Socio-Economic and Labor Market Assessment

Socio-Economic and Labor Market Assessment: Hayy Tamlis, Hayy Terab, Hayy Taamir
A comprehensive assessment of socio-economic conditions in three Lebanese neighborhoods amidst the country's severe economic crisis, examining demographics, employment, skills, and living standards to inform targeted interventions for economic opportunity and community resilience.
Executive Summary
Economic Hardship
All neighborhoods suffer from Lebanon's national crisis, with Hayy Taamir showing extreme vulnerability (65.8% earn <$200/month). Family support is crucial, especially for women, while social protection is minimal (<15% coverage).
Gender Disparities
Women face significantly higher unemployment, lower incomes, and greater reliance on family support despite often higher educational attainment, particularly university degrees.
Youth Marginalization
Youth face high unemployment, diminished aspirations, wage depression, and lack of career guidance. Many are idle or rely on irregular work.
Project Background
The Haretna Project is a strategic initiative designed to empower local communities across Lebanon in addressing their socio-economic and developmental needs. Spearheaded by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with funding from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and DANIDA, the project operates through a collaborative partnership that includes the Tripoli Entrepreneurs Club (TEC).
This multi-faceted initiative focuses on fostering community-led change, strengthening social cohesion, and reducing gender inequalities through an inclusive, participatory approach that enables communities to identify priorities, mobilize resources, and effectively engage with local authorities and stakeholders.
Assessment
Comprehensive socio-economic analysis
Planning
Evidence-based intervention design
Implementation
Community-led development initiatives
Monitoring
Ongoing evaluation and adaptation
Methodology
Quantitative Research
Surveys of 1,203 residents aged 18-39 across three neighborhoods:
402 residents in Hayy Tamlis (Beirut)
401 residents in Hayy Terab (Tripoli)
400 residents in Hayy Taamir (Saida)
Qualitative Research
In-depth insights gathered through:
Key Informant Interviews (5 per neighborhood)
Focus Group Discussions with community members
Field observations of infrastructure and activities
National Context: Lebanon's Economic Crisis
Currency Collapse
Severe depreciation of the Lebanese Lira
Hyperinflation
Dramatic erosion of purchasing power
Rising Unemployment
From 11.4% in 2018-19 to 29.6% in 2022
Youth Crisis
Youth unemployment nearly doubled to 47.8%
Lebanon hosts the highest per capita refugee population globally, intensifying pressure on the labor market and social services. Political instability, marked by the absence of a newly elected president and challenges in implementing critical reforms, has created additional barriers to economic recovery.
Hayy Tamlis: Neighborhood Profile
Location & History
One of Beirut's oldest neighborhoods, Hayy Tamlis originated from a 1920s urban development initiative when residents were relocated from central Beirut to the current location near Tarik al-Jadideh. Located in the Mazraa Foncière cadastre, it covers approximately 0.075 km² of central Beirut.
Demographics
Population: 4,101 residents (density: 54,680 people/km²)
Gender: 57.7% men, 42.3% women
Nationality: 61.7% Lebanese, 31.3% Syrian, 7.0% Palestinian
Residential stability: 56.5% lived there for 15+ years
Hayy Terab: Neighborhood Profile
Location & Context
Located in Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city, Hayy Terab features a dense urban fabric with diverse residential and commercial zones. The northern region has historically experienced higher poverty rates compared to other parts of Lebanon, even before the national crisis.
Demographics
Survey of residents aged 18-39 shows:
Gender: 57.6% men, 42.4% women
Nationality: 84.8% Lebanese, 12.7% Syrian, 2.5% Palestinian
Residential stability: 75.8% lived there for 15+ years
Hayy Taamir: Neighborhood Profile
Location & Context
Situated in Saida and adjacent to the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp (one of the largest in Lebanon), Hayy Taamir's development and socio-economic dynamics are significantly influenced by its proximity to the camp and position within the broader Saida urban area.
Demographics
Survey of residents aged 18-39 shows:
Gender: 52.3% men, 47.8% women
Nationality: 67.8% Lebanese, 23.5% Palestinian, 7.5% Syrian
Residential stability: 75% lived there for 15+ years
Comparative Demographics
1
1
Nationality Composition
Hayy Terab has the highest proportion of Lebanese nationals (84.8%), Hayy Taamir has the highest proportion of Palestinian nationals (23.5%), and Hayy Tamlis has the highest proportion of Syrian nationals (31.3%).
