The context

In its five years of multi-layered crisis, Lebanon is knocked down by the overall collapse of the economic and political conditions. The removal of subsidies and the overall declining economic trends led to increasing unemployment rates: the percentage of unemployed women is still higher than that of men, whereas youth unemployment is almost double the rate of adults. The purchasing power of families significantly declined, while prices of basic goods rose, increasing the number of families and individuals in vulnerable conditions. The governorates of Akkar, North Lebanon, Baalbek-Hermel and Bekaa are the most affected by the multi-level crises, having historically recorded higher poverty and vulnerability rates. Their marginalization constantly increased with the Syrian crisis and significant influx of refugees, the remittances drop and market decline, as well as with the overall deterioration of public services and healthcare systems.

Despite the agri-food sector being the major economic sector in these areas, it is still largely underdeveloped. Structural weaknesses have been further burdened by the effects of the repeated shocks occurred in the last years, causing an exponential increase in prices of foodstuff and agricultural inputs – especially when imported – as well as in the cost of energy needed for water pumping.

In addition to the outlined constraints, out-of-date and inadequate policy causes the systemic exclusion, discrimination and exploitation of workers, particularly affecting vulnerable groups as women, migrant workers and foreign nationals. Harmful trends such as the engagement of workers through absent or abusive contracts, inequitable pay scales, and unsafe workplace settings continue to negatively affect agricultural labourers, who mostly lack any legal protection. Lastly, the impact of climate change is intensifying all over Lebanon, causing increasing soil degradation, desertification and water scarcity.

Our intervention

Our actions aim to uplift communities through two main outcomes:

1. Livelihoods support, with:

  • Job Creation, providing support to multiple private sector actors in the agri-food sector;
  • Employability, through the implementation of skills development activities, such as technical trainings and internships, especially for the youth;
  • Income Generation Support through dedicated trainings for vulnerable refugees and host communities households in support of the activation of Income Generating Activities.

2. Tackle Policy Dialogue and Localization, by addressing the following engagement areas:

  • Advocacy and Policy Dialogue, through the drafting of evidence-based policy papers and products, and the implementation of activities transferring the ownership of advocacy to right-holders;
  • Civil Society Partner Capacities, and National and Sub-National Institutional Capacities that will be enhanced promoting Decent Work in the agri-food sector through awareness-raising and capacity-building activities to multi-level institutional and civil society actors, as well as to the implementing partners. The capacity building aimed at the promotion of Decent Work will include dedicated modules on gender equality and prevention of child labor that will be therefore mainstreamed across multiple activities.

Furthermore, women-led businesses, cooperatives and organizations will be prioritized across the proposed actions, with the aim of enhancing women’s participation in light of their undermined, yet crucial, contribution to economy, and to the agri-food sector in particular.

This project is funded by the European Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP III) for Jordan and Lebanon, which is supported by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The contents of this page are the sole responsibility of WeWorld and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the RDPP or its donors.