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Quotation Are Invited For Policy Research Service Provider To Develop A Policy Note Closing Date: Saturday, 05. Apr 2025 Intervention Sector(S): Labor & Livelihoods, Research & Studies Background LebanonS Socio-Economic Landscape Is Marked With Interconnected And Often Devastating Shocks. The Economic And Financial Crisis That Erupted In Late 2019 Profoundly Undermined The NationS Economic Stability And Social Cohesion And For Nearly Five Years Now, Lebanon Has Been Witnessing Its Repercussions, That Were Further Exacerbated By The Covid-19 Outbreak, The Massive Beirut Blast In August 2020, Chronic Political Paralysis And Lately An Armed Conflict Resulting In Forced Internal Displacement. The Economic And Financial Crisis Only Exacerbated Existing Structural Gaps In The Social Protection System And Labour Market In Lebanon. These Include A Fragmented And Weak Social Protection System, Providing Low And Unequal Coverage As Well As Inadequate And Limited Benefits, In Addition To Rising Rates Of Unemployment, Underemployment And Labour Market Inequalities. The Labour Market Recovery From This Massive Shock Had Taken Time And Risks Being Uneven And Affected By Individuals Detachment From The Labour Market As Well As Skill Mismatches Between The Jobs Lost During The Crisis And Those Created As Economic Growth Resumes. All These Challenges Arose Amid Inadequate And Weak Social Protection Schemes Intended To Alleviate Hardships In Times Of Crisis. With The Recent Escalations, Repercussions Of The Conflict On Employment In Both Private And Public Sectors Are Clear But Will Only Fully Unfold Over Time. Job Security, Hiring Rates, And Overall Economic Stability Are Likely To Face Even Greater Challenges, Deepening The Strain On LebanonS Workforce. In The Private Sector, Businesses Across Industries Are Facing Closures, Decreased Consumer Demand, And Disrupted Supply Chains, Forcing Some Of Them To Downsize Or Halt Operations Entirely Especially In The Affected Geographical Areas. In November 2024, The World Bank Estimated The Damage In Agriculture At Us$124 Million, With Losses Over Us$1.1 Billion, Driven By Lost Harvest Caused By Destruction Of Crops And Livestock And Displacement Of Farmers. Commerce Accounts For Us$178 Million In Damage With Losses Estimated At Us$1.7 Billion, Primarily Driven By The Displacement Of Employees And Business Owners, Supply Chain Disruptions, And Shifts In Consumption Towards Essential Goods. In The Education Sector, Losses Are Estimated At Us$215 Million Based On Lost Private School Tuition Payments And The Costs Of Temporary Schooling. Environment, Through Natural Resource Degradation And The Impact On Solid Waste Management, Has Incurred Us$221 Million In Damage With Losses Estimated At Us$214 Million. The Health Sector Has Suffered Damage Valued At Us$74 Million, With Losses Estimated At Us$338 Million. Tourism And Hospitality Account For Us$18 Million Of Damage, But Have Losses Estimated At Us$1.1 Billion, Driven By Reductions In Tourist Arrivals And Inbound Travel, Affecting Revenues Of Hotels, Restaurants And Other Businesses Reliant On Tourist Spending. Additionally And According To The Nssf, 107,913 Individuals And 18,587 Institutions Are Registered In The Nine Branches That Were Temporarily And Forcibly Closed Due To The Conflict, Offering A Tangible Sense Of The Issues Magnitude. Meanwhile, The Public Sector Is Also Under Strain As Government Resources Are Expected To Decrease Significantly, Further Worsening The Situation And Delaying Further Adjustment Of Salaries. To Respond To The Crisis, Mosa And Partners Have Leveraged Existing Social Assistance Programs To Provide Emergency Cash Assistance To A Larger Population Group, Mainly Expanding Horizontally And Vertically The Coverage Of Such Programs. Today, Lebanon Stands At A Critical Crossroad Where Maintaining The Status Quo Could Lead To Further Deterioration Of The Social Situation Or Alternatively Pursuing Structural Transformation Of Its Social Protection Schemes. Fortunately, The First Step Towards This Transition Was Taken With The Adoption Of A National Social Protection Strategy, Grounded In Human Rights Principles, And Designed To Be Shock Responsive. The Strategy Includes A Key Pillar On Economic Inclusion And Labour Activation, Intended To Reform Such Policies Within The Framework Of Establishing A More Robust, Sustainable And Employment-Friendly Social Protection System. The Aim Of The Pillar Is On Reducing Labor Market Imbalances And Introducing Supply Side Measures That Can Sustainably Address Unemployment And Underemployment And Ensure Worker Retention In The Labor Market Amongst Most Vulnerable Segments Of The Population. However, The Implementation Of The Strategy Requires Concerted Efforts, Particularly At The Level Of Policy Design, Where Thorough And Evidence-Based Deliberation Is Crucial. In Light Of The Above And As Part Of Its Continuous Effort And Commitment Towards Reforming The Social Protection Landscape In The Country, The Ilo Office For