BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
Support to Host Communities through
Increased Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities
October 2014
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
1.
Impact statement of the Project
Lebanese population and Syrian refugees, especially women, youth and other vulnerable groups, restore
their livelihood and economic opportunities through allowances for economic inclusion
2. The Development Challenge
The impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon is reaching a scale unprecedented in the history of complex,
refugee-driven emergencies. While in April 2012, 32,800 refugees were registered or awaiting
registration with UNHCR, in September 2014 that figure jumped sharply to over 1,200,000. This number
represents an increase equal to 25% of the entire Lebanese population (4,425 million in 2012, with a
density of 400 people/km2). This sudden and large influx of refugees from Syria is now placing enormous
pressure on the country and its people, especially those in the poorest areas, where refugee concentrations
have been greatest.
As per UNHCR data (April 21, 2014) it is estimated that Syrian refugees are found mainly in North
Lebanon (27%), Bekaa (34%), South Lebanon (12%), Mount Lebanon (23%) and Beirut (2.9%).
International recognition to the urgent need to scale up support to Lebanese host communities as part of
the response to the Syrian crisis has reached new levels in recent months, from the UN Security Council
Presidential Statement in July to the WB/UN Needs Assessment and the September formation of the
International Support Group for Lebanon on the margins of the UN General Assembly. A growing
consensus among national and international stakeholders is therefore focusing on the need to reframe the
current challenges facing Lebanon as representing both humanitarian and multi-dimensional crisis, which
requires bridging humanitarian action with medium and longer support to stability, in a resilience-based
development approach.
The Syrian crisis is creating a negative impact at the macro and micro economic levels resulting in
environmental degradation, decrease in employment opportunities for the Lebanese people, increase of
conflicts and disputes between Lebanese and Syrian refugees and huge pressure on local authorities and
public services such as water, sanitation, waste management, education, and health care.
Despite these many challenges, the Lebanese people have kept their borders, homes and communities
open, showing remarkable generosity and solidarity. The Municipalities are faced with situations where
the needs have grown exponentially; meanwhile the current structures are not equipped and capacitated to
provide the needed services.
In 2013 and in coordination and coherence with the UN and UNDP's regional response to the Syrian
Crisis, UNDP Lebanon launched the “Lebanon Stabilization and Recovery Program: Supporting
Resilience in a time of Crisis”, leading the way to directly responding to that need, fully integrated within
both the humanitarian Regional Response Plan and the Lebanon Roadmap of Priority Interventions for
Stabilization prepared by the Government and endorsed by the International Community following the
joint WB/UN Needs Assessment.
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
The Lebanon Host Communities Support (LHSP) Program, in coordination with the Ministry of Social
Affairs (MOSA) is a specific response to stabilize the Lebanese Communities and increase their
capacities and ability to host Syrian refugees. The Program aims to strengthen the capacity of national and
local government and civil society actors for inclusive priority setting and conflict mitigation, dispute
resolution, and participatory service delivery as well reinforcing business skills and marketing
opportunities in vulnerable areas, enhancing the dialogue among key stakeholders. The program targets
49 communities (62 municipalities)/242 selected on the base of vulnerability and socio-economic
indicators, number of refugees, and ratio between the Lebanese population and the Syrian refugees.
The project aims to achieve three main goals:
1.
2.
3.
Increase the livelihoods and economic opportunities in affected areas.
Strengthen the capacity of local and national actors to deliver basic services in a participatory and
conflict sensitive manner.
Improve the local level dispute resolution and community security.
In order to develop an integrated response plan for the targeted localities, LHSP is conducting a conflict
sensitive needs assessment adopting the "Maps of Risks and Resources" Methodology (MRR) through a
participatory approach with civil society stakeholders and local authorities. The methodology has been
adopted by MoSA to be implemented in the majority of the 242 vulnerable communities.
