1 | P a g e
LIVELIHOODS AND INCLUSIVE 
FINANCE EXPANSION (LIFE)
QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT
Quarter 1 Year 5
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Submission Date: January 29, 2021
Contract No. AID-268-C-16-00002
September 30, 2016 – September 29, 2021
Contracting Officer’s Representative: Rana Helou
Submitted by: David Holdridge, Chief of Party 
The Palladium Group 
This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States 
Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole 
responsibility of Palladium and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United 
States Government. 
1 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Table of Contents
Acronyms and Abbreviations...................................................................................2
1. Project Description...........................................................................................4
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................4
2. COMPONENT I: INCLUSIVE FINANCE.....................................................6
2.1: LMFA Institutional Strengthening ............................................................................................6
3. COMPONENT II: MICROCREDIT and FINANCIAL SERVICES............8
3.1: Pathway to Savings......................................................................................................................9
3.2: Fintech Portfolio........................................................................................................................12
3.3: Crisis Response.........................................................................................................................16
4. COMPONENT III: LIVELIHOODS............................................................. 17
Dareb El Najah - Revitalization Hub Initiative in Bekaa ...........................................................18
DPNA - 217700-LIFE- DPNA-030................................................................................................20
Tourism Ambassador”-Revitalization Hub Initiative in South Lebanon ...............................22
Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities- Urgent support for Beirut Explosion 
PWDs- 217700-LIFE-LUPD-032 .........................................................................................25
Bab Rizk 2- Revitalization Hub Initiative in Tripoli- 217700-LIFE-Akkarouna-044 ............27
AL HADATHA -Reducing Economic Vulnerability in AKKAR (REV) III– 217700-LIFE-AL 
HADATHA-045......................................................................................................................29
Pipeline................................................................................................................................................30
Tourism Ambassador-Revitalization Hub Initiative in South Lebanon- Phase II.................30
SHEILD- Phase III..............................................................................................................................30
5. Monitoring & Evaluation................................................................................ 31
5.1: Q1Y5 Overview........................................................................................................................31
5.2: Progress Summary of LIFE Project Indicators....................................................................37
6. Communications............................................................................................. 39
LIFE in the Newspaper....................................................................................................................39
LIFE Communication during the post-blast time.......................................................................39
USAID-LIFE visibility through its partner NGOs......................................................................40
Partner’s campaign............................................................................................................................42
Social media Insights.........................................................................................................................42
2 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
ADR Association for the Development of Rural Capacities
AEP Professional Mutual Aid Association
AMEP Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
BDL Banque Du Liban
BDS Business development Services
BIAT Business Incubation Association Tripoli
BLF Banque Libano-Française
BOEP Bottom of Economic Pyramid
CCIAZ Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle and the Beqaa
CGAP The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor
COP Chief of Party
CRI Center of Research Institute
DAR Dar Al Zahraa
DPNA Development for People and Nature Association 
EDF Entrepreneurial Development Foundation
ESA Ecole Supérieure des Affaires 
FMO Netherlands Development Finance Company
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
GUC Grants under Contract
IFC International Finance Corporation
INGO International Non-Governmental Organization 
IMF International Monetary Fund 
ISP Institutional Strengthening Plan
ISWA Islamic Welfare Association
LDC Lebanese Development Cooperative
LIFE Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion
LIM Lebanon Investment in Microfinance
LITD Lebanese International Training and Development
LMFA Lebanon Microfinance Association
LO Loan Officer
LOP Life of Project
LUPD Lebanese Union for People with Disabilities
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MarCom Marketing & Communications Manager
MDSF Michel Daher Social Foundation
MF Microfinance 
MFI Microfinance Institution
MoSA Ministry of Social Affairs
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MSME Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
3 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
NCAT Network Capacity Assessment Tool
NCVT National Center for Vocational Trainings 
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
PIR Performance Indicator Review Sheets
PSD Private Sector Development 
PSS Psycho-Social Support 
PWD People with Disabilities
Q1Y4 Quarter 1 Year 4
Q2Y4 Quarter 2 Year 4
Q3Y4 Quarter 3 Year 4
Q4Y4 Quarter 4 Year 4
Q1Y5 Quarter 1 Year 5
Q2Y5 Quarter 2 Year 5 
REV Reduced Economic Vulnerability
RFA Request for Applications
RMF Rene Mouawad Foundation 
SEEP Small Enterprise Evaluation Project
SGBL Société Générale de Banque du Liban 
SHEILD Social Humanitarian Economical Intervention for Local Development
SHIFT Social Innovation Hub
STTA Short Term Technical Assistance
TA Technical Assistance 
TOT Training of Trainer
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USG United State Government
VG Vice Governor
VP Vice President
VSU Vetting Support Unit 
Y3 Year 3
Y4 Year 4
Y5 Year 5
4 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The USAID-funded Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion (LIFE) Program (2016 – 2021) 
will link vulnerable businesses at the Bottom Of the Economic Pyramid (BOEP) with business 
training and financial services; improve livelihoods, create jobs, and reduce poverty while 
facilitating the growth of inclusivity in Lebanon. The project has three primary objectives: Financial 
Inclusion, Financial Services and Microcredit, and Livelihoods. 
Executive Summary 
In December, LIFE received the final rendition of its USAID mid-term evaluation, done in 
March/2020 by: Dr. Michael Ferguson, Ziad Antonios, Elias Samia, Dr. Lara Macaron, Dr. Tamara 
Nassereddine, and Dr. Rana Taher. They summarized their report. "The evaluation team 
recommends that USAID pursue all options to allow the LIFE project to continue its work to the 
fullest extent possible. Our basis for this recommendation, first and foremost, is the project’s 
highly competent team and exceptional leadership. We saw the quality of the team thanks to a 
multitude of conversations with stakeholders at all levels. The project, for example, drew high 
praise for its emphasis on local staffing and intensive face-to-face support—which we knew to be 
a conscious strategic decision, after speaking with LIFE’s management. It distinguished the project 
from other donor-funded efforts and yielded key dividends in inspiring stakeholders to success.
