. Additional sectors may be included, as appropriate.

ASSESSMENT Objectives:

The assessment will identify critical issues, opportunities, challenges, and potential solutionsand actorsrelated to employment and skills upgrading in Lebanon, and job readiness with a primary focus on reaching vulnerable youth in Beirut and rural areas.

The assessment will include extensive document review as well as in-person consultations. Document review will focus on:

  • Recent and Past Workforce Development Initiatives: Lessons learned, best practices, and state of the art approaches in developing sustainable and high impact workforce development interventions and private sector engagement
  • Identification of Partnerships: Determining which National, Regional and Global partners are working on job readiness and employment challenges in Lebanon’s WFD
  • Workforce Framework: Outline of the challenges, issues and potential approaches to development of a workforce activity.
  • Sectors to be Targeted: Guidance on obtaining data, insights on the quality and types of data available with respect to the target country, and contribute to the design of templates to be used during the field work

In-person consultations in Lebanon will require working in close cooperation with the USAID Economic Growth Office and the Education and Governance Offices. The Assessment team will produce a detailed report that describes the alignment of labor demand in the target sectors with the labor supply among the target group(s), outlining short-term and medium term solutions. The report should include an analysis of:

  • Labor Demand: Identify labor demand and the top sectors with greatest potential for employing the target groups.
  • Labor Supply by Target Group(s): Describe the degree to which the proposed target vulnerable group(s) has the potential to meet the demand: current skills and skills gaps, both for soft skills & technical skills.
  • Services: Map range of existing workforce development providers, both public and private, as well as employer-led initiatives and external services.
  • Stakeholders: Identify key public and private stakeholders and the potential for their involvement in future USAID workforce development projects.
  • Workforce Systems: Examine the above dimensions, along with major policy issues, and map out the dynamics of the workforce system in meeting the education and training needs of the target group(s).

In addition, the assessment team will make short- and medium-term recommendations for USAID to facilitate the skills development and placement of youth, women and vulnerable populations in jobs, discuss how the proposed interventions complement the work already being done by other donors, and provide recommendations on the potential of using public-private partnerships to support WFD activities.

Tasks:

A Local Workforce Development Specialist is being recruited to participate on the Lebanon Labor Market Assessment (LMA) team for a total of 25 working days. The assignment will be fulfilled between June 1 and July 11, 2014. The First Draft Report will be due on July 24 and a Final Report due on July 31.

The consultant’s primary technical contributions will be within the following technical areas:

  • Review and comment on sector analysis of labor demand, based on growth and employment creation potential.
  • Sectors of particular interest include but are not limited to Craft/Trade skills (both for domestic & export markets), IT/ICT, Tourism (including agro-tourism), Agriculture, and Food Processing Industry. To the extent possible, the assessment will identify a general set of occupational profiles most in demand in the target sectors and the skills requirements for those jobs (including international trends, if relevant, as well as domestic requirements). Informal sector activity, including microenterprise and self-employment opportunities, should be addressed as part of the analysis.
  • Identify of government policies and practices affecting employment growth, as well as those affecting the supply of qualified labor, at national and regional levels. This includes policies or practices that serve as a positive model for workforce development and provide a foundation upon which future efforts could build.
  • Identify of regional level opportunities in terms of policy, trade, and migration that could be conducive of better labor market outcomes for Lebanon.
  • Identification of key private sector stakeholders and examination of the potential for their involvement in future USAID workforce development projects, including through public-private partnerships. Stakeholders will include lead employers in the target sectors, as well as business associations or other private sector entities with a stake in investing in workforce development.
  • Identification of opportunities for synergies with other USAID programs, relevant government agencies that are investing in workforce development initiatives, and donor-funded programs including GIZ, UNDP, UNHCR, EU, DFID, etc. The analysis should focus on their capacity and willingness to successfully address employment and employability issues, youth skill development opportunities, and institutional governance reform, i.e. educational institutions. Moreover, the assessment should analyze the potential for leveraging current/ future USAID projects with public-private opportunities or other donors.
  • Analysis of and conclusions related to other pertinent economic issues including drivers of supply and demand for labor in Lebanon, "product space" analysis, analysis of factor inputs, value chain analysis, and productivity analysis.
  • Contribution to the WC Labor Market Assessment (LMA) Tool (matrix in Annex A shows key themes and data sources expected to be addressed/used during the assessment). As a first step the consultant will review this table and provide guidance on its completeness and suggest any changes

The Local Workforce Development Specialistwill also:

  • organize and schedule meetings for the team
  • provide logistical support to international consultants for in-country meetings
  • coordinate work of all consultants on this effort
  • Recommendations for workforce development interventions targeting youth, women and vulnerable groups including rural areas and communities where there is little economic activity and economic growth.

The Local Workforce Development Specialistwill be part of afour-person team that includes three expatriates and one Lebanese consultant. The consultant will interface with the USAID Lebanon Mission and other key stakeholders with a particular focus on policy makers, international donors, and private sector representatives. While the majority of the work is expected to be conducted in Beirut, regional travel within Lebanon is also expected.

