The ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon plunged 80% of residents into poverty and led to widespread unemployment. People with disabilities are considered among the most disadvantaged, with their unemployment estimated at 85% by the United Nations in 2020. The government’s inability to prioritize disability inclusion further places people with disabilities at significant risk of being deprived of their basic rights. In response, in October 2023, CSP, in partnership with local NGO Arcenciel, launched an activity, aiming to provide 135 people with disabilities across Lebanon with temporary work opportunities over a three-month period at private sector businesses and Arcenciel centers with a daily wage of $22.

To contribute to the sustainability of disability inclusion, CSP also supported Arcenciel in developing a job placement policy for people with disabilities at private sector firms and facilitated a training of trainers’ (TOT) program for relevant Arcenciel staff members on job readiness and skill development. By June 2024, all 135 people have been placed in temporary jobs, 28 of whom were transitioned into full-time employment. In July 2024, CSP concluded its three-day TOT program to Arcencial staff members titled ‘Skilling and Reskilling’, which focused on strategies to address evolving job market demands through acquiring new skills and upgrading existing ones. The trained Arcenciel staff members will then conduct up to three sessions to the 135 people with disabilities who benefited from this initiative to further enhance their skills and labor market knowledge, with the aim of improving their prospects for securing and maintaining employment.

“This training equipped the team with the needed tools and strategies to develop coaching techniques for people with disabilities seeking jobs. It will allow us to better understand their aspirations and support them on setting short and long-term goals to achieve their career objectives”, says Laudy Hakim, Employment Program Manager at Arcenciel.