The range of activities that the project has supported certainly shows enough promise to merit 
USAID’s continuing support. At the partner and beneficiary levels, it is clear that the bulk of these 
activities are both wanted and needed, especially in the current economic climate."
The above, of course was welcome news for LIFE. It comes at a critical juncture for the program 
which is now in its last year of implementation. Our disbursements are at 87% of available GUC
funds, and our anticipated disbursement will be 92% by April 1st; 100% by July 31st, 2021. LIFE 
5 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
continues to serve as one of the best platforms in the country for addressing the ubiquitous and
increasing poverty. And, throughout the crisis LIFE has been able to generate economic stability 
at the bottom of the economic pyramid through both grants and affordable credit.
Summary of LIFE GUC Portfolio as of December 31, 2020 (end of Q1Y5)
GUC Budget USD Value % of Total GUC 
Committed to Date 
GUC Committed in Year 1 10%
GUC Committed in Year 2 15%
GUC Committed in Year 3 45%
GUC Committed in Year 4 28 %
GUC Committed in Q1Y5 2%
Total GUC Committed 
Total Disbursed 86.7%
USD Value 
Grant Proposals Pending USAID 
Approval 
Grant Proposals in Pipeline - Year 5 
USD Value % of Total GUC 
Committed to Date
Total GUC Committed to Date as of 
January 21, 2021
$ 8,265,898.53 
Grant Proposals Pending USAID 
Approval $ 102,650
Total Disbursed to Date as of 
January 21, 2021 $ 7,241,901.93 87.6%
6 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
2. COMPONENT I: INCLUSIVE FINANCE
Component 1 of the LIFE-USAID program supports financial inclusion through partnerships with 
the Lebanese Microfinance Association (LMFA), Banque Du Liban (BDL), and other sector 
stakeholders to provide affordable credit to the bottom of the economic pyramid (146 thousand
micro businesses).
LIFE-USAID’s efforts to advocate for comprehensive, inclusive, affordable and modernized 
microfinance services for the poor and unbanked were interrupted by the multifaceted crisis 
which sparked the movement of thousands of Lebanese citizens to the streets on October17th,
2019. In 2020, the financial and economic crisis worsened with hyperinflation (LBP was devalued
by 500%), the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Beirut port blast on August 4th, 2020.
During Q1Y5, our partners including the LMFA, BDL, Banks and Microfinance Institutions 
continued to weather the crisis. BDL shifted its focus from policies targeting inclusivity to 
subsidies for imports and exports as well as the restructuring of the banking sector. Banks, MFIs, 
and financial institutions focused on the sustainability of their operations, solvency, liquidity, and 
cost reduction. Furthermore, since 2019 the microfinance sector has seen negative growth for 
the first time in several years.
Microfinance Sector Market Share
Year Outstanding Portfolio Active Clients
Dec 2016 156,000,000 USD 119,000
Dec 2017 186,000,000 USD 135,000
Dec 2018 220,000,000 USD 153,000
Dec 2019 182,924,579 USD (-17%) 146,792 (-4%)
Dec 2020 (estimation) 118,900,976 USD (-35%) 95,415 (-35%)
These figures include the portfolios and active clients of the LMFA’s member institutions Al 
Majmoua, VITAS, EMKAN, IBDAA, ADR, AEP, CLD and Makhzoumi Foundation over the last 5 
years
2.1: LMFA Institutional Strengthening
The LIFE-USAID project continued its support of the LMFA with a new $63,550 grant signed on 
October 6th, 2020. This new grant aims to build on the project’s previous investments with the 
7 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
LMFA focusing on advocacy for inclusive, modern, and affordable financial services to vulnerable 
communities and microbusinesses at the bottom of the pyramid. The LMFA will also attempt to 
build linkages with LIFE-USAID’s hubs in the Bekaa, South and North Lebanon.
During Q1Y5, the LMFA organized a microfinance stakeholder virtual roundtable on the 16th of 
December 2020 via Zoom. This roundtable gathered more than 50 participants from local and 
international non-governmental organizations, donors, investors, regulators and fintech 
providers. 
As part of the roundtable CGAP (The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and CRI (Center 
of Research Institute) presented their study on the impact of the multifaceted crisis on 
microfinance borrowers. The study emphasized the deteriorating economic of the MFI’s clients
as shown in the following findings.
1- Among a sample of 60,000 clients of Al Majmoua, 70% experienced a decline in income,
30% of whom had to close their businesses entirely.
2- 30% more MFIs borrowers lost their employment or businesses in Summer 2020 
compared to Summer 2019.
3- 45% of female borrowers became unemployed.
4- 50% of microfinance borrowers were unable to generate any income during 2020 
pandemic lockdowns.
5- 67% of the MFIs borrowers earned less than 1.5 Million LBP ($200) per month in 2020 
compared to 47% in 2019.
61% of the borrowers moved their children from private to public schools.43% of the borrowers 
were forced to sell their assets in2020, 61% of which was gold. Finally, the study highlighted the 
fact that 80% of borrowers rely on several sources of financial aid including remittances, donors, 
and friends.
Pictures from the stakeholder virtual roundtable.
8 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Finally, during this quarter, the LMFA’s program manager Ola Hariri met with LIFE-USAID’s
senior management for the north and south Hubs to optimize USAID investments and explore 
opportunities.
3. COMPONENT II: MICROCREDIT AND FINANCIAL 
SERVICES 
During this quarter, LIFE maintained its focus on two targets. The first being the owners and 
managers of MSMEs who suffered directly from the financial crisis or Beirut port blast. 
Approximately two million USD were allocated to help sustain these enterprises through grants 
and affordable emergency loans. LIFE-USAID’s grants to Saradar Bank and EMKAN Finance were 
completed during this quarter, with 7,667 individual beneficiaries. The grant with AEP is still 
ongoing.
The second is Fintech interventions equipping MFIs with technological enhancements, the 
Makhzoumi foundation and Al Majmoua projects were successfully completed while the ADR 
intervention is still on-going. 
Additionally, LIFE-USAID’s response to the Beirut Port explosion started to show results this
quarter with Ibdaa distributing in-kind grants to over forty micro enterprises in the affected area. 
Finally, BLF began to identify the MSMEs in the affected areas with the ability to reopen their 
businesses if given aid.