Deliverables:

Task: / Anticipated Deliverable / Expected Due Dates / Estimated LOE (days)
Prepare agenda for team while in country / Final agenda for team / June 13th / 5 days
Analysis and examination of labor demand, policy and regional level opportunities. Identification of key private sector stakeholders, opportunities with USAID programs. / Participate weekly debriefsin team meetings with USAID, relevant Lebanese Government and collaborating partners, and a final debrief with USAID / June 16, 2014
June 23, 2014
June 30, 2014 / 15 days
Contribute technical inputs on the above themes to the final report, based on findings from document review and in-person consultation (approximately 25 pages plus annexes) / Draft report sections, annexes, and other inputson the themes and areas outlined above, for incorporation into the final report. / July 2, 2014 / 3 days
Consolidate trip report including contact information and meeting notes / Trip report / July 4, 2014 / 1 days
ReviewLMA tool / Input on the LMA tool (2 page memo) / July 11, 2014 / 1 day
Total / 25 days

Compensation

FHI360 anticipates issuing a cost reimbursable agreement to the selected consultant. The consultant must ensure that all costs are accounted for in their final offer.

LOE and Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on receipt and acceptance of deliverables. The estimated level of effort to complete the required deliverables is up to twenty five (25) days.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

  • Inclusive economic growth programming: recognized expertise in working with economic growth programs and sector analysis in MENA region, especially inclusive economic growth programs such as value chain, workforce development and microenterprise development that target vulnerable groups including youth and women. Familiarity with or experience working in target sectors is essential.
  • Substantial contacts among Lebanese policy makers and stakeholders. Familiarity with Lebanon.
  • Fluent in English (spoken and written). French and Arabic language skills necessary.
  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, public policy, international development or related field, or 5+ years work experience in Economic Growth development projects or policy program environments.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested candidates should send the following application materials:

  1. An updated Resume/CV
  1. A completed FHI 360 Biographical Data Form with current daily rate and salary history
  1. List of at least 3 references, with contact email and phone numbers, who can independently verify past work
  2. Proposed daily rate in USD for completion of the work defined above

Consultants are responsible for review of the terms and conditions provided in the attachments and listed below.

Consultant must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and its attachments.

CRITERIA/QUALIFICATION FOR EVALUATION

Selection will be based on best value, weighing price against technical factors as outlined below:

  1. Education (25pts): Advanced degree in a relevant field of study
  2. Experience & Capabilities (50pts): The ideal candidate will possess the experience and skills outlined in the above section.
  3. Proposed Cost/Daily Rate (25pts)

Competitively ranked applications may be tested and interviewed, so applicants must address the required qualifications in their applications.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

To apply, please send application materials to Kiera Derman at and Meredith Cann at y June 3, 2014. Any questions or requests for clarification need to be submitted in writing to Kiera Derman at nd Meredith Cann at y June 2, 2014 inquiries and answers to inquiries will be shared with all applicants on this website. No telephone inquiries will be answered.

Please DO NOTbegin work until a contract has been signed between FHI 360 and the consultant.

Disclaimers:

1.FHI 360 will not compensate individuals for preparation of their response to this Solicitation.

2.Issuing this Solicitation is not a guarantee that FHI 360 will award a contract.

3.FHI 360 reserves the right to issue a contract based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion.

4.FHI 360 may choose to award a contract for part of the activities in the Solicitation.

5.FHI 360 may choose to award contracts to more than one offeror for specific parts of the activities in the Solicitation.

6.FHI 360 may request from short-listed offerors a second or third round of either oral presentation or written response to a more specific and detailed scope of work that is based on a general scope of work in the original Solicitation.

7.FHI 360 has the right to rescind the solicitation, or rescind an award prior to the signing of a contract due to any unforeseen changes in the direction of FHI 360’s client (the US Government), be it funding or programmatic.

8. FHI 360 reserves the right to waive any deviations by offerors from the requirements of this solicitation that in FHI 360's opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition.

9. Data produced by this belongs to FHI 360 and USAID. Any distribution of data must first have written authorization from FHI 360 or its designated representative.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A – Consultant Agreement General Terms And Conditions

Attachment B – FHI360 Biodata Form

ANNEX A

WC LMA Tool
Themes / Data Sources
Indicators / International / National / Qualitative
1 Demographics / Population trends
Labor force
Employment/Unemployment
Informal sector / World Bank World Development Indicators
ILOStat / National Statistical Agency / Civil Society Orgs.
2 Industry / Size/growth
Exports/sales
Firms/size
Investment / UNIDO
ILOStat / Ministry of Industry/Commerce / Labor Unions
3 Business environment / Ease of Doing Business
Start-ups and entrepreneurs
Access to finance / World Bank Doing Business Indicators / Ministry of Industry/Commerce / Employers
4 Labor policy impacting supply and demand for labor / Hiring/firing
Labor rights
Wages and tax rates
Internship/apprenticeship laws
Labor mobility / World Bank Doing Business Indicators
World Bank EdStats / Ministry of Labor / Employers
5 Education policy impacting supply and demand for skill development / Early childhood development
Primary, secondary, tertiary education
TVET or vocational training
Standards for training and certificates
National qualifications framework (NQF) / UNESCO / Ministry of Education / Individual training institutions
6 Skill needs/gaps / Graduates; labor force; Cognitive
Functional/technical
Non-cognitive (soft skills)
Core competencies / World Bank World Development Indicators World Bank EdStats / Employers Associations
Ministry of Labor
Ministry of Education / Employers
7 Labor market system / Recruiting
Retention
On the job/new worker training
Mentorship and coaching
Career networking/job fairs / Ministry of Labor / Job recruiters and job placement organizations
8 Education system / Curriculum
Degrees/certifications
Engagement between educators and private sector / World Bank EdStats
UNESCO World Data on Education / Ministry of Education / Individual training institutions