2
2
Residential Stability
All three neighborhoods demonstrate strong residential stability, with Hayy Terab showing the highest long-term residency (75.8% for over 15 years).
3
3
Gender Distribution
All three neighborhoods show a moderate male majority, though Hayy Taamir has the most balanced gender distribution (52.3% men, 47.8% women).
4
4
Marital Status
Single status is most common among men, while women are more likely to be married across all neighborhoods, with this pattern most pronounced in Hayy Tamlis.
Educational Attainment
Across all three neighborhoods, women consistently show higher university completion rates than men, suggesting a gender advantage in higher education achievement that contrasts sharply with subsequent employment outcomes. This education-employment paradox is a key finding of the assessment.
Field Specialization Trends
Business and Management
Dominates the field specialization landscape across all neighborhoods (20-35% of those with higher education), with generally stronger representation among men than women.
Engineering and Technology
Demonstrates significant gender disparity across all neighborhoods, with strong male representation (18-36%) contrasting sharply with limited female participation (1.5-5.6%).
Education and Social Sciences
Shows stronger female representation across all neighborhoods. In Hayy Taamir, Education is heavily dominated by women (26.7% of women versus 12.0% of men with higher education).
Health Sciences
Shows more balanced gender participation in Hayy Terab and Hayy Taamir, suggesting a potential pathway for reducing occupational segregation.
Educational Challenges
Economic Barriers
Rising tuition fees have forced many students to abandon private education for public schools, which have also increased their fees. "Rising tuition fees are forcing many students out of both traditional schools and vocational institutes."
Education-Employment Disconnect
"We are educated, but there's no connection between what we studied and the jobs that are out there. It feels like our skills are wasted."
Quality Concerns
"The problem is that many vocational training programs are conducted, but there is no ability to network with business owners in the market."
Hopelessness
"Education feels like a gamble. Parents don't see a future for their kids even if they finish school, so they don't push them to study. It's a cycle of hopelessness."
Income Sources and Distribution
53-68%
Employment
Primary income source across neighborhoods, with significant gender disparity
33-41%
Family Support
Critical secondary income source, especially for women (55-68%)
66%
Low Income
In Hayy Taamir, 65.8% earn less than $200 monthly
<15%
Social Protection
Minimal coverage across all neighborhoods
These income patterns reflect the severe economic pressures facing all three communities. As one key informant observed: "The middle class is disappearing, while the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer."
Economic Sectors
Gender segregation is evident across sectors, with construction, maintenance and repair, utilities, and transportation showing male dominance, while retail, education, and healthcare demonstrate higher female participation. This occupational segregation contributes to persistent economic disparities between men and women.
Informal Economy and Social Protection
Limited Social Protection
The assessment reveals extremely limited social protection coverage across all three neighborhoods:
85.5% to 90.5% of residents lack NSSF registration
87.1% to 93.8% without medical insurance
Near-universal lack of formal protection creates significant vulnerability to health and economic shocks
Informal Support Networks
Key informants emphasized the increasing reliance on informal support networks as formal safety nets have deteriorated:
"People who used to donate to our association are now receiving help from us due to the economic crisis."
This shift indicates a fundamental transformation in community economic dynamics that has strained traditional support systems.
Impact of Economic Crisis
Professional Exodus
Brain drain threatening long-term economic resilience
Youth Disillusionment
Idle youth relying on families or irregular work
Wage Devaluation
Dramatic loss of purchasing power
Middle Class Deterioration
Former middle class now approaching poverty line
The economic crisis has catalyzed significant changes in household coping strategies. Focus group participants reported cutting back on essential needs, selling assets, and increasing reliance on aid. The psychological impact is profound, with increases in substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health challenges reported across all neighborhoods.
Gender-Based Vulnerabilities
Employment Disparities
Across all three neighborhoods, women demonstrate dramatically lower workforce participation and higher unemployment rates:
In Hayy Tamlis, full-time employment stands at 52.2% for men compared to 17.6% for women
Unemployment affects 68.8% of women versus 14.2% of men in Hayy Tamlis
Income Inequalities
Women consistently cluster in lower income brackets:
In Hayy Taamir, 79.1% of women earn less than $200 monthly compared to 53.6% of men
No women in Hayy Taamir reported earning above $600
Barriers to Women's Economic Participation
Domestic Responsibilities
In Hayy Tamlis, 40.3% of women cite family responsibilities as barriers to employment compared to just 1.4% of men. The absence of formal childcare infrastructure creates particular challenges.