9 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
3.1: Pathway to Savings 
Banque Libano-Française SAL (BLF)-BLF “All-Right”- 217700-LIFE-BLF￾026
Status: Active
Project duration: 18 months (September 12, 2019 –March 11, 2021)
Area of implementation: Beirut
Initial Targeted beneficiaries: 2,000 unbanked clients in peri-urban and rural areas.
Initial Objectives: The original intervention consisted of three main activities (1) launch a new 
customized package with tailored features to meet targeted population needs, (2) set-up a mobile 
ATM to bring the unbanked into the formal financial services infrastructure, and (3) develop a 
customized mobile application that gives unbanked citizens access to previously inaccessible 
financial services.
Revised Targeted beneficiaries (December 1st, 2020): minimum of 112 beneficiaries (BLF 
and non-BLF clients).
Revised Objectives (December 1st, 2020): BLF aims to identify the MSMEs that were affected 
by the Beirut explosion and support them through the distribution of in-kind grants (up to $4000 
per MSME) used to repair shops and help businesses resume operations and employment.
Grant budget:
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
Due to the financial crisis an adaptation to the original LIFE-USAID grant, approved in 2019, was 
required. BLF and LIFE agreed to modify the grant to respond to the August 4th Beirut explosion 
and the microbusinesses in the blast area.
The modified project, which was 
approved by USAID on December 
1
st, 2020, will support a minimum of 
112 MSME’s through in-kind grants 
(up to $4,000 per beneficiary) to help
resume economic activity quickly.
Implementation of the modified 
activities began in December 2020; 
BLF started, with the help of RMF, to 
identify the MSMEs in the affected 
areas that require help to get their 
businesses functioning again.
Grant Modification signing between BLF and LIFE on December 11, 2020
10 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Saradar Bank SAL- Financial Inclusion Initiative- 217700-LIFE-SARADAR￾028 
Status: Closed out
Project duration: 16 months (October 16, 2019 – February 15, 2021)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
Targeted beneficiaries: 2,000 unbanked clients in peri-urban and rural areas.
Objectives: Increase financial inclusion and integration as well as increase cashless dealings 
through access to savings for the unbanked population.
Revised Targeted beneficiaries (May 8, 2020): More than 1,901 vulnerable VITAS clients 
are expected to receive financial assistance.
Revised Objectives (May 8, 2020): Lower the financial burden and monthly installments on 
the ultimate beneficiary and assist the most vulnerable of VITAS clients in settling their financial 
commitments.
Grant budget: 
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- Around 3,553 clients from Vitas benefited the LIFE-Saradar project; a total of 10,747 bills 
were paid.
Summary of Saradar’s partnership with USAID under the LIFE project: 
Saradar Bank was awarded the grant on October 16th, 2019 but was immediately faced with a 
new reality with the October 17th uprising. Saradar Bank requested a modification to the original 
grant activities to focus on the crisis and assist the poorest of its clients to make ends meet. 
The target was to provide assistance to a minimum of 1,901 vulnerable clients; however, Vitas 
succeeded in supporting 3,553 low-income individuals. The project addressed the needs of 
vulnerable segments of the Lebanese population, 41.5% of benefices were women, 45% were 
youth, and 62% reported incomes below $1,000 per month. The grant also allowed 464 
beneficiaries (13% of the total) to fully settle their loans. This allowed the most vulnerable clients 
were to repay a portion of their loans, lessening their financial burden and enabling them to 
sustain their business. In addition, Vitas has committed to canceling all penalties and fees on late 
payments.
During this quarter, Vitas completed all activities, before the expected end date February 2021, 
and below is a summary of main results achieved.
Number of Clients Amount of 
Assistance
Number of Bills 
Paid
Principal 
Payments 
Amount
Sum of 
Cancelled 
penalties
3,553 $ 484,171 10,747 $ 1,796,101 $ 817,356.50
11 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
EMKAN Pathway to Saving - 217700-LIFE-Emkan-012
Status: Closed out
Project duration: 21 months (February 25, 2019 –November 24, 2020)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
Targeted beneficiaries: Minimum 2,000 individuals will have access to saving accounts; 
minimum 4,000 individuals will access micro-loans, around 13,000 beneficiaries will access the 
formal financial sector through SMART ATMs.
Objectives: Include financially excluded people in the financial sector by opening loan-savings 
accounts at Bank-Med and through a new mobile application.
Revised Targeted beneficiaries (May 8, 2020): A minimum of 1,800 individuals are expected 
to benefit.
Revised Objectives (May 8, 2020): Lower the financial burden and monthly installments on 
more than 1,800 beneficiaries and assist the most vulnerable in settling their financial 
commitments.
Grant budget:
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- 79 staff trained on the “Pathway to savings” new product and more than 1,400 individuals 
benefited from the financial literacy trainings delivered;
- 6,122 new loans with a totaling $20 Million were disbursed from March 2019 till 
December 2019;
- Around 4,114 clients from Emkan Finance benefited from crisis assistance; around 7,968 
bills were paid.
Summary of Emkan’s partnership with USAID under the LIFE project: 
In February 2019 EMKAN Finance SAL was awarded a grant for $488,405.39 to undertake the 
“Pathway to Savings” program as part of LIFE’s financial inclusivity objectives.
Initially the program was designed to have the MFI act as the intermediary between its clients and 
a commercial bank, ultimately assisting them to set up savings accounts at BankMed. 
After the October 17th uprising and the adverse consequences every bank Lebanon, the original 
inclusivity activities were put on hold. In order to be relevant to the current crisis, EMKAN 
proposed a shift in its activities to support the most vulnerable of its clients. The implementation 
of modified activities started on May 8th
, 2020 and the financial support provided, helped many of 
EMKAN’s microbusinesses to cover their debt obligations. This support was bolstered by BDL 
Circulars 547 & Circular 552 which offered borrowers loans to cover their overdue bills in March, 
April, May and June 2020 in response to the Pandemic.
