On May 17, 2023, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP), held a closing ceremony for its four-year workforce development project (WFD). Since 2019, USAID invested $7.3 million to improve the skills of and employment opportunities for underserved Lebanese residents by enhancing access to quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The event was attended by USAID Lebanon’s Mission Director, USAID’s Economic Growth Office Director, and representatives from donor agencies, TVET institutions, private businesses, and technical experts. During the event, participants reflected on project achievements, watched an impact video that included beneficiary testimonials, and held a panel discussion with project, TVET, and business experts on lessons learnt and recommendations for future workforce development programming in Lebanon.

Through USAID’s WFD project, CSP developed, adapted, and sought accreditation for five TVET curricula in three promising employment sectors: home-based health care, industrial repair and maintenance, and information technology (IT) in addition to a soft skills training course that was provided to all students to improve their ability to compete for jobs. The courses are now available at CSP’s thirteen partner TVET institutes across Lebanon, where 1,055 Lebanese residents from the North, South, and Beqaa benefitted from scholarships. In addition to full tuition coverage, scholarship recipients received health insurance, a monthly stipend for transportation, and a computer or tablet to facilitate online learning. As part of its market-driven approach, CSP partnered with 48 private sector businesses and built linkages between them and the TVETs to facilitate graduates’ access to employment opportunities, resulting in more than 747 internship placements and full-time employment for 153 graduates.

“We are constantly striving to ensure that young Lebanese can access opportunities that can enhance their career prospects and allow them to contribute to the development of a strong and vibrant economy”, stated Mary Eileen Devitt, USAID Mission Director to Lebanon