Occupational Segregation
Women's employment remains concentrated in specific sectors aligned with traditional gender roles across all neighborhoods, contributing to income disparities.
Mobility Constraints
In Hayy Terab, women (90.1%) are much more likely than men (54.5%) to lack access to transportation. Safety concerns significantly limit women's mobility after dark.
Despite these barriers, key informants noted increasing acceptance of women's workforce participation due to economic necessity: "Women are widely accepted in the workforce, and societal norms have shifted significantly, with most families now supportive of women's employment due to economic necessity."
Youth Marginalization
Employment Pattern Deterioration
Economic pressures have severely impacted youth employment prospects. As one local expert observed: "Young men are idle in cafes, relying financially on their families. Some work in manual trades like sanitation, waiting for day-to-day work opportunities, often irregular."
Career Aspiration Transformation
"Twenty years ago, the youth in this area aspired to study and become engineers or doctors. Today, the ambition has decreased to owning a cart to sell coffee and pastries."
This downward adjustment of career expectations represents a significant loss of human capital potential for both the neighborhoods and Lebanon's future development.
Youth Employment Challenges
Wage Depression
"Youth used to expect better-paying jobs but are now settling for salaries that have significantly reduced. Employers are capitalizing on this desperation by offering lower wages to maximize profits."
Lack of Career Guidance
"Career guidance should be integrated into the school curriculum to help students understand their professional inclinations and the realities of the labor market."
Professional Exodus
"If there was even a small chance of a better life here, we'd stay. But for most of us, leaving is the only option."
Hopelessness
"I never wanted to leave, but what choice do I have? Either I struggle here forever, or I take my chances elsewhere, even if it means risking my life."
Refugee Population Challenges
Demographic Differences
The refugee populations vary significantly across the three neighborhoods:
Hayy Tamlis: 31.3% Syrian, 7.0% Palestinian
Hayy Taamir: 23.5% Palestinian, 7.5% Syrian
Hayy Terab: 12.7% Syrian, 2.5% Palestinian
Economic Vulnerability
Refugee populations demonstrate heightened economic vulnerability:
70% of non-Lebanese in Hayy Tamlis earn <$400 monthly
Employment restrictions from the 1946 Labour Law
Minimal social protection coverage
Persons with Disabilities
Infrastructure Barriers
"Even regular citizens are marginalized by the state's failure to provide basic services. People with disabilities are even more marginalized, as they lack access to basic rights like wheelchair-friendly sidewalks."
Employment Barriers
"Very few organizations and institutions encourage the employment of this group. Awareness around this issue needs to be raised."
Misconceptions
"There's a misconception that people with disabilities can't do anything, while someone in a wheelchair, for example, can write reports and perform specific tasks."
Despite Law No. 220 (2000) mandating a 3% employment quota for companies with over 60 employees, implementation remains weak across all neighborhoods due to inadequate policy frameworks and limited enforcement mechanisms.
Social Cohesion and Safety
Patterns of Solidarity
Focus group participants described situation-specific community bonds:
"There's a sense of solidarity, but it's fragile. People come together during emergencies, but on normal days, everyone seems divided."
This situational cohesion reflects both historical patterns of community relationships and current economic pressures that strain daily interactions.
Security Concerns
Safety and security emerge as significant concerns:
"After sunset, I don't go outside alone. It's not worth the risk. You hear stories every day about something happening in the area."
These security concerns significantly impact daily life and economic activity, creating both physical risks and psychological barriers to participation.
Political Influences
Factional Control
"After 2005, you started seeing youth, especially those who didn't finish their education, being paid to guard streets. Every street is controlled by a group."
Aid Distribution Politics
"Even the municipality has a budget for aid, but I believe it is often distributed based on political affiliation."
Youth Recruitment
"This changed the youth's mentality, making them more interested in hanging out at cafes and joining small political movements."
Decision-Making Constraints
"Any development intervention must go through this path to ensure protection for their work. If you want to establish a community center, you can't because a political party will demand to use it."