The grant was completed this quarter with EMKAN exceeding their target having reached a total 
of4,114 clients (1,088 repeat beneficiaries). Additionally, EMKAN managed to stretch the 
12 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
outreach on this program from the 3,000 average targeted payments (principal and interest) to a 
total of 7,968 qualifying payments (average 2 payments per client). 
Number of 
Clients 
Targeted
Number of 
clients 
(new/single)
Total Number 
of 
Beneficiaries
Number of 
Repeat 
Beneficiaries
Total 
Amount of 
Assistance
Batch 1 600 1,163 1,163 0 $45,389
Batch 2 600 2,409 3,013 604 $90,060
Batch 3 600 542 1,026 484 $52,492
Total 1,800 4,114 5,202 1,088 $187,941
3.2: Fintech Portfolio 
The Lebanese Association for development (Al Majmoua)- Online Digital 
Learning Management System (E-learning)- 217700-LIFE-AM-017
Status: Closed out
Project duration: 20 months (April 8, 2019 – November 30, 2020)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
Targeted beneficiaries: 454 individuals (including 394 loan officers and 267 women) as well as 
an estimated 80,000 of Al Majmoua clients
Objectives: Develop an e-learning platform with an integrated set of interactive online services 
that provide learners (whether staff or clients) with information, tools, and resources to support 
and enhance the services provided.
Grant budget: 
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- The e-Learning platform is fully developed and deployed;
- Two courses have been uploaded and are ready for use (Mastering Communications Skills 
and Microsoft Excel basic level);
- A total of 78 staff members have been trained and are currently using the new technology. 
Summary of Al Majmoua’s partnership with USAID under the LIFE project: 
13 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
After twenty months of 
implementation the project has been 
completed and the e-learning platform 
went live this quarter. It can be 
downloaded for desktop iOS and 
Android operating systems. All of the 
job-related information and tools are 
now available and are being delivered 
through diversified training methods,
allowing each employee to save an 
average of 12-training days per year, by
not having to physically attend them at
the main office. The e-learning 
platform also increases service quality
by reducing the delivery time of 
repetitive trainings, automatically
tracks users’ performance through the 
admin dashboard, and saves about 90 
business days spent on surveys, tests, 
evaluation and data entry in order to generate 
accurate monthly, quarterly and annual 
reports. A total of 78 staff members from different departments have been trained and are using 
the new platform as per below table.
Duration(min) Female Males IT Capacity 
building
HR 
Non -
financial 
Services 
Operation 
Product Development 
( Marketing + 
customer service) 
76 6 6 4 3 2 3
60 6 6 4 3 2 3
165 7 7 4 3 2 5
60 19 11 19 11
20 42 19 15 46
Trainees Distribution across Majmoua Departments 
14
30
61
Public Portal Training 
Training on Platform 
Mastering Communication 
Skills 
Excel Basic Level 
Training sessions Gender Distribution
Training Sessions Number of Trainees 
Admin Portal Training 12
12
Screenshots of the e-learning platform
14 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Makhzoumi Foundation (MF)- Embracing Digital Technology - 217700-
LIFE-MF-033
Status: Closed out
Project duration: 12 months (November 12, 2019 - October 12, 2020)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
Targeted beneficiaries: 11 full time employees including seven loan officers of MF MC 
program’ staff will have access to an optimized tool that reduces their workload and increases 
their efficiency. 
Objectives: The purpose of the grant is to develop a tablet-based solution that will support the 
data entry process. Loan Officers will be able to ensure more control over the data quality, easily 
communicate any changes or mistakes, and reduce delays.
Grant budget:
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- A new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has been installed 
- The repayment efforts have been reduced by 40%;
- The data entry process has been reduced by 10-30%;
- The loan disbursement processing has been reduced by 40%;
Summary of MF’s partnership with USAID under the LIFE project: 
This digital solution has transformed the way the Makhzoumi Microcredit program operates by 
putting a modern ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central composed of xPayroll, 
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Business Center) into place. The data entry 
process is now fully digitized which will improve the decision-making process and support 
Makhzoumi’s updated credit scoring system.
The new digitized process decreased costs by $7.44 per employee per day and improved the 
quality of payment and settlement services. 
The impact of this intervention has been reduced by the overall condition of the Lebanese 
economy, Makhzoumi’ portfolio has been reduced by 66% and monthly activity has fallen by 60%.
Once normal operations resume, the team expects more efficiency and higher reduction in cost, 
estimated at 8-10% in total. 
Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR)- Transitional 
Digitized Micro-Credit Program Operations-217700-LIFE-ADR-042
Status: Active
Project duration: 09 months (July 29, 2020 - April 28, 2021)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
15 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Targeted beneficiaries: ADR Microcredit Program’s Staff (14 Loan Officers & Field 
Supervisors, Operations Manager, three Accountants and a Data Operator) who are going to be 
equipped and trained on how to apply the new digitized system to their daily work.
Objectives: Develop a digital loan application platform for ADR so that its LOs can easily fill in 
the application in the field while meeting with potential borrowers, and immediately transfer the 
data into the system to which the MC relevant staff will have immediate access. 
Grant budget:
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
After purchasing the necessary equipment to upgrade the organization’s IT infrastructure and 
support its digital transformation, ADR management has recruited a Technical Coordinator (TC) 
to oversee the project and coordinate with the software developer. Software development has 
begun, the developer has already set up the first phase of the online credit management system 
including application design and data structure and ADR’s micro credit operations have been 
integrated into the online application. Once the application is developed, ADR will appoint a 
technical expert to train the MC staff on how to use the new application.
VITAS S.A.L- Customer Centric Digitization- 217700-LIFE-VITAS-023
Status: Closed Out 
Project duration: 12 months (July 8, 2019 - July 7, 2020)
Area of implementation: Nationwide
Targeted beneficiaries: 27,335 of Vitas’ potential and existing clients, 160 loan officers and 
field staff
Objectives: providing the needed equipment (tablets and handheld printers) to help VITAS
digitize their operations (lending cycle and developing a client application).
Grant budget: 
The LIFE team has followed up with VITAS over the past three months to ensure that the Fintech 
application has been successfully deployed, and the revamped website (www.vitaslebanon.com) 
is functioning properly. 
