Outcome LBN_D_2.1

Strengthened diversified income opportunities to promote social and economic inclusion

In 2024, UN Women Lebanon CO’s progress towards women’s access to diversified income opportunities was significantly impacted by the conflict that escalated in the latter half of the year. While the CO has planned for over 450 women to access skills development and short-term cash-for-work, job placement, and business development opportunities in Lebanon, these plans were disrupted due to large-scale military operations conducted throughout Lebanon by Israel between September and November 2024. Due to the humanitarian crisis of an estimated 1.2 million people displaced due to the conflict, programming priorities were reviewed and re-focused on the delivery of immediate humanitarian relief to displaced populations. Notwithstanding these challenges, 168 individuals (164 women and 4 men, including 26 women with disabilities) gained technical skills and life skills as part of their training and practical work under UN Women’s emergency livelihood programming. Due to the disruption in routine activities, UN Women was not able to conduct endline surveys with the majority of the participants, but of those that were interviewed (n=38), 76 percent stated that they were “very confident” or “confident” about their skills for economic empowerment. The 168 individuals engaged in skills and practical training in food hygiene and meal preparation (77), agro-ecological farming practices and food processing (77), carpentry (6), and community-based psychosocial awareness sessions (8). The women are participating in UN Women’s flagship programme, Leadership, Empowerment, Access and Protection (LEAP), implemented by the CO. Not all women completed their full cycle of practical skills application through cash-for-work due to the sudden escalation in conflict in September 2024. The CO plans to expand programming on empowerment of women in the recovery process in the agriculture, agrifood, and other productive sectors in 2025, including through skills training, short-term livelihood opportunities, and support to women-led cooperatives and MSMEs. Furthermore, the CO will continue its work on surging women's economic employment in Lebanon in partnership with the Regional Office of Arab States (ROAS) initiative to surge women's labour force participation in the Arab States region by 5 per cent by 2030.

Strengthened diversified income opportunities to promote social and economic inclusion

In 2025, a total of 278 women (237 Lebanese, 16 Syrian, 25 Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon, of which 31 are women with disabilities) gained income through cash-for-work and cash-for-training activities, where women gained skills and practical work experience while earning short-term income to meet their acute basic needs, helping them alleviate the impact of displacement and crisis brought about by the escalation of conflict in 2024. The participants engaged in various activities including community kitchens in Tyre, Saida, Beirut and Bekaa, agro-ecological practices in community agricultural plots, as well as support to community-based PSS and childcare. Participants acquire technical skills and life skills through training provided through the programme, and improve their awareness of gender-based violence and are able to access additional support through referrals when in need. These short-term employment activities significantly improve women’s confidence in their knowledge and skills to be applied in employment or in entrepreneurship. For example, the average percentage of women who stated they “Strongly agreed” or “Agreed” with the statement “ I have the knowledge and skills to find a job if I need one,” grew from only 21 per cent at baseline to 97 per cent when they completed these work opportunities. Furthermore, the Another 132 women commenced cash-for-work and training in in 2025, including in nawl (weaving) of recycled plastic, reusable and disposable menstrual hygiene pad production, mouneh (preserves) and community kitchens, and will be completing their work in early 2026. A further 134 women commenced their non-technical training (life skills, financial literacy, gender awareness) in preparation for starting their cash-for-work during the upcoming reporting period. In 2026, UN Women will also be supporting nano, micro, and small enterprises and cooperatives impacted by conflict through technical, financial and labour supports. These activities are implemented under the flagship Leadership, Employment, Access and Protection (LEAP) programme, and are made possible through programmes funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Austrian Development Agency, the Government of Japan, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea and UN Women.

Strengthened diversified income opportunities to promote social and economic inclusion

UN Women is on track to meet its targets to strengthening diversified and inclusive income opportunities for women throughout Lebanon by providing access to short-term cash-for-work opportunities where participant women earn income, gain skills, and acquire work experience to increase their confidence and skills required for women to access employment and entrepreneurship. Nine hundred and sixty-six (966) women throughout Lebanon and from diverse nationalities (510 Lebanese, 306, Syrian, 130 PRL, 20 PRS and 10 other) earned income through diversified, short-term, cash-for-work opportunities at a time of unprecedented economic crisis, helping women to meet their immediate, basic needs. Women engaged in community kitchen management in various roles, menstrual pad production and sales, carpentry, and community work. Women further built their confidence as a result of these work opportunities. The women further contributed to the provision of assistance to vulnerable households and individuals through their work, distributing over 140,000 meals to over 7,000 individuals, 408,960 pads to over 6,800 women and girls, and raising the awareness on gender-based violence of 1,600 women. Of the 966 women, 159 were women with disabilities. Seventy-nine were employed at Access Kitchen, the first purpose-designed, accessible community kitchen run by partner Lebanese Union of Persons with Physical Disabilities in Beirut. The participants engaged in various roles tailored to their capabilities, ranging from stock keeping, food preparation, to financial accounting. Women with disabilities experience significant discrimination, challenges to social and physical accessibility, and limited government assistance in Lebanon. Their participation in cash-for-work not only provided work opportunities for women with disabilities, but provided an opportunity for communities to recognize the abilities and roles that women with disabilities can play in society and the economy.