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
The partners of UNDP LHSP Program include National and Local Institutions (Ministry of Public Health
(MoPH), Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA),
Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Ministry of Agriculture, Council for Development and
Reconstruction (CDR), selected Municipalities (see Annex A) and Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC)
of MoPH Network; UN Agencies (UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, ILO, OCHA, FAO, UNFPA); and bilateral
donors (DFID, Ecuador, EU, Germany, Japan, Italy, Waldesian Church-Italy, Mexico, USA).
Governance Structure of the LHSP Program:
A Steering Committee including representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office, MoSA, UNDP, CDR, the
Ministries of Interior and Municipalities, Health, and Education, as well as key donors is formed to
provide overall governance for the LHSP. UNDP provides secretariat functions to the steering committee,
including periodic reporting on programme activities and financial delivery, ensuring visibility of both
Government ownership and donor support. The representative of the Italian cooperation will full
participate at the Steering Committee Meetings and events.
Livelihood and Economic opportunities: the Impact of the Crisis
Lebanon has a free market regime that encourages foreign investment. The Lebanese economy is tradeservice-oriented (approximately 73% of GDP); main growth sectors including banking, and tourism. The
Agriculture, although important, has become less significant over the years (approximately 5% of GDP).
Family businesses accounted for more than a million jobs, with women constituting 16.8% of
entrepreneurs (assessment UNWOMEN – August 2013). In 2010, prior to the start of the crisis in Syria,
the Lebanese economy grew by eight percent, one of the highest rates achieved during the global
recession. Lebanon struggles since the end of the civil war with a very high debt to GDP averaging140%.
The economy endures structural deficiencies including sectoral and regional imbalances, jobless growth,
predominance of non-tradable (non-exportable) goods and services, weak labor productivity and
relatively high cost of production (UNDP assessment – October 2013).
Due to the dependence on imports and services, economic productivity in Lebanon is highly influenced
by regional and international shocks. Therefore the Syrian crisis has had a severe impact on the Lebanese
economy at all levels, negatively affecting the key sectors such as trade, real estate, energy and
construction, attributed to plummeting investors’ and consumers’ confidence due to uncertainty about the
security situation, as well as the closure of strategic export/import routes for Lebanese products to Syria
and the Gulf countries. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the tourism sector witnessed a decline by
24% in 2011 and 18% in 2012 (ESCWA assessment – June 2013). As a result, real GDP growth rates
have plummeted, with an expected loss of nearly 3% for each year over the 2012-2014 period due to the
crisis. The financial deficit resulting from decreased revenue and increased expenditure on public services
has been projected at around USD 2.6 billion (SEIS – September 2013). It’s important to note that
Lebanon’s trade in goods deficit shrank in the first eight months of 2013 as a result of increased exports
to Syria and decreased fuel imports.
By end-2014, as a result of the Syrian crisis, some 170,000 additional Lebanese will be pushed into
poverty, an increase of nearly 20%. There are significant regional inequalities in terms of access to public
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
services, employment and infrastructure. Border communities who have depended on Syria for health,
trade and education have been especially affected due to the simultaneous loss of access to these
resources and the high burden of hosting refugees (SEIS – September 2013). An additional 220,000324,000 Lebanese are expected to lose their jobs, representing a doubling in unemployment levels, with
the greatest impact falling on youth, women and the unskilled. (SEIS – September 2013). The increase of
available labor supply has caused more competition between Lebanese host communities and refugees,
particularly affecting the wages and income opportunities of low skilled labors in the agricultural, service
and construction sectors. Due to the weakened investments and diminishing job opportunities in Lebanon,
the Syrian refugees’ influx is creating a substitutionary effect in the Lebanese Job Market.
Although the presence of Syrian nationals on the Lebanese labor market precedes the recent crisis and
was generally accepted by the Lebanese, the unprecedented high influx of refugees in Lebanon has not
only resulted in strong competition for jobs on the labor market but also has raised the cost of living due
to increased expenditures which led to increased tensions at the community level. For example,
approximately more than 60% of Syrian refugees live in rented accommodation which increases
competition for housing and therefore increasing the cost of housing for Lebanese residents (UNDP
assessment – October 2013). It was also reported that the expenditures for food, education, transport and
utilities have increased. However it is important to note that clear disparities in price increases exist at the
local level and differ from region to region (UNDP assessment – August 2012).