 
The digital field application is being used by VITAS staff across Lebanon and in light of the Covid￾19 pandemic the application has proven critical in maintaining operations during the extended 
Screenshots of VITAS Website 
16 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
shutdowns. The digital field application has 215 users in total, and VITAS has processed around 
50 loans through the new application. 
3.3: Crisis Response
The Professional Mutual-Aid Association (AEP)- 217700-LIFE-AEP-024
Status: Active
Project duration: 15 months (November 21, 2019 - February 22, 2021)
Area of implementation: Beqaa, Chouf, South Lebanon, North Lebanon.
Grant budget: USD 74,989.00
Main Highlights: 
- 2 jobs created: two new loan officers were recruited to cover the organization’s 
operations in newly reached areas (mainly in West Bekaa, Chouf and Saida). 
- 20 new loans disbursed for $43,231.
- 288 loans rescheduled.
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
To-date, the “Geo-Expansion Aid” project has served 288 beneficiaries from AEP portfolio in 
almost all the regions covered by the project, by rescheduling their loans at 0% interest rate and 
without incurring any additional costs. The selected borrowers are small entrepreneurs who are 
struggling with economic hardship, getting desperate over their dues and businesses in order to 
cover basic expenses. Rescheduling costs and delay interests were borne by AEP itself as a 
contribution of $68,183 till date. 
IBDAA Microfinance S.A.L - Immediate Response to Beirut Blast￾217700-LIFE-IBDAA-043
Status: Active
Project duration: 04 months (September 14, 2020 - March14, 2021)
Area of implementation: Beirut
Targeted beneficiaries: A minimum of 50 small business owners.
Objectives: Secure sustainable livelihoods for affected clients of IBDAA whose businesses are 
in immediate need of repairs.
Grant budget: 
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
On September 14th, 2020 IBDAA Microfinance S.A.L was awarded a grant totaling $227,114.00 
to help owners and managers of micro businesses affected by the Beirut port explosion who are 
in immediate need of repair to their damaged premises in the “Blast Zone”, defined as 3
17 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
kilometers from the crater. The project consisted of delivering a total of 50 in-kind grants (up to 
$4,000 / beneficiary/ business) in a four-month period.
The “Immediate Response to Beirut Blast” project currently under way with 43 out of 50 in-kind
grants distributed to dates. These businesses are mainly located in Beirut between Mar Mikhael, 
Bourj Hammoud, Medawar/ Karantina, Ashrafieh, Zekak Al Blat, Barbir and Ain El-Mreisseh. 
The LIFE team submitted a no-cost extension request for two months to USAID on January 11th
,
2021to allow IBDAA MF to serve at least 20 additional beneficiaries who are in immediate and 
urgent need of repairs for their damaged premises. The request was approved on January 13, 
2021. 
4. COMPONENT III: LIVELIHOODS
LIVELIHOODS: Direct assistance to micro enterprises through financial literacy, 
business development and in-kind grants.
During this Quarter LIFE and its partners were able to maintain the same level of productivity 
and pace of implementation despite the surge in the COVID- 19 cases and continuous lockdowns 
imposed by the Government,
Two grants were closed out on time “Enhancing the Socio-Economic Aspect in Old City of Saida 
and Grand Saida” implemented by DPNA ended on November 23rd, 2020 and the “Bekaa Hub –
Darb El Najah” implemented by EDF, MDSF and CCIAZ ended on December 15th, 2020, both 
yielding positive results.
Fares receiving a coffee machine, an 
electric contact grill and an electric slicer.
Ricardo receiving a frisco machine, 
display fridge and upright fridge. 
18 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
One new grant was developed and approved by USAID, “Reducing Economic Vulnerability in 
Akkar REV III” implemented by Al Hadatha which focuses on businesses in the north with the 
potential to sustain themselves in a modern economy and that harbor entrepreneurial creative 
ideas.
Phase two of the North Hub - Bab Rizk was approved during this quarter and LIFE’s partners 
have initiated work, by the end of the quarter they were able to conclude their outreach efforts. 
60 MSMEs in Tripoli were identified, mainly in green energy, telecommunications, data 
management, plastic recycling, and manufacturing. 
LUPD continued their robust distribution of in-kind grants for people with disabilities (PWD)
under the emergency grant “Urgent support for Beirut Explosion PWDs” which supports one of 
the most vulnerable groups affected by the blast. The beneficiaries also received psychological 
support sessions to help overcome the recent trauma.
Finally, training on crisis management continued to be a centerpiece of the various training
curricula for MSMEs, this will help vulnerable businesses weather the storm that has engulfed
Lebanon since October 2019.
Dareb El Najah - Revitalization Hub Initiative in Bekaa 
217700- LIFE-EDF- 029 
Status: Closed out
Project duration: October 16, 2019 - December 15, 2020
Area of implementation: Central Beqaa 
Number of beneficiaries: 400 MSMEs from central Bekaa villages
Activities: 
- Capacity Building and Management training: 16 EDF “Back on the Map” Alumni and 7 Staff 
members between EDF and MDSF. 
- Business Development Skills 
training, Marketing and Social 
Media training, and Access to 
Finance: 400 MSMEs from central 
Bekaa villages. 
- Basic Quality and Food Safety 
Training: 200 MSMEs from the 400 
selected. 
- In kind grant assistance: 120 
MSMEs from the 400 selected 
(selection is based on needs and availability of funds). 
Grant budget:
19 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- 391 MSMEs received Business Development Services. 
- 196 MSMEs opened a new business page on Facebook and or Instagram.
- 132 MSMEs benefited from in-kind grant distribution in Central Beqaa.
- Supported the “Community Kitchen Initiative” managed by Société Saint Vincent de Paul 
through an in-kind grant, equipping their kitchen with equipment needed prepare large
quantities of meals and distribute them to the most vulnerable families in the area. This 
initiative also benefited several local businesses supplied the indigents and provided work 
experience to several volunteers which will lead to future job creation. 
