Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme in Lebanon (EIIP)

Creating decent work opportunities for Syrian refugees and host communities through infrastructure improvement in Lebanon.


EIIP Lebanon Phase I+II 31 Jan 2017 - 31Dec 2020
EIIP Lebanon Phase III   01 Jan 2018 - 30 Jun 2021 
 

Background

Nine years into the Syria conflict, Lebanon remains at the forefront of one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. The Government of Lebanon (GoL) estimates that the country hosts 1.5 million1 Syrians who have fled the conflict since 2011. The COVID-19 pandemic2, also described as a social and economic crisis, hits Lebanon at a time where the country is already facing an unprecedented economic crisis, further impairing the capacities of already vulnerable Lebanese and refugees and heightening the risks of social instability.

Labour market challenges such as unemployment, informal labour and vulnerability to workplace exploitation have all been exacerbated by the multiple crisis. Prior to the refugee crisis, infrastructure in Lebanon was already substandard; however, since the influx of refugees suffered public infrastructure such as roads, water supply, waste management systems, electricity grids, schools and healthcare facilities have come under an unprecedented amount of pressure.

The EIIP strategy was introduced in 2017 through a project to create short- to mid-term employment opportunities for Lebanese host community members and Syrian refugees through infrastructure works. EIIP Lebanon is funded by Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW), and has partnered up UNDP and with Lebanon’s Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs and employs Lebanese and Syrian workers to build and maintain much-needed infrastructure. The project is in its third phase of implementation, until June 2021, and ILO is currently preparing for its fourth phase. The project falls under the livelihoods segment of the Government-led Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2017-2020 and is aligned with the United Nations Strategic Framework for Lebanon 2017-2020.

Target Group

The primary beneficiaries of the project are Lebanese host community members and Syrian refugees in the most vulnerable areas of Lebanon who benefit from temporary employment opportunities through the construction activities. Special attention is paid to equality and non- discrimination and EIIP beneficiaries include women (>15%) and persons with disability (>2%). An estimated 240,000 worker days for some 6,000 beneficiaries will have been generated by the end of Phase III.



Programme Objective

Goal: To strengthen resilience of local host communities by improving livelihoods for host community members and Syrian refugees through job creation and infrastructure development.
Immediate Objective 1: Employment generated for Lebanese host communities and Syrians refugees through sustainable infrastructure development and environmental works and maintenance of public assets and specific COVID-19 related measures.
Immediate Objective 2: Enhanced capacity for job creation and asset management through institutional development and training. Attaining this:

Main Activities

  • Creation of decent employment for Lebanese Host Community Members and Syrian Refugees;
  • Improving and maintaining priority infrastructure;
  • Building capacity of private companies to implement LRBT and Decent Work principles;
  • Building capacity of the Public Sector to facilitate implementation of employment intensive programmes;
  • Development of knowledge products.
1. LCRP 2017-2020 (2018 update).
2. On 15 March, Lebanon’s Prime Minister announced a medical state of emergency over the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, shutting down almost all public and private institutions.