To cope with the financial results of Syrian crisis on Lebanese household budget, Lebanese households
resorted to several coping mechanisms, the most quoted of which were: purchasing of food on credit,
borrowing food, reducing quality of food, buying only “can afford to” food, taking loans, spending from
savings and selling assets. The last two measures are of specific concern since they deplete the
households’ capacity to generate revenues on the medium to long term and thus render communities
vulnerable to further shocks (UNDP assessment – August 2012).
In summary, communities are faced with unprecedented challenges and do not have the mechanisms to
absorb those external shocks and therefore it is critical to implement programmes that aim to stabilize
livelihoods and promote local economic development (LED).
3. The Development Strategy supported by the project
The project will support and complement the Government's efforts by mobilizing resources to support the
resilience of host-communities and the recovery of livelihood and economic development at local level,
mitigating tensions between host communities and Syrian refugees.
The immediate objective is to mitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis on the local economies of the most
severely affected communities by stimulating rapid and sustainable employment creation for particularly
women and youth.
Families in host communities are faced with decreased incomes and increased expenses. Employment
opportunities have become scarcer and especially women and youth run an increased risk to be pushed
into (extreme) poverty. This is in addition to the strains on basic service supply including education,
health, water, sanitation, human settlements, and waste management systems. Therefore, it is important to
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
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provide families access to coping mechanisms such as short term rapid employment to earn an income in
the immediate future to relieve stress and adapt to the changing environment. Also, output of rapid
employment schemes can contribute to reducing the burden on basic and social service delivery by
prioritizing different kinds of activities.
Unemployment and increased cost of living is contributing to increased tensions at the community level
where perceptions fuel the idea that Syrians receive more support than Lebanese families. To boost the
purchasing power and reduce vulnerability, the strategy of the Project will be based on rapid employment
schemes for hosting communities and Syrian refugees through Cash for Work, in close partnership with
municipalities to provide extra income at the household level and to enhance mutual understanding at the
community level, through Cash for Work modality (Annex 1: Cash for Work standard features).
Modalities for Cash for work
Cash for Work is a modality for the implementation of a project identified by the local communities to
meet local community needs. As mentioned above, UNDP has already identified communities’ needs
(MRR methodology) that can be met through the modality of CFW. In this project, UNDP will utilize the
CFW modality to meet the identified needs of local communities in North and South regarding
environment and health related matters.
The Cash for Work activities will be assigned by UNDP to identified Local entities/NGOS that meeting
set standards and criteria mentions in the ToRs. Criteria will include a pre-defined capacity to deliver
CFW activities through a controlled platform that ensures the presence of capable staff to monitor on the
field implementation of CFW activities based on the set SoPs in terms of working hours, days, and
dissemination of salaries. UNDP local and national staff will evaluate the performance of the Local
Government/NGO in terms of adhering to the set criteria. Moreover, UNDP will assign local consultants
to support in monitoring and evaluating CFW activity in addition to analyzing its impact on the
beneficiaries and the local community. The Local Government/NGO, undertaking the CFW activity,
should present UNDP with a controlled modality to minimize the risk regarding the disbursement of cash/
salaries of the beneficiaries. UNDP financial staff will also be monitoring the accuracy of the
documentation submitted by the NGO to ensure that there is no acts of fraud or theft.
The project will facilitate the participation of Italian territories for the identification of sharing
experiences and practices at Municipal and Union of Municipalities level.
4. The Assets of the Project
Some UNDP assets create the enabling environment for the success and impact of the Project’s
implementation:


UNDP is a trusted long-standing partner of the Government of Lebanon. It has implemented
recovery programmes after the July war in 2006 and has extensive experience in the
implementation of development programmes across the country in areas such as poverty
reduction, energy and environment and crisis prevention.