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
Following the completion of the training program during Y4, the EDF team initiated the 
procurement phase of the in-kind grant distribution, delivery was completed to 132 beneficiaries
with a total value of USD 190,316.73. The target sectors included:
- Services (Makeup Artists, Beauty Salons, Plumbers, Electricians, Clothes Stores, Online 
Shops, and Delivery Services)
- Agri Business (Mouneh, Dairy Processing, and Food Suppliers)
- Agriculture (Beekeepers, Chicken Farms, Goat Farms)
- Tourism (Motels, Spas, Bungalows)
- Food & Beverage (Restaurants, Coffee Shops)
 
20 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
391 MSMEs, 63% women owned, received training 
on the following topics:
• Capacity Building & Access to Finance Training 
• Photography and Social Media Training. 
• Basic Quality and Food Safety Training
 
 
During Q1Y5 the Darb El Najah Hub completed 
production of a new booklet titled “The Hidden 
Treasures of the Beqaa”. The booklet provides
travel enthusiasts with a tool to explore central 
Lebanon and experience the best of the Beqaa while 
promoting a number of Dareb El Najah participant 
businesses and start-ups. The content includes a 
brief introduction to each village, its characteristics, 
its specialties and a list of available businesses. 
Link to the booklet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ErvflLBp8nPW30dmV48wAfdbhqvKRrTZ/view?usp=sharing
LIFE and its partners under the Revitalization Hub undertook a robust plan 
marketing plan for the booklet. It was disseminated among hotels, taxi 
companies, offices related to Ministry of Tourism, MEA Airlines, Lebanese
websites, as well as Lebanese diaspora communities in the US, Canada, 
Australia and France. A Quick Response (QR) code was designed for it as 
well.
DPNA - 217700-LIFE- DPNA-030
Status: Closed out
Project duration: September 24, 2019 till November 23, 2020
Area of implementation: South Lebanon 
Number of beneficiaries: 150 MSMEs
Activities: basic business skills, access to finance and in-kind grant support as well as gender 
awareness sessions under the title “Together to Improve Socio-Economic Status”.
Grant budget:
Main results achieved at the end of the project:
- Assessment of 300 MSMEs in the Old City of Saida, Saida Souks, and Grand Saida.
- Selection of 150 MSMEs for program participation. 
- Training for the selected MSMEs in Management, Marketing, and Finance.
Certificates distribution to participants 
21 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
- Implementing the “Together to Improve Socio-Economic Status” awareness session for 
community individuals in the targeted areas (56 participants).
- Distribution of in-kind grants for the selected MSMEs to 89 beneficiaries.
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
In Q1Y5, the DPNA grant was successfully 
closed out. DPNA completed the procurement 
and distribution of in-kind grants to 89 MSMEs 
valued at $106,988. This distribution came at a 
very critical time when MSMEs in the south were 
struggling, many on the verge of shutting down. 
89.88% of the beneficiaries were small 
businesses under the following sectors: 
Mechanics, Beauty Shops, Barber Shops, 
Electricians, Carpenters, Bakeries, Butcheries, 
Confectioneries, and Tailors.
Entrepreneurial Development Foundation (EDF) – Phoenix 
217700- LIFE-EDF- 036
Status: Active
Project duration: July 9, 2020-March 9, 2021
Area of implementation: North Bekaa 
Number of beneficiaries: 150 Micro and Small businesses from North Bekaa area
Activities:
➢ Capacity Building training 
➢ In-Kind Grant Assistance
Budget:
89.88%
7.86% 2.26%
Beneficiaries Background
Service
Industry
Agriculture
22 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
During Q15, EDF delivered the Basic Accounting, Crisis 
Management and Social Media trainings for the last three 
groups, starting on October 1
st and ending on October 
20th. The training topics discussed were consumer 
behavior in crisis, management of resources, day to day 
operation management, management of business cycles
through volatile exchange rates, inventory control and 
management, budgeting, pricing, business planning, and 
access to finance. 
In total 165 beneficiaries, 63 women and 102 men from 
North Beqaa benefited from the Phoenix project. 
Almost 80% from the trainees opened a Facebook page 
to promote their businesses.
During Q2Y5, EDF will initiate the procurement and delivery of in-kind grants for 54 beneficiaries 
who participated in the training sessions.
Tourism Ambassador”-Revitalization Hub Initiative in South 
Lebanon 
• Partnership with LITD and ISWA.
• Total amount of the initiative: USD 205,000
• Implementation period: December 16, 2019- March 
31, 2021.
• Number of beneficiaries: 115 micro-businesses. 
The South Hub initiative “Tourism Ambassador” meets the 
needs of the micro businesses in the Saida area, focused on 
improving and upscaling traditional businesses and ensuring the creation of new job opportunities.
Two Livelihoods partners Islamic Welfare Association (ISWA) and Lebanese International 
Training and Development (LITD) are working side by side to create the most significant impact 
in Saida.
Female
38%
Male
62%
Participants
Female Male
23 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
The project works with the most marginalized populations in the Old City of Saida, Grand Saida 
& Saida Souks, helping entrepreneurs create new businesses, increase productivity, and expand. 
LIFE’s partners coordinate with the Municipality of Saida, the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 
the Merchants Assembly and other key parties.
Lebanese International Training and Development 217700-LIFE-LITD￾037 
Activities: Basic business skills, access to finance and in-kind grant support, Awareness 
Campaign, Access to Market, and cultural awareness sessions. 
Grant budget: USD 100,000.00
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
During Q1Y5, LITD completed the BDS training program 
and coaching sessions for the 105 beneficiaries. LITD also 
completed the technical training for 13 potential tour 
guides. The training program covered a wide range of 
topics including introduction to the tourism sector and 
involved parties, tour guide conduct, tour facts, tourism
destination planning, national and international 
organizations, tourism law, geography, history, archaeology,
and religious tourism in Sidon. The training culminated in a visit to archaeological, architectural 
and historical sites in and around Sidon. 
In December 2020, the potential tour guides participated in a handcraft exhibition at Khan El 
Frenj. The exhibition, organized by the HERAF group “Fruit of the Hub” attracted social, 
economic and political actors from Saida. The exhibition facilitated access to market for many
craftsmen, sales were estimated to be several hundred thousand Lebanese pounds per vendor, 
in addition to the various customized requests. The exhibition hosted many artistic activities and 
live musicians who volunteered to support the activity.
