Support to Small Businesses Affected by The Explosion in Great Beirut To Help Them Restart Their Operations

Location: Beirut and Bourj Hammoud

Donors: French Embassy in Lebanon, CCFD-Terre solidaire

Duration: December 2016 – September 2018

Budget:

Oxfam appeal: 88,382 €

Government of Quebec / Oxfam: 105,248 $

Centre de crise / CCFD-terre solidaire: 500,000 €

Private donations/appeal: COOPI (8,615 €) and CCFD-Terre Solidaire (12,000 €)

Description:

More than 500 small enterprises (less than 10 employees) were assessed as severely affected by the explosion (partially destroyed, loss of equipment, etc.) and had to stop their activities. This represent for them and their employees an immediate loss of income with a risk of layouts if they cannot afford the basic repairs and replacement of equipment to restart their professional activities in a short delay.

Small enterprises (less than 10 employees) represent 90% of the enterprises in Lebanon. They were already severely affected by the financial crisis and the covid19 crisis. Lot of them struggled to survive and had to cope with the high imported raw material and equipment, depreciation of the Lira and the general economic slowdown. The explosion jeopardizes the survival of numerous small businesses: mainly, those located near the site which were heavily damaged and suffered from the loss of equipment, material and stocks and indirectly those affected by the closure of the first ones and the economic impact resulting from the explosion.

Activities

–  Identification of 55 small business affected by the explosion and their needs

– Rehabilitation and support with equipment and consumable of selected businesses

– Individual support to entrepreneurs (coaching, marketing support, synergies with other regions)

Beneficiaries/ Target groups:

–  Small businesses: 55

–  Direct beneficiaries: Owners and employees: 220

–   Indirect beneficiaries: Families (estimated to 1,100) + local communities (spill-over effects)