UNDP is present at territorial level in six geographic areas of the countries (Bekaa and West
Bekaa, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Mount Lebanon) since 2000, working on
territorial development with local authorities and civil society organizations.
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
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



In these areas, UNDP has already developed solid programmatic experience and
relationships, which guarantee rapid results.
UNDP is implementing with local stakeholders of the public and private sectors a conflict
sensitive needs assessment (Maps of Risks and Resources) that allow the participatory
identification of priorities and projects at local level.
UNDP supported the establishment of Four Local Economic Development Agencies
(LEDAs) in the North, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and the South. These LEDAs are capable of
implementing different LED activities & initiatives.
UNDP is working closely with the relevant ministries to guarantee that local interventions are
supported in the framework of national priorities
5. Location and Timeframe:
The Project will intervene in the North and South of Lebanon, targeting 600 youth (women and men) and
400 women.
The project will be implemented over a period of 12 months.
6. Specific Objective, Outputs, Targets, Identification of Beneficiaries, Indicators and Main
Activities
SO. Ensuring Livelihood in host communities in particular for vulnerable women and youth,
through allowances for economic inclusion.
Output: Community well-being and social cohesion supported through Cash for Work
Through the activity of the Maps of Risks & Resources conducted by UNDP in host communities, local
communities identified several needs related to environment and community health awareness. On this
basis, UNDP decided to address these two community issues through CFW modalities that will also help
in ameliorating socio-economic conditions of the local population for both Lebanese and Syrians (70%
Lebanese & 30% Syrians). The framework of the implementation of CFW will be tailored to the national
SoPs of CFW (Annex 1).
UNDP will target:
a) Vulnerable youth for the implementation of CFW environmental activities: 600 youth (total) in
North and South of Lebanon (age 18-35, 40% Men & 60% Women)
b) Vulnerable women for the implementation of CFW Community Health Awareness activities: 400
(total) in North and South (age 35-55).
Identification of Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of CFW will be identified through the channels described below; however, the
component of the identification of Women at Risk (GBV victims included) will be integrated into the
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
selection process through the support of UNFPA and UNHCR particularly in relation to the component of
Syrian Women at risk.
The process of the identification of the Lebanese and Syrians beneficiaries for CFW will adopt three main
channels:
•
National Poverty Targeting Program (NPTP) of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) for
Lebanese beneficiaries;
Local Stakeholder pool including local & national agencies working in the areas in order to
identify both Syrian and Lebanese beneficiaries;
Self-nomination achieved by local campaigns for both Syrians and Lebanese;
Collaboration with UNHCR, UNFPA and other International agencies to identify Syrian
beneficiaries.
•
•
•
Indicators
- # of households (or household members) benefitting from rapid employment schemes
- # of short term jobs created for youth men and women through CFW (% Lebanese and % Syrian)
- # of working days created for women, men and youth
- # of men and women that moved on from CFW to more sustainable forms of self and wage employment
- # of men and women benefiting from improved access to socio-economic infrastructure
Main activities
-
Identification of Local NGOs for CFW environment and Municipalities to carry out community
health awareness
Identification of CFW activities per area
Formulation of clear criteria of selection of beneficiaries through a panel of representatives from
UNDP, MoSA, Local Stakeholders and other UN & International agencies
Implementation of local campaign for promotion of activity and roll-out of self-nomination
process
Identification of Beneficiaries for CFW
Implementation of Cash For Work activities
Evaluation of Cash for Work Activity Impact
Types of Environmental CFW activities will include
-
Reforestation (in close coordination with Municipalities and Min. of Agriculture – Min. of
Environment, National Reforestation Plan)
Cleaning of forests or woods
Building of Pedestrian walks
Awareness campaigns in schools (in close coordination with Min. of Education)
Types of Community Health Awareness CFW activities include:
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities
-
Hygiene awareness (with the dissemination of Hygienic Kit)
Reproductive health and family planning Awareness
Vaccination Awareness
Water Management Awareness (At the level of the household with the dissemination of water
saving kit)
7. Viability of the Project
The viability of the Project is based on the following criteria:
 Support by national policies and programs
 Ownership through direct participation in assessment, prioritization of activities, M&E
 Participation of local stakeholders in decision-making processes.