Employment Status and Workforce Participation
This employment status distribution reveals a consistent pattern of gender disparity across all three neighborhoods, with women experiencing dramatically higher unemployment rates and lower formal workforce participation despite comparable or higher educational achievement.
Workplace Proximity
73%
Local Employment
In Hayy Tamlis, 72.8% commute less than 15 minutes
60%
Short Commutes
In Hayy Terab, 59.7% commute less than 15 minutes
19%
Women Working from Home
In Hayy Terab, 19.2% of women work from home vs. 2.8% of men
The high concentration of employment within short commuting distances across all neighborhoods suggests both the presence of local job opportunities and potential constraints on mobility for seeking opportunities beyond the immediate areas. This geographic concentration has important implications for employment initiatives.
Gender-Based Occupational Segregation
Male-Dominated Sectors
Construction, maintenance and repair, utilities, and transportation show strong male dominance across all neighborhoods, often offering higher wages and greater job security.
Female-Dominated Sectors
Retail, education, and to some extent healthcare demonstrate higher female participation. This occupational segregation contributes to persistent wage and employment disparities.
Potential Balanced Sectors
Healthcare shows somewhat more balanced gender participation in some neighborhoods, suggesting a potential pathway for reducing occupational segregation.
Job Search and Employability
Employability Resources
Limited professional development resources across neighborhoods:
Only 22-37% maintain updated CVs
LinkedIn utilization limited to 4-12%
Professional portfolios minimal at 0-6%
Job Search Methods
Varying approaches across neighborhoods:
Traditional networking dominates in Hayy Tamlis (58%)
Online job boards lead in Hayy Terab (37.6%)
Social media represents significant channel (19-31%)
Application Patterns and Outcomes
Limited Application
60-63% have never applied for employment, with higher rates among women
Gender Disparities
Men experience higher hiring rates (33-47%) compared to women (17-28%)
Employer Non-Response
58-61% report receiving no response to applications
Key Barriers
Lack of opportunities (53-56%) and family responsibilities for women (40%)
Career Aspirations and Economic Mobility
Past Aspirations
"Twenty years ago, the youth in this area aspired to study and become engineers or doctors."
Current Reality
"Today, the ambition has decreased to owning a cart to sell coffee and pastries."
Education-Employment Disconnect
"We are educated, but there's no connection between what we studied and the jobs that are out there. It feels like our skills are wasted."
4
Migration as Mobility
"If there was even a small chance of a better life here, we'd stay. But for most of us, leaving is the only option."
Skills Gap Assessment
Foreign Language Proficiency
Limited advanced language skills across neighborhoods:
Only 10-20% claim fluency in English
26-38% report no foreign language capabilities
French shows varying penetration (8-57%)
Digital Literacy
Significant digital gaps across neighborhoods:
35-40% report no computer literacy
Only 4-10% report advanced computer skills
Pronounced gender disparity in advanced digital capabilities
Administrative and Technical Skills
Administrative and technical skills show significant gaps across all neighborhoods. 32-51% report no administrative literacy whatsoever, while technical skills show limited penetration, with data analysis at 11% and programming at just 3-4%. These gaps limit residents' access to office-based, technical, and management positions that typically offer better compensation and career advancement opportunities.
Skills Correlation with Employment
Digital Literacy Impact
Computer skills show the strongest correlation with employment success and income improvement, yet 35-40% of residents lack basic computer skills across the neighborhoods.
Language Proficiency Value
Language proficiency demonstrates strong positive correlation with both employment success and income improvement, despite 26-38% reporting no foreign language capabilities.
Soft Skills Gap
While basic communication is widely reported (88-96%), problem-solving (13-44%) and adaptability (10-44%) show limited development across neighborhoods.
Training Demand
Computer skills (59-68%) and language skills (39-57%) are the most desired training areas across all neighborhoods, aligning with their strong employment correlations.
Vocational Training Landscape
Training Participation
Limited engagement across neighborhoods:
Only 5% in Hayy Tamlis have completed formal vocational education
13.7% in Hayy Terab have completed vocational education
19% in Hayy Taamir have completed vocational education, with higher rates among women (23.6%) than men (14.8%)
Barriers to Access
Key obstacles to training participation:
Transportation challenges: "The first question women ask about attending a training course is about transportation costs."
Timing constraints: "Training programs often scheduled during working hours, limiting accessibility."
Information gaps: "People usually hear about trainings from friends, not because it is advertised."
