Lebanon, one of the first countries where the IECD based itself, is a focus for almost 54% of its total activity in Middle-East and North Africa. With a multi-disciplinary team of 35 people in three regions (Beirut, Tripoli, Saïda), the IECD and its local partners work for young Lebanese people and Syrian refugees throughout the country thanks to technical training and access to employment projects, support to small enterprises and access to education.

A regional platform in the Middle East, Lebanon is a pilot country where many innovative projects are initiated, such as the Seeds of Hope programme that has since spread to seven other countries. Thanks to the very dense and varied network of partners (Ministries, municipalities, local associations, technical schools,  confessional organizations, etc.), certified short training were developed and actions favoring access to employment were carried out such as the creation of Career Guidance Offices. The IECD has now made it its mission to gradually transfer, in the long term, its competences to the Lebanese association Semeurs d’Avenir, a privileged partner.

In support of the Seeds of Hope programme, a social enterprise selling electricity services was created in Lebanon in 2017 and already has its first customers.

On the strength of its expertise spanning more than 10 years in the field of  training and the employability of young people, the AFD entrusted the IECD with the mission of rolling out its activities on a large scale. The Maharat Li Loubnan project (literally meaning “skills for Lebanon”), aims to increase the employability of vulnerable people through vocational technical training, personal development and support in their search for work. It is the result of an agreement between the IECD and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed in January 2017 which provides for the project’s deployment over five years.

The IECD is also supporting actions in favor of inclusive education in Lebanese and Palestinian schools in Saïda and Beirut. The IECD also supports the Mosaik specialist school for children with complex learning and behavioral disorders. Supported by a multi-disciplinary team of 34 educators and specialists, the school provides good quality education for 87 pupils.