Livelihood Support in the Beqqa and North Lebanon Targeting Syrian Refugees

Alaa, a 26-year-old mother of three, reflects on her experience participating in the Business Development Skills training funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and delivered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“I feel empowered more than ever. This training has taught me the skills that I needed to manage my small business effectively, and with no losses” explained Alaa, who is a Lebanese national from the Bekaa Valley, where she lives with her husband and three children. Before Lebanon’s economic crisis began, Alaa’s husband ran a vegetable shop. While he focused on the sale of fruit and vegetables, Alaa prepared and sold preserved foodstuffs, such as vine leaves and pickles, using traditional preservatives like salted water, vinegar, or oil.

“Ever since the economic crisis, we have faced one problem after another,” explained Alaa. Unable to cover the rental for their shop or buy needed kitchen equipment, Alaa and her husband had no choice but to close their business. The family’s financial situation only worsened when their daughter needed heart surgery. “We had to use all our savings to pay for the operation,” explained Alaa, adding that currently they do not have money to reopen their shop. “My husband has started selling vegetables from his car,” she added.

Alaa is one of 56 beneficiaries attending the Business Development Skills training and believes she has learnt important skills about business management, that will serve her well. These skills include how to calculate profits, pricing of goods, and business promotion.

“If I receive the grant from IOM, I will use it to buy equipment and rent a shop, to re-open our business. I prepare food supplies at home. I am now fully capable of running the business, thanks to all the useful information that we learned during this training”.

IOM will grant 50 Syrian and Lebanese beneficiaries a grant worth $1,500 to grow their business, based on the viability of their business plan, and their capacities to implement it.

“Even if I am not selected for this grant, I have gained a lot of knowledge from the training. I have benefited either way,” she added. “I believe that this comprehensive program, through the training and the grant, is just what we need in Lebanon. Businesses need to learn how to manage, especially during this severe economic crisis”.

Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented economic crisis. In its efforts to tackle these economic hardships, IOM Lebanon is implementing a livelihood support project funded by Qatar Fund for Development.

The project supports both Syrian and Lebanese communities in North Lebanon, Akkar, and the Bekaa Valley, through short term employment, vocational trainings and grants for startup and small businesses.