Training Quality and Market Relevance
Market Misalignment
"Many vocational training providers focus on beauty and barbering, while high-growth fields like programming and IT are ignored. There is no guidance on new job market demands."
Implementation Challenges
"The quality of trainers is insufficient and the training isn't practical. Vocational training should be followed by internships or hands-on workplace training."
Lack of Job Placement
"Providing trainings without the possibility of a job/employment afterwards. No clear vision for NGOs or the training they are conducting."
Entrepreneurial Interest and Experience
These patterns show moderate entrepreneurial interest across all neighborhoods, with Hayy Taamir showing the highest level of initial interest but similar rates of actual business operation. The significant gap between interest and action suggests substantial barriers to business creation and development across all neighborhoods.
Entrepreneurial Confidence and Motivation
Confidence Levels
Entrepreneurial confidence varies but shows consistent gender disparities:
67% in Hayy Tamlis report low confidence
Women demonstrate significantly lower confidence levels
In Hayy Tamlis, 34.6% of women feel not at all confident compared to 23.9% of men
Motivational Factors
Key drivers for entrepreneurial interest:
Financial independence emerges as the primary motivation (64%)
Personal fulfillment (44%) represents a strong secondary motivation
Flexibility and autonomy (33%) rank third
Business Environment Perception
79%
Unfavorable in Hayy Tamlis
View environment as unfavorable or very unfavorable
64%
Unfavorable in Hayy Terab
Rate climate as unfavorable or very unfavorable
12%
Favorable Perception
Only 11.5% consider the environment favorable
This pessimistic outlook creates a psychological barrier to entrepreneurial activity across all neighborhoods, potentially discouraging residents from pursuing business opportunities despite interest and potential capabilities. Women (49.7%) are more likely than men (39.7%) to perceive the environment as very unfavorable in Hayy Tamlis.
Sector Preferences for Entrepreneurship
Food Service & Hospitality
Emerges as the leading sector of interest across neighborhoods, attracting both men and women entrepreneurs. In Hayy Tamlis, 75 potential entrepreneurs expressed interest in this sector.
Retail & Wholesale Trade
Follows as the second most preferred sector across neighborhoods. In Hayy Terab, 15.7% of potential entrepreneurs expressed interest in retail and wholesale trade.
Construction & Building
Shows significant gender segregation across all neighborhoods. In Hayy Tamlis, 21 men versus only 2 women expressed interest in this sector.
Market Opportunities
Technical Services
"There's a huge demand for services like solar energy installation, but no one here has the resources to tap into these opportunities."
E-commerce
"With the lack of employment opportunities, youth are relying on e-commerce to generate income, with a notable focus on food-related businesses."
Tourism Potential
"The sea is our greatest asset. If we had the right investment, Mina could be a tourist hub like Byblos or Batroun."
Traditional Crafts
"We have old crafts like pottery and fishing that could be modernized and sold to a global market."
Gender-Specific Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Home-Based Food Businesses
Home-based food processing and catering businesses aligned with women's cooking skills offer opportunities that accommodate mobility constraints.
Online Business Models
"Many reported knowing a lot of women who were making income through making online orders for people within the community and taking commission fees to make a living."
Cooperative Enterprises
Cooperative enterprise models that pool resources and share risks can help overcome capital constraints and build on women's strong social networks.
Barriers to Entrepreneurship
Confidence & Social Barriers
Particularly affecting women and youth
Regulatory Environment
Complex processes and uneven enforcement
Infrastructure & Space
Physical limitations and workspace access
Market Information
Limited research and opportunity awareness
Skills & Knowledge
Business planning and management gaps
Financial Access
Primary barrier across all neighborhoods
Financial Access Barriers
67%
Capital Constraint
In Hayy Tamlis, 67.3% cite lack of capital as primary barrier
8%
Credit Card Access
Only 8.2% in Hayy Tamlis have credit cards
6%
Bank Account Access
Only 5.7% in Hayy Tamlis have bank accounts
<1%
Loan Access
Mere 0.2% in Hayy Tamlis have access to loans
This nearly universal lack of financial access represents the most significant constraint on business development across all neighborhoods. As one key informant noted: "Capital always plays a role in the type of work a young person wants to start. If the capital is small, some open food shops like sandwich shops. If the capital is larger, they might open a clothing or electronics store."
