Economic Opportunity
Economic Opportunity
People have the opportunity to grow and sustain their assets and income.
Since 2019, Lebanon’s currency has lost more than 90% of its value. The World Bank ranked the Lebanese economic crisis as one of the top three, most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century. The country’s economic meltdown — one of the world’s worst since the 1850s — has pushed an estimated four million families into poverty in the last two years. Fragile markets like the Lebanese market do not give marginalized groups and those living in poverty sufficient opportunities to prosper. They provide little opportunity for people to buy the things they need, find a decent job, or start a business.
Mercy Corps works through programs, partnership, and influence to help marginalized people protect and grow their assets and income in the face of compounding shocks. Our efforts help meet the immediate needs of affected people and businesses alike, while addressing systemic constraints that lead to inequity, vulnerability, and conflicts can have powerful economic returns and peaceful outcomes. Agriculture and labor markets are at the heart of our resilience approach. We focus on small agri-producers, young people, informal or at-risk workers, people on the move, and those impacted severely by crises in both rural and urban areas, helping ensure they are ready to contribute to and influence their economies. We prioritize increasing access to tailored financial products and services that work for marginalized groups and growing businesses.
In Lebanon we focus on Supporting Markets in Crisis: Working on both the supply and demand sides of markets in crisis reduces barriers to recovery for households while contributing to stronger systems that can rebound faster and better. We combine cash assistance with targeted support to local businesses, minimizing market disruptions that impact access to essential goods, services, and jobs for crisis-affected populations. We also connect our cash interventions with government led efforts to develop inclusive social protection systems that offer longer-term support.
We also focus on Supporting Young People as Drivers of Growth: Today’s youth are the agents of sustained peace and the leaders of tomorrow’s economy. All young people should have the opportunity to secure their wellbeing, achieve their aspirations, and contribute to transformational change in their households and communities. Whether in technology or agriculture sectors, whether in rural or urban settings, we support them to acquire new skills and access jobs that are profitable, dignified, and safe. We also facilitate access to financial and non-financial products and services that are responsive to the needs of young people.
Please see our BASATINE, FORSA II, LINKED and 3AMALY programs for more detailed information.
Focus Sectors
Agriculture
Support to Enterprises
