Call for Cluster Expert: Advocating for Clusters Development in Lebanon

CONTEXT & BACKGROUND

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and the company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.  

In order to effectively support sustainable economic development in Lebanon, advancing economic clusters activities through a coherent policy is key. The absence of official public clustering efforts in Lebanon, and the challenging economic and political landscape, highlights the necessity of a policy supporting legal framework, organizational structures, technical support, and financial sustainability for clusters. These pillars are crucial for fostering a supportive environment that encourages private sector initiatives, promotes collaboration, and attracts investment.. Accordingly, it’s important to raise awareness on the importance of clusters, the suggested amendments to the regulatory framework and its necessity among key stakeholders.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Euromed Clusters Forward project, funded by the European Union, and led by ANIMA Investment Network aims to strengthen clusters and their members across 7 South Mediterranean countries, including Lebanon. It focuses on promoting inclusive innovation and competitiveness to foster growth, economic diversification, sustainable development, and employment in the region. The project’s activities include strategic studies, national policy dialogues, technical assistance on cluster policies, and capacity-building academies.

The national policy roadmap for clusters developed by Beyond Group outlines the strategic framework for promoting economic clusters in Lebanon. The policy roadmap emphasizes the importance of developing clusters in key sectors, while enabling key stakeholders with the necessary skillsets, sector-specific know-how, and technical support.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Promoting awareness of cluster benefits and advocating for the cluster policy framework

By advocating for a unified national cluster policy through targeted workshops and knowledge-sharing activities, we aim to create a conducive environment for the successful implementation of clusters initiatives.

The selected consultant will be responsible for promoting awareness of cluster benefits and advocating for a unified national cluster policy. This would be achieved through a series of bilateral meeting with key stakeholders and policy makers, targeted workshops and knowledge-sharing activities tailored to the target sectors and key people The consultant’s main role is to develop an advocacy strategy and educate policymakers and private sector leaders on the benefits of clusters to support a cohesive national cluster policy for Lebanon.

This SOW builds on the policy dialogue efforts carried out by Berytech and its consultants over the past two years. Berytech will provide the consultant with a range of materials, including sectoral analyses, regulatory framework reports, international benchmarks, and a list of stakeholders already involved in cluster support in Lebanon.

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy and Policy DevelopmentDevelop an advocacy plan and strategy for the policy makers encouraging them to support cluster development and adopt the suggested roadmap for the regulatory framework previously developed. This will happen through:

• Advocate for the adoption of a unified national cluster policy by presenting the findings from previous studies done by the Euromed Clusters Forward program through bilateral meetings and workshops.
• Collaborate with policymakers to adopt policy recommendations and strategic frameworks for cluster development in Lebanon.
• Engage with key stakeholders to gather feedback and build consensus on the proposed national cluster policy.

Workshop(s) Design and Delivery

• Develop a comprehensive workshop curriculum focused on the benefits of clusters, tailored to Lebanese policymakers and private sector stakeholders.
• Plan and organize a series of workshops in collaboration with relevant institutions and organizations to enhance their understanding of clusters benefits.
• Gathering feedback following the sessions to measure satisfaction and evaluation of content (when needed).

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

• Develop informational materials, such as presentations, reports, and policy briefs, to support workshops and advocacy efforts, ensuring alignment with the previously developed report and the ongoing development of the Clusters regulatory framework.

• Organize bilateral meetings, training and capacity-building sessions for stakeholders to ensure they are well-equipped to implement clusters initiatives. This involves securing the events venue, coordinating the logistics, securing the attendance and engagement of the decision makers and other actors (when needed).

• Foster a network of cluster advocates and champions within the public and private sectors to sustain momentum for clustering efforts.

Deliverables

Advocacy and Policy Development

1. 1. Advocacy plan
   2. Policy briefs and advocacy materials for distribution to stakeholders.
   3. MOMs for bilateral meetings
   4. Presentation slides, handouts, and informational materials.

Workshop(s) Design and Delivery

1. 1. Conduct a minimum of 3 workshops with key policymakers and private sector stakeholders or 2 workshops and 1 event.
   2. Feedback forms and follow up on evaluation + List of attendees.
   3. Workshop reports summarizing key discussions, outcomes, and recommendations.

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

1. 1. Conduct training sessions for stakeholders on clusters benefits and implementation of the regulatory framework and support strategies to the concerned authorities.
   2. Develop and the grow the network of cluster advocates and champions across multiple sectors in collaboration with previously set up connections.

Qualifications

• Strong background in economic regulations, public policy, PR, or a related field. Relevant certifications in advocacy, PR, or mobilization are a plus.
• At least 7 years of experience in economic or cluster development in Lebanon or the region, with a proven record in facilitating discussions, workshops, trainings, and advocacy campaigns.
• Solid understanding of cluster dynamics and their role in economic development.
• A well-established network of partners, institutions, and key actors in the field.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Good knowledge of Lebanon’s economic and political context.