Introduction to INTAJ Stability Evidence Papers
With the support of the Government of the United Kingdom, Mercy Corps began implementing the Improved Networks, Training and Jobs (INTAJ 2) program in the Bekaa and North governorates of Lebanon in April 2016. This program builds on the successful pilot of INTAJ 1, which ran from August 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Learning from INTAJ 1 enabled Mercy Corps to refine and improve the interventions and impact of the initial pilot.
Funded under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund from DFID, the aim of INTAJ 2 is to address underlying causes of instability in Lebanon by responding to the economic needs of target communities by building stronger businesses and increasing employment. INTAJ 2 was designed to address crosscutting constraints to jobs growth in Lebanon, and focuses on:
Engaging established private sector companies and/or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide demand-driven, hands-on, practical skills training and workforce-skills development for individuals, to increase their employability and link them with employment opportunities;
Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those offering labourintensive products in high demand - with a mix of specialised technical assistance, inkind grants and linkages to business support services - so that they can improve their operations and grow their workforce; and
Supporting the development of the solid waste management and recycling (SWMR) sector by working with existing market actors to expand their capacity to process more recyclable solid waste, improve efficiency and quality, and create ‘green’ jobs.
Both INTAJ 1 and INTAJ 2 have focused heavily on achieving the job creation, improved employability and business strengthening outcomes which were targeted in the initial program documents and monitoring frameworks, and are on track to achieve all planned targets by the close of the program.
INTAJ 2 interventions focus on the Bekaa and the North for the SME and Skills components, and focus on the Bekaa, North, Chouf, Beirut, Jezzine, Nabitiyeh, Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, and Saida for the SWMR component.
In order to advance our understanding of how the INTAJ program is contributing to increasing stability and resilience in targeted communities, Mercy Corps is developing a series of evidence papers which look at the contribution of each of the different components to stability and resilience outcomes. These stability oriented evidence papers will be produced between June 2017-March 2018, and will each focus on a specific component of the program:
SME strengthening and Job Creation;
Improving the Solid Waste Management and Recycling Sector; and
Skills Building and Employment for Youth.
The aim of these papers is to provide a quick snapshot of how the activities are contributing towards stability and resiliency outcomes on the individual, business and local governance level in the targeted communities, and to identify recommendations and areas for further investigation. The papers will focus mostly on how INTAJ 2 is contributing to stability outcomes, with a small focus on resiliency where appropriate.