In April 2022, two years after CSP launched its collaboration with USAID’s University Scholarship Program (USP) to provide students from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese American University (LAU) with internship opportunities, CSP expanded its internship program to include hundreds more undergraduates and fresh graduates from nine additional Lebanese universities which are partnered with USAID under its Higher Education Capacity Development Program (HECD). By December 2022, CSP had placed 113 students and recent graduates in internships across six USAID-funded programs in Lebanon, allowing them to enrich their professional and soft skills, enhance their employability, and provide them with much-needed financial support during the worsening economic crisis. Following its first Interns’ Feedback Session in November, CSP held a stakeholder pause-and-reflect meeting on December 7, 2022 to receive feedback on the program’s performance and to improve coordination and communication between stakeholders. Attendees included 13 representatives from USAID implementing partners, as well as representatives from each of the 11 participating universities.

“The internship program represents a great opportunity to work with young adults and help them gain valuable work experience and professional skills. To date, USAID’s Water Sanitation and Conservation Project (WSC) has effectively engaged 10 interns, and we look forward to working with more in the future,” stated Scott E. Short, Chief of Party of the WSC.