8. Visibility of the Italian Contribution
The contribution by Italy will be visibly and prominently acknowledged in all the project processes and
products.
All the major goods procured and infrastructure under the project will be properly labeled with the
donor’s logo. The donor representatives will be invited at all the major events such the launch,
inauguration of schemes and handing over ceremonies. All the communication material related to the
project will prominently acknowledge the Italian contribution to the achievements and proper press and
media coverage will be ensured. Specific electronic and social media products, including online video
resources will be prepared and launched highlighting the crucial role of Italy’s contribution to the
endeavor.
9. Indicative Budget of the Project
SO. Ensuring Livelihood in host communities, in particular for vulnerable women and youth,
through allowances for economic inclusion.
INPUTS
BUDGET (EURO)
4 Grant Agreement with Local Organizations (2 per each area
465,000
of intervention)
Participation Italian territories (DSA+ air tickets for at least 4
40,000
territories)
Technical Assistance
79,000
Communication
30,000
Running costs
34,000
648,000
Total
F&A (8%)
51,840
Gran Total
699,840
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
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Annex 1: Cash for Work standard features
In the recognition of a growing budget for livelihoods and Cash for Work (CFW) activities in Lebanon,
the CFW Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) were conceived to provide minimum standards for the
harmonization of CFW projects across agencies, their design and delivery modality.
The underlying intention is to homogenize CFW program-quality levels across Lebanon and in line with
global good practices in CFW, to ensure consistency with Lebanese labour regulations – where applicable
- and to avoid “competition” for beneficiaries among CFW projects run by different agencies. More
specifically, it is important that agencies implementing CFW apply the same amounts of payment per unit
of time, same durations of the CFW assistance, and similar eligibility criteria.
The SOPs are expected to be used by program coordinators/managers of Local and International NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs), United Nations (UN) agencies as well as local authorities who
intend to design and lead CFW projects.
Below is a brief summary of what has been agreed upon with regards to CFW SoPs:
CFW Feature
Minimum
compensation
beneficiaries
Standard
for
unskilled 20 USD per day
Maximum compensation for skilled beneficiaries
25 USD per day
Working hours
Maximum 60 hours a month and 6 hours a day with one hour
lunch break
Working days
Maximum 12 days a month
Working week
Monday-Friday (on Friday finishing before the prayer)
Duration of the enrolment in scheme
3 months
Inclusion criteria
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Age of beneficiaries: 16-65 years old
Sex: men and women
Nationality: both Syrians and Lebanese, on a 50-50%1 basis
Village of residence: prioritization of vulnerable villages
Economic vulnerability: based on economic vulnerability
index
 Other assistance received: CFW beneficiaries cannot belong
to a household receiving unconditional, multi-purpose cash
assistance
 One household member enrolled at one time
1
The Cash for Work SOPs will adopt a 50%-50% ratio of Lebanese to Syrians; however, since this project falls
under the MoSA/LHSP, the maintained ratio will be 70% Lebanese and 30% Syrians.
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BRIEF PROJECT PROPOSAL – Support to Host Communities Increased Livelihoods and Economic
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Beneficiary selection
 Self-nomination and application as candidate beneficiary
 And/or nomination by Ministry of Social Affairs and local
entities
 Economic vulnerability assessment
Projects selection
 Problem analysis (interviews with authorities and Focus
Group Discussions with community representatives)
 Project identification and ranking with same stakeholders
Payments
 Frequency: Monthly
 Documentation: daily attendance sheets, weekly records,
monthly pay sheets
 Modality: Via e-transfer wherever possible
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