Skills and Infrastructure Barriers
Skills and Knowledge Gaps
Educational and skill development gaps present significant challenges:
24.2% in Hayy Tamlis identify lack of skills as a major barrier
Women (31.2%) report this barrier more frequently than men (19.0%)
Business planning, marketing, and financial management skills show particular gaps
Infrastructure and Space Limitations
Physical infrastructure creates practical barriers:
66.5% in Hayy Tamlis lack access to any dedicated workspace
Women more likely to have home-based workspace but less access to shared spaces
"Infrastructure is poor and inaccessible" limits business potential
Entrepreneurship Support Needs
Financial Support
Microfinance programs, seed funding, asset-based support, and revolving funds to address severe capital constraints.
Business Development
Business planning assistance, market analysis, digital marketing training, and financial management support.
Infrastructure Solutions
Shared workspace facilities, home-based business support, pop-up market opportunities, and business incubation centers.
Mentorship & Networks
Mentor matching, peer learning groups, business associations, and cross-neighborhood exchanges.
Community Engagement Patterns
These consistently low formal participation rates across all neighborhoods suggest significant barriers to community engagement. Women show higher association participation (9-18%) than men (5-10%) across neighborhoods, suggesting potential opportunities for leveraging women's higher engagement while addressing their specific barriers.
Barriers to Community Participation
Time Constraints
84.3% in Hayy Tamlis cite work or family commitments as the primary barrier to participation in community activities. This reflects the economic pressures facing residents who must prioritize income-generating activities.
Information Gaps
10-22% across neighborhoods report lack of awareness about available activities. "Lack of outreach for people to know trainings are taking place" was frequently mentioned in focus groups.
Limited Interest
8-20% express lack of interest in available activities, often reflecting "hopelessness about the efficacy of these trainings" and previous disappointing experiences with community initiatives.
Communication Channels
Social Media
Serves as the primary information source in Hayy Tamlis (82.3%) and follows closely as a second information source in Hayy Terab (47.9%).
Word-of-Mouth
Strong secondary channel in Hayy Tamlis (44.3%) and the most influential information source in Hayy Terab (53.1%).
Traditional Media
Shows minimal effectiveness across neighborhoods (newsletters 6.5%, newspapers 4.0%), reflecting changing information consumption patterns.
These communication patterns suggest the need for multi-channel outreach strategies that leverage both digital platforms and interpersonal networks for effective community engagement. "Information about available opportunities is primarily disseminated through personal networks rather than through formal advertising channels."
Strategic Recommendations: Skills Development
High-Impact Skills Training
Prioritize digital literacy and language proficiency training across all neighborhoods, addressing the skills gap that shows the strongest correlation with improved employment outcomes. Implement tiered training approaches that accommodate different starting levels, from basic to advanced.
Accessible Training Delivery
Establish neighborhood-based training hubs to eliminate transportation barriers. Offer flexible scheduling options including evenings and weekends. Provide childcare support during training sessions. Develop mobile training units that can reach underserved parts of each neighborhood.
Strategic Recommendations: Employment Enhancement
Employer Engagement
Create formal job matching mechanisms
2
Work Experience
Develop subsidized internships
3
Mentorship
Connect professionals with job seekers
Support Centers
Offer CV and interview preparation
These employment enhancement strategies would help bridge the gap between training and actual employment, addressing the disconnect consistently identified across all neighborhoods. Integrating all program participants into the Labor Market Observatory Platform would provide digital profile development support and connect job seekers with employers.
Strategic Recommendations: Entrepreneurship Support
Financial Access Enhancement
Develop neighborhood-based microfinance programs with products tailored to different business stages and sectors. Establish competitive micro-grant programs targeting high-potential sectors.
Business Skills Development
Implement comprehensive business planning and management training. Offer sector-specific technical training for priority industries. Develop practical marketing and customer development programs.
Infrastructure and Space
Establish shared workspace facilities with basic business equipment. Create pop-up market opportunities for businesses without permanent locations. Support home-based business development.
Strategic Recommendations: Community Engagement
Inclusive Planning Mechanisms
Establish Neighborhood Economic Development Committees with diverse stakeholder representation. Create transparent decision-making processes for resource allocation. Ensure women and youth have meaningful voices.
Security and Public Space
Improve public space lighting and maintenance to enhance safety. Support community-based monitoring and conflict prevention initiatives. Create safe public gathering spaces for community activities.
