Activity Completion Report #3 for the Private Sector Stakeholder Meetings Completed deliverable

The report focuses on the comprehensive Labor Market Assessment and Validation Study conducted by Remark Consultancy Firm for the CSP Workforce Development (WFD) activity. The target areas for the consultancy were the North, Beqaa, and Southern regions of Lebanon. The main goal was to inform the selection of 7-10 private TVET and 15-25 private sector/SME partners, as well as identify upgrades of current TVET training courses and curricula, and subsequent upgrades to TVET infrastructure and equipment. The consultancy was divided into three phases: consolidation and review of labor market assessment, targeted labor market field research, and partner profiling with curricula and TVET upgrade strategy. In Phase 3, the subcontractor conducted an in-depth profiling of 7-10 potential TVETs and 15-25 private sector partners. Profiling included an assessment and recommendations on TVET capacity and training curricula, infrastructure, and equipment. Private sector partners conducted an in-depth assessment of internship potential, hiring practices, facilities and equipment, human resource capacity, technical and soft skills needs, and training practices. Recommendations were given on upgrading and incentivizing their ability to hire, train, and retain employees. Twenty-one private sector firms/SME meetings were held to develop an assessment of their capacity to provide internships to new recruits from among prospective TVET graduates, as well as their receptivity and capacity to collaborate with relevant TVETs and the Workforce Development program. Private sector firms/SME stakeholders identified and assessed various companies, including Jubaili Brothers, Schneider Electric, and Mounir Bissat Factories. The outputs of the consultancy include the identification and assessment of 21 private sector partners, validation of skills in demand by the job market, and acquired full perception of market trends, supply, demand, growth projections, and identification of employability skills' needs. The outcomes of the consultancy include the development of skills training courses that are relevant, context-specific, and able to effectively leverage existing local educational infrastructure and assets, as well as the prospective securing of internship opportunities for TVET graduates. The impact of the consultancy includes a higher probability in securing employment opportunities for TVET graduates, TVETs providing technical, vocational education and training courses that are in demand by the private sector, and TVET students graduating with employability and soft skills that are demanded by employers. The consultancy did not have an impact on other Task Orders, as Task Order 04 falls under USAID's Economic Growth Office.