24 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
The potential tour guides also took part in a discussion with the 
Ministry of Tourism, the Chief of the Lebanese University Arts & Archaeology Department, and 
a representative of the Tourist Guides Syndicate in Lebanon. The meeting focused on a potential 
follow-up initiative under the name of the "House of Tourist" in Saida, a place where tour guides, 
trip organizers, craftsmen and others could gather, share their 
knowledge, and promote their products to local and international 
tourists.
LITD initiated the development of 5 short videos which will feature 
interviews with entrepreneurs and MSMEs working in handcrafts and 
traditional production, in addition to influencers in the field of 
history, archeology and tourism. The aim of the videos is to convey 
the importance of craftsman and traditional production to the local 
economy. 
Finally, LITD selected the final 7 tour guides to receive thein-kind 
grants support. 
LIFE submitted a grant modification for LITD which was approved in October 2020 allowing for 
a no-cost extension until March 31, 2021 and cancelling the final event due to COVID-19 risks.
Unused funds were reallocated to additional in-kind grant support. 
LITD will complete the awareness campaign, in-kind grant distribution and close out the grant in 
the next quarter. 
Islamic Welfare Association- 217700-LIFE-ISWA-038 
Activities: Awareness sessions on social entrepreneurship particularly linked to the tourism 
sector and in-kind grant support.
Grant budget:
Progress of Activities during Q1Y5:
During Q1Y5, USAID approved a modification for the ISWA grant which cancelled the final event 
due to the ongoing the health risks and moved the funds to additional in-kind grant support.to It 
Handcraft exhibition at Khan el Frenj- December 2020 Potential tour Guides receiving their 
certificates of completion 
25 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
also the physical awareness sessions with an online awareness series consisting of 5 different 
videos to be posted on Facebook and Instagram to target local students. ISWA selected the 57 
Microbusinesses that will benefit from the in-kind grants support and during the next Quarter, 
ISWA will finalize the distribution as well as the awareness campaign for students. 
Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities- Urgent 
support for Beirut Explosion PWDs- 217700-LIFE-LUPD-032
Status: Active
Project duration: September 1, 2020 till February 1st, 2021
Area of implementation: Beirut 
Number of beneficiaries: 40 PWDs whose businesses were lost or damages in the Beirut 
blast.
Activities: Psychological support, basic business skills training, and in-kind grant support.
Grant budget:
The project began with data compilation and the selection of 
beneficiaries using a door-to-door approach. By November 20th
, 
2020 LUPD identified 40 PWDs (34 men and 7 women). 39 
PWDs received online psychosocial support sessions (5 to 6 
sessions per beneficiary over a period of six days) followed by a 
short online business development course to help improve their 
prospects within their current circumstances. 
In-kind grant distribution 
started on November 30th, 2020 
and to date 10 PWD’s (9 men and 
1 woman) received their items 
valued at USD 38,953. The impact 
of this intervention was featured 
in two stories on USAID Lebanon’s Facebook Page, one on 
Human Rights Day (December 10th, 2020) and the second on 
December 3rd
, 2020 (for more details please refer to 7.3 section￾LIFE Communication during the post-blast time).
LUPD Field officer meeting with 
the Mayor of Rmeil- one of the 
most affected area.
In a hands-on field visit to check on 
the first identified PWDs impacted by 
the harbor blast, David Holdridge, 
LIFE COP, headed with the LUPD 
team to meet PWDs who got 
affected by the Blast.
LUPD Field officer meeting with the 
Mayor of Rmeil- one of the most 
affected area.
26 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Psychosocial support session Business development training session
Chantal Saloum receiving kitchen 
appliances for her renovated 
Restaurant- GEMMAYZE.
Habib Abid El Massih receiving 
a Fridge for his renovated Mini 
Market-- GEMMAYZE
Daniel Azildian receiving Sewing 
Machine and Steam Iron - GEMMAYZE
DJ Joe Jaber receiving Laptop, Speaker, 
Amplifier, Stand speaker and 
Microphone stand- Ain El Remaneh
27 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Bab Rizk 2- Revitalization Hub Initiative in Tripoli- 217700-LIFE￾Akkarouna-044
Status: Active 
Project duration: 23 November 2020- 23 
September 2021
Area of implementation: North
Number of beneficiaries: 15
Activities: Advanced Business skills, Coaching and 
In-Kind Grant support, Awareness 
Grant budget:
Akkarouna, SHIFT and DAR in “Bab Rizk” aim to empower 15 MSMEs in Tripoli, to increase their 
productivity and growth. Their proven model has five steps: outreach, selection, mentoring and 
development of a business plan, in-kind grants, and finally market linkages. The Revitalization Hub 
will be primarily target MSMEs in the green energy, telecommunications, and data management 
sectors with a focus on youths.
The North Hub partners began work in November and concluded their outreach for 60 MSMEs 
in Tripoli. Among the sectors visited were plastics, electronics, printing, and tailoring.
North Hub Kick off￾meeting 
An office at AKKAROUNA 
assigned for management of 
the NORTH HUB. 
28 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Out of the 60 MSMEs visited, 27 were selected to take part in a one on one ‘pitching’ interview 
with a committee made up from the 3 partners along with LIFE’s North Area Manager.
Below are some examples from the pitching sessions:
Mohamed Sheikh El Najjarin: Mohamed owns a Software Company that develops ERP 
systems, a business process management software 
that integrates a company's financials, supply 
chain, operations, reporting, manufacturing, and 
human resource activities. Mohamed pitched a 
mobile application that will replace the current
hardware devices which are expensive and 
complicated. The application will offer the user 
direct supervision over the daily activity of each 
salesman and the ability to analyze daily inputs.
Mohamed Ibrahim: Mohamad is a 
Computer Engineer whose company 
produces items from recycled disposable 
plastic (Plastic Dishes, Plastic Cups, Cartoon 
Cups, etc.). He pitched his idea for a
“Recycled Thermoplastic Foldable 
Table” combining two non-homogeneous 
recycled materials, which can be made using 
different types of recycled plastics to create 
study and versatile product. 
North Area LIFE Manager with the North Hub team 
conducting the outreach. Innovative businesses were visited.