The Arab States, Under The Framework Of The Ilo-Eu Partnership Through The Enable Program, Is Now Seeking To Engage A Policy Research Firm To Develop A Policy Note On Key Priority Policies And Measures For Labour Activation In The Country And Establishing Linkages With Shock-Responsive Social Protection Schemes, In The Current Context Of Conflict And Fragility. Context And Rationale While The Integration Of Labour Activation Programs[1] Within Broader Social Protection Measures Is Generally Considered The Most Effective Approach To Improving Socio-Economic Outcomes, It Becomes Even More Crucial In The Context Of Crises And Emergency Response. In Fact, Employment-Friendly Social Protection Systems Play A Key Role In Creating Enabling Conditions And Overcoming Barriers For Individuals To Be Active In The Labour Market And Reduce Risks Of Labour Market Exclusion Over The Life-Course, Particularly For Those In Vulnerable Situations. Interventions That Combine Social Protection Schemes With Active Labour Market Policies Support Key Life-Course Transitions. Indeed, Job Seekers Might Be Unwilling Or Unable To Join Labour Activation Programs If They Need To Bear The Implicit Cost Of Participation In Terms Of Foregone Labour Income. Carefully Planning The Combination And Sequencing Of Such Interventions Will Help Bridge The Gap Between Short-Term Goals, Such As Sustaining Income With The Objective Of Retraining Workers For Jobs That Might Emerge In The Future. In Response To The Current Crisis, The Government And Development Partners, Including The Ilo, Have Mobilized To Provide Adequate Income Support To Displaced And Affected Populations. While These Immediate And Short-Term Measures Are Vital For Addressing Shocks, It Is Equally Important For The Government And Partners To Support Individuals In Retaining And Accessing Quality Jobs Through Active Labor Market Interventions. This Twin-Track And Integrated Approach Helps Mitigate Vulnerabilities And Poverty Stemming From The Compounded Crises While Laying The Groundwork For A Swift And Sustained Return To Employment. Drawing On International Best Practices, Including In The Context Of The Response To The Recent Global Pandemic, This Policy Document Aims To Provide Practical Guidance On How To Establish Effective Linkages Between Social Protection Systems And Labor Activation Measures In The Context Of Compounded Crises And Conflict. The Note Will Focus On Actionable Strategies For Integrating Income Support With Employment Initiatives, Including At The Level Of Policy And Institutional Frameworks, Coordination Mechanisms, And Service Delivery Infrastructure, And That Enable A Comprehensive Response To Both Immediate Vulnerabilities And Long-Term Labor Market Recovery. The Note Should Be Tailored To The Unique Context Of Lebanon And Fits The CountryS Needs, Institutional Set-Up, Legal Framework And Governance Structure, In The Current State And Within The Framework Of A Potential Future Recovery. This Policy Note Will Serve As Guidance To Both Policymakers And Development Partners To Design, Support And Implement Comprehensive Packages Of Active Labour Market Polices In Tandem With Social Protection Programs. Scope Of Work And Activities Under The Supervision Of The Enable Project Manager And The Lebanon Social Protection Specialist, And The Overall Coordination Of The National Social Security Officer In Lebanon, The Policy Research Firm Is Expected To Deliver The Below Scope Of Work: Definitions And Contextual Framework: Define Key Concepts And Terms Related To Social Protection Schemes And Labor Activation Policies To Establish A Common Language For The Policy Paper With Emphasis On Critical Terms Such As Social Protection, Labor Activation Policies, Labor Market Integration, Economic Inclusion, Income-Support Programs And Other Relevant Concepts. Identify Local Definitions Of Above-Mentioned Concepts As Outlined In National Laws, Policies, And Programs, With A Particular Focus On The Recently Adopted National Social Protection Strategy. Literature Review And Analysis: Perform An In-Depth Review Of Existing Literature On Labour Activation Programs And Their Linkages With Social Protection Schemes, Including, But Not Limited To, Publications By The Ilo, World Bank, Oecd, And Other Relevant Organizations. Pinpoint Leading Global Best Practices For Integrating Labor Activation Policies Within Social Protection Schemes, Including In The Context Of The Recent Global Pandemic. Identify Successful Integration Models Implemented In Other Countries With A Particular Emphasis On Regional Countries Or Countries With Similar Socio-Economic Conditions And Highlighting Lessons Learnt. Diagnosis Of The Current Landscape: Compile And Review Past And Existing Public Labor Activation Programs And Initiatives, Spanning Across Various Industries, Sectors And Beneficiari Tender Link : Https://Daleel-Madani.Org/Civil-Society-Directory/International-Labour-Organization-0/Calls/Rfq-Policy-Research-Service-Provider-Develop-Policy-Note
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