Deadline: 1 March 2017
The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is currently seeking applications for its Subsidised Temporary Employment Programme (STEP) with an aim to incentivise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand production and create new permanent jobs for predominantly low-skilled Lebanese workers as well as – in accordance with Lebanese legislation – temporary jobs for Syrian refugees.
STEP is expected to achieve this through the provision of finance and employment incentives, as well as a flexible package of technical assistance to facilitate access to Business Development Services. During the pilot phase, combinations of different services (i.e. matching grants and/or wage subsidies) will be provided to individual SMEs in order to test the effectiveness of different packages of support. The approach will be agreed in advance in consultation with the independent evaluation contractor. Whilst this may provide opportunities to overcome multiple constraints that an enterprise might face, it may also present risks including that support from more than one component could provide a level of subsidies that will excessively distort the market.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must apply using DFID supplier portal.
Eligible Countries: UK, Lebanon, Syria
For more information, please visit DFID-STEP.
