Dignifying Social Impact Initiative

Due to the explosion in Beirut on August 4th 2020, 200 people lost their lives and more than 6.500 were injured. The city was devastated in large parts, as a direct result about  300.000 people were left homeless, and a quarter of Beirut lies in ruins. 17 hospitals in the capital were damaged, with 4 severely destroyed. Thus, the care and treatment of sick, injured and people in need is currently not being guaranteed.

The incident hits the country not only in the midst of the CoVid-19 pandemic, which has enormously increased the national level of unemployment, but also in the midst of a severe financial and economic crisis. Countless people have lost their jobs with around 130,000 jobs affected. Particularly at risk from the immediate as well as medium-term effects of the explosions are the weakest members of the population (i.e. elderly and those in need of support, refugees, women, children and people with disabilities and their families).

To overcome this humanitarian crisis, the immediate restoration of the economic livelihoods of these particularly vulnerable people must be ensured. Therefore, we started the immediate economic strengthening of acutely unemployed (especially in the  health and social sector) trained people, who in turn support vulnerable families in the crisis  and help with the reconstruction of Beirut through their qualifications. In this way, not only the immediate economic stability of the trained and skilled people and their families is being secured, but also the care of socially weak, sick and acutely people in need. 

Overall Objective

The project aims to reduce the immediate suffering of particularly vulnerable population groups after the explosions in Beirut.

Specific Objectives

• Prevent slipping into extreme poverty of vulnerable groups. 
• Ensure economic stability of families in need and acutely unemployed people (e.g. in health care and social services). 
• Ensure the care of vulnerable people in need of support during the crisis. 

• Selection of beneficiaries through social workers (trained and skilled persons who lost their jobs due to the explosions and people who urgently need care by trained and skilled personnel) Selection criteria: Focus on women and youth
• Employment of trained persons to secure their income and thus their economic stability and self-determination (6 months)
• Matching of unemployed skilled individuals to people and families in need of care
• Continuous monitoring of the process through social workers
• Follow up, support in connecting to job market and training program delivery: Regular coaching, follow up and evaluation of the rendered services will be conducted.