Cross-Group Collaboration
Facilitate collaborative projects between different community segments. Create opportunities for positive interaction between host and refugee communities. Develop initiatives that bridge political and social divisions.
Information and Communication
Establish neighborhood information hubs combining digital and physical presence. Develop multi-channel outreach strategies using social media and word-of-mouth networks.
Implementation Approach
Phased Implementation
Begin with high-visibility, quick-impact initiatives to build community trust. Gradually introduce more complex programmatic elements. Ensure continuous learning and adaptation based on implementation experience.
Inclusive Programming
Ensure gender-responsive design across all program components. Develop specific approaches for refugee integration and participation. Create accessible opportunities for persons with disabilities. Address the specific needs of youth through targeted programming.
Governance and Coordination
Establish transparent program governance with community representation. Create coordination mechanisms between different implementing partners. Develop clear roles and responsibilities for stakeholders.
Neighborhood-Specific Priorities: Hayy Tamlis
Digital Skills Training
Enhanced digital skills training given the higher educational levels and potential for tech-focused employment in this Beirut neighborhood.
Refugee Integration
Support for refugee economic integration given the substantial Syrian population (31.3%) in this neighborhood.
Infrastructure Improvement
Infrastructure interventions addressing the poor conditions noted by residents, particularly related to safety and accessibility.
Community Building
Community-building initiatives to strengthen the fragile social bonds identified in focus groups and interviews.
Neighborhood-Specific Priorities: Hayy Terab
Tourism Development
Tourism and hospitality sector development leveraging the coastal location of this Tripoli neighborhood.
French Language Training
French language training complementing the relatively high existing penetration (56.6%) in this neighborhood.
Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage preservation and promotion for economic development, building on traditional crafts and historical assets.
Infrastructure Improvement
Infrastructure improvement to address security and accessibility concerns that limit economic activity.
Neighborhood-Specific Priorities: Hayy Taamir
Extreme Poverty Focus
Focused interventions on extreme financial hardship given the high proportion earning under $200 monthly (65.8%).
Women's Economic Empowerment
Women's economic empowerment given their higher vocational education rates (23.6% vs. 14.8% for men).
Security Enhancement
Security enhancement to address the particular concerns in this area, where "weapons are everywhere, and safety is just an illusion."
Host-Refugee Relations
Initiatives bridging host-refugee relationships given the neighborhood's position adjacent to Ain al-Hilweh camp.
Monitoring and Learning
Robust Monitoring
Track both outputs and outcomes with clear indicators
2
2
Participatory Evaluation
Involve community members in assessment
Learning Exchanges
Share experiences between neighborhoods
Documentation
Record effective practices and lessons
Implementing robust monitoring systems that track both outputs and outcomes will ensure program effectiveness. Creating participatory evaluation mechanisms involving community members builds ownership while establishing learning exchanges between the three neighborhoods promotes cross-fertilization of ideas and approaches.
Key Success Factors
The success of interventions across all three neighborhoods will depend on several critical factors: genuine community ownership and leadership; alignment with market realities and employment opportunities; inclusive approaches that engage all demographic groups; and sustainable program design that builds local capacity for long-term impact. These factors must be integrated into all aspects of program design and implementation.
Potential Impact
1
1
Individual Level
Enhanced skills, improved employment prospects, increased income
Community Level
Stronger social cohesion, improved safety, enhanced local economy
Systemic Level
Models for neighborhood economic development, policy influence
By implementing the recommended strategic interventions with careful attention to both shared challenges and neighborhood-specific priorities, the Haretna Project can make a significant contribution to economic opportunity, social cohesion, and community resilience across all three neighborhoods. This comprehensive approach offers a promising pathway for sustainable development despite the challenging national context.
Conclusion
The comprehensive socio-economic and labor market assessment of Hayy Tamlis, Hayy Terab, and Hayy Taamir provides a robust foundation for targeted interventions that can address critical challenges while leveraging community strengths and opportunities.
All three neighborhoods are experiencing the severe impacts of Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis, with high unemployment, declining wages, and limited economic opportunities. However, these impacts manifest differently in each neighborhood based on their unique geographic, demographic, and social characteristics.
By focusing on high-impact skills development, accessible entrepreneurship support, and inclusive community engagement, the Haretna Project can create meaningful pathways to economic opportunity and resilience for these communities despite the challenging national context.