Creative Design and Product Development Training Courses

SMALL ENTERPRISE CENTER

Short term assignment- Terms of References

Creative Design and Product Development Training Courses

Enhance the designing skills by activating the creative hub services at the Technopark   

• Background:

The Small Enterprise Center (SEC) Association is an international non-for-profit organization, established in 2008, stands  as business development center under registration number RA-22545-B at the Palestinian Law of Charity Association and Community Organization No. 1, dedicated to promoting  Entrepreneurship, enhancing Micro, Small and Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs) Social Enterprises (including cooperatives) competitiveness in the local and international markets by providing innovative solutions to overcome barriers and challenges related to adopting green practices, access to high-value external markets, access to affordable loans, and access to technology and know-how required to realize their full potential, create sustainable jobs for women and youth.

Through a strategic partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Global Communities (GC) is implementing the Supporting MSMEs Competitiveness and Growth in Palestine (SMCGP) program. The 44-month program aims to improve the conditions necessary for increased competitiveness and growth of MSMEs, contributing to inclusive sustainable economic development, including better income generation and productive employment with decent working conditions, particularly for women and youth. The SMCGP adopts the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach by employing facilitative approaches with learning at its core. SMCGP will target the creative industries sector which comprises three sectors including Furniture, Footwear and Leather, and Handicrafts.

Within the framework of the sub-agreement signed between the Global Communities and the Small Enterprise Center (SEC) to Supporting MSMEs Competitiveness and Growth in Palestine Programme funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), SEC, in collaboration with Technopark, is planning to conduct two separate training courses on creative design and product development. The first will target the furniture sector, and the second will target the handicraft subsector.

The Palestine Technopark (PTP), established in 2016, stands as a research and innovation technology park registered as a non-for-profit company dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Palestine. Its multifaceted approach encompasses the provision of essential physical infrastructure, impactful entrepreneurship programs, state-of-the-art Innovation Labs and Hubs, and Research and Development initiatives. The overarching goals of PTP include the introduction and promotion of science and innovative technologies, the commercialization of technological knowledge, and the bridging of the gap between the business sector and academia.

SEC invites qualified expert/s to submit technical and financial proposals to provide one or both on creative design and product development for the furniture and handicraft subsectors.

2.0 Questions and Requests for Clarifications

Questions regarding the technical or administrative requirements of this ToRs may be submitted no later than 5/07/2024, [email protected]. Questions must be submitted in writing; phone calls will not be accepted. Questions, requests for clarifications and the responses thereto that SEC believes may be of interest to other offers will be circulated to all TORs recipients who have indicated an interest in bidding.

Only the written answers issued by SEC will be considered official and carry weight in the ToRs process and subsequent evaluation. Any verbal information received from employees of SEC, or any other entity should not be considered as an official response to any questions regarding this TORs.

3.0 Purpose of this assignment:

SEC is looking for technical and financial proposals from qualified expert/s to conduct two specific trainings. The first training will be for the furniture subsector, and the second will be for the handicraft subsector. The focus of the training will be on design trends to improve skills, particularly in design and product diversification, and to enhance the quality and design of new products for better marketability and competitiveness. The objective is to develop the capacity of a sustainable body (Technopark) that can offer innovative solutions to MSMEs by providing upskilling programs for professional designers, entrepreneurs, students, and graduates, and by addressing industry developmental needs.

The two training courses are described below:

1. Training on product design targeting the Furniture subsector to provide training to professional furniture designers while connecting them with the market and directing their knowledge toward market needs and requirements within this subsector. The training will introduce the designers to new design trends and production processes that they can develop to produce their own brand and signature furniture pieces with a clear vision encompassing cultural heritage.

2. Training on product design targeting Handicraft subsector to develop the current handicraft industry in Palestine by supplying designers with courses aiming at enhancing their design and production processes, such as material development, 3D printing, laser cutting, and design development. The designers are meant to finish the training with newly acquired skills that can be used to develop sellable products with cultural values and functionality.

3. Conduct TOT training for the hub designers to qualify them to lead future training and to ensure sustainable delivery of the general and specialized creative design training programs. This will ensure that the hub is capable and have the required resources to provide the design trainings for subsectors’ MSMEs in the future.

4.0 Expert’s key responsibilities:

The Expert\s will work under the supervision of the Small Enterprise Center (SEC) and the overall guidance of the Director of Programs/from Technopark.

S/he will undertake the following activities:

1. Prepare one of the two creative design training materials or both: the first focus on furniture and the second for handicraft sectors in Palestine.
2. Prepare creative design and product development training methodology together with the implementing partners, Small Enterprise Center (SEC), and Technopark staff to pursue the Project objectives.
3. Conduct two 5-day training programs on creative design and product development to up to thirty (30) participants in the Project, the first course for the furniture, the second for the handicraft, in addition to another 2-days Training of Trainers (TOT) for selected (up to 10) participants.
4. Facilitate certification for 10 participants to become national trainers
5. Online participation in evaluating the output developed by the participants in the Hackathon which will be conducted by Technopark and SEC in August, 2024.
6. Prepare a comprehensive final report on the activity.

5.0 Main Deliverables

The expert\s will submit the following deliverables in English Language:

1. Training material and plan
2. Delivery of the creative design and product development targeting the furniture subsector
3. Delivery of the creative design and product development targeting the handicraft subsector.
4. Support the certification of 10 National Creative Design and Product Development Trainers.
5. Comprehensive final report on the creative design and product development training, including findings, and recommendations.

6.0 Copy Rights

The newly trainers and partners have the right to use the training materials and property rights to deliver training courses in the future without the necessity to obtain any written or oral permissions from the trainer / service provider or any other parties, and the service provider has no right to ask for any fees or costs related to any future training courses conducted by SEC, Technopark, or the new trainers. 6.0 Copy Rights

7.0 Qualifications and Work Experience of the Expert/s

• Experience in developing and delivering training programs in creative design for Small businesses operating in furniture and handicraft sectors,
• Expertise in creative design thinking training, accredited certification by reputable design thinking institutions is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of creative design methodology suitable for furniture and handicraft in Palestine.
• Excellent knowledge of challenges and barriers in the furniture and handicraft sectors in Palestine
• Ability to keep tight deadlines and teamwork;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with report writing experience in both Languages (Arabic and English);
• Computer literate in MS office applications (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).
• .

8.0 Education

• A postgraduate Degree in Art, Social Sciences, Design, Innovation or related field.
• Knowledge of Design Thinking and Product design and development Method
• Certified International Design Thinking Trainer is a credit.

9.0 Venue and Duration of Appointment:

The Creative Design and Product Development training course\s will take place at Technopark premises in Birzeit, Ramallah, in August and September, 2024.

10.0 Travel

The trainer should have access to travel to Palestine without any support from SEC or Technopark. Should the selected Trainer be not being able to travel to Palestine for any reasons, SEC has the right to immediately cancel the contractual agreement with the trainer, and s/he has no right to ask for any compensations from SEC or partners for any efforts invested in this training.

11.0 Logistic Support for the Consultant

 SEC will provide information, document, hall for meeting and online meeting software or emergency cases.

12.0 Deadlines for Submitting CVs and Technical and Financial Offers

The deadline for submitting CVs, and Technical and Financial offers by latest 8th of July 2024 (Ramallah Local Time).

Kindly send the offers to SEC email:

 [email protected]