Employment program
for infrastructure launched

ILO and UNDP target refugees and host communities

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has partnered with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to launch the first phase of the Employment Intensive Infrastructure Program (EIIP). The program falls under the government–led crisis plan for 2017-2020.

The aim is to offer job opportunities for both locals and Syrian refugees.

Tomas Stenstrom, Chief Technical Advisor and team leader of the project from ILO, said that Phase I is funded by the German Development Bank (KFW) and consists of €11.9 million ($14.8 million) of investment.

The program concentrates on improving the infrastructure in areas where Syrian refugees are present. Three initial projects have been initiated in Tel Abbas (Akkar), Tripoli, and Hammana (Higher Metn region).

Seven other projects are planned to follow in the coming weeks, several of these are in different locations.

The projects vary between initiating public markets in Zgharta and Nabi Chit, traffic control features in Ghoubeiri, an irrigation project in Deir Al Ahmar, rain water storage facilities in Mazboud, and sidewalks in El Mina (Tripoli). Works will end in October 2018.

Stenstrom said that the EIIP will generate 96,000 workdays for approximately 2,400 workers. The work will be split equally among local and refugee workers. Of these works, ten percent of the workers will be female.

EIIP has trained over 200 public and private sector employees to emphasize worker’s rights and to help create decent working conditions.

Stenstrom said that phase II of the project is still in the identification process, but the plan is to employ roughly 3,000 workers with 100,000 workdays. Funding is expected to reach €10 million ($12.5 million). Phase II will be launched in November 2018.