29 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Claude Abboud: Sheghel Emmi a business run by five 
women which makes traditional food with a modern 
twist. Products of Sheghel Emmi are now being tested 
in Laboratories in Dubai and Baghdad for export. The 
business needs equipment to increase production and 
expand. 
In the next Quarter, the Hub will finalize the selection 
of the 15 finalists with the most creative ideas to be 
coached and ultimately receive in-kind grants. 
AL HADATHA -Reducing Economic 
Vulnerability in AKKAR (REV) III– 217700-LIFE-AL HADATHA￾045
Status: Approved 
Project duration: 13 January 2021- 12 July 2021
Area of implementation: North
Number of beneficiaries: 15 MSMEs
Activities: empower 15 MSMEs in Akkar, to increase their productivity and ensure their 
economic growth through capacity building, in-kind grants, and marketing.
Grant budget:
This project aims to support the economy in Akkar by empowering MSMEs to take innovative 
initiatives to grow their businesses and increase their income. This is achieved through capacity 
building, in-kind grants and marketing with the Al Hadatha radio station. In this proposed project, 
Al Hadatha aims to empower 15 MSMEs in Akkar, to increase their productivity and ensure their 
economic growth. Al Hadatha will be targeting, MSMEs in the green energy, telecommunications,
and data management sectors with a focus on youths. 
Reducing Economic Vulnerability in Akkar (REV) III is a sequel to the two previous projects 
Reducing Economic Vulnerability in Akkar (REV) I (2017-2019) and Reducing Economic 
Vulnerability in Akkar (REV) II (2019-2020) implemented under LIFE and which have been very 
successful. 
The grant proposal package was submitted to USAID for approval on December 8, 2020 and was 
approved on January 11, 2021.
30 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Pipeline
Tourism Ambassador-Revitalization Hub Initiative in South 
Lebanon- Phase II.
The current disruption from the pandemic has emphasized the need for r automation and 
technological adoption to transform Lebanese MSMEs. The South Hub Initiative is developing 
Phase Two to provide support for reskilling and upskilling for at-risk or transformed MSMEs. The 
target beneficiaries of the Second Phase are the most promised MSMEs from Phase One along 
with new entrants who want to develop their innovative business ideas in the digitization, agri￾food, eco-design, cultural heritage, tourism, and sanitizing technology sectors, which have been 
particularly hit by the current crisis.
SHEILD- Phase III
LIFE is developing a new grant with SHIELD “Building Skills, Creating Opportunities for Youth 
and Women entrepreneurs in South Lebanon Phase 3”. The grantee will reach out to 60 MSMEs 
with a focus on businesses which will be able to sustain themselves in a modern economy and 
who harbor entrepreneurial creative ideas. Coaching sessions will also be conducted by experts 
with practical experience. SHEILD will coordinate with the South Hub, to be launched in February 
2021 if approved. 
31 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
5. MONITORING & EVALUATION 
5.1: Q1Y5 Overview 
During Q1Y5, the LIFE-USAID monitoring and evaluation team worked closely with the partners 
to ensure accurate and timely M&E reporting.
The Tahaki-pro monitoring and evaluation platform was critical for our program during the 
lockdowns, ensuring the data collection process continued smoothly. Supporting documentations 
was uploaded directly to the platform allowing the M&E team to ensure data accuracy and 
verification.
During this quarter, the M&E team began to track the number of youths trained in soft skills/life 
skills through USG assisted programs.
Below are infographics depicting the quarter’s progress under different indicators:
Graph 1 Total number of Person days of Training (in person/ Digital) delivered in Q1Y5
Graph 2 Value of Private sector investment leveraged Q1Y5
Graph 3 Total number of Grants Beneficiaries reached through USG funded activities 
in Q1Y5
Graph 4 Total Number of individuals/MSMEs receiving BDS trainings in Q1Y5
Graph 5 Proportion of women owned businesses participating in BDS Sessions in Q1Y5
Graph 6 Proportion of women participation in LIFE activities during Q1Y5
Graph 7 Total Value of commercial loans accessed as a result of USG activities and 
assistance.
Graph 8 Number of Youth who participated in social or leadership activities
Graph 9 Total number of FTEs created in Q1Y5
Graph 10 Number of MFI’s borrowers who received LIFE subsidies during Q1Y5
32 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Male , 67
Male , 167
Male , 289
Female, 138
Female, 101
Female, 250
Total, 204
Total, 268
Total, 539
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
LUPD
LITD
EDF (Phoenix)
Total Number of Person Days of Training Delivered in Q1Y5
Total Female Male
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
EDF Total
Value of Private Sector Investment Leveraged Q1Y5
Male Female
33 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
64 22 35 13
1270
2037
39
3480
32 5 6 25
1395
914
21
2398
96 27 41 38
2665
2951
60
5878
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
AEP Ibdaa LUPD LITD Saradar Emkan EDF(Phoenix) Total
Number of Grants beneficiaries
Cumulative Number of Beneficiaries Reached Through all USG 
Assisted Activities in Q1Y5 
Male Female Total
13
39
32
84
25 21 7
53
38
60
39
137
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
LITD EDF (Phoenix) LUPD Total
Number of Individuals Recieving BDS for Q1Y5
Male Female Total
34 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Male 
61%
Female
39%
Proportion of Women Owned Businesses Participating 
in BDS Sessions
Male Female
Male 
59%
Female
41%
Proportion of Women Participation in LIFE Activities in 
Q1Y5
Male Female
35 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
$- $-
$1,100.49 $1,100.49 
 $-
 $200.00
 $400.00
 $600.00
 $800.00
 $1,000.00
 $1,200.00
EDF Total
Value of Loans Acessed in Q1Y5
Male Female
4
6
10
20
0
13
1
14
4
19
11
34
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
LUPD LITD EDF(Phoenix) Total
Number of Youth Engaged in Social or Leadership Skills
Training in Q1Y5
Male Female Total
36 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
EDF Total
Number of FTE's createE in Q1Y5
Males Females
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Saradar Emkan Total
Number of MFI Borrowers who Recieved LIFE Subsidies 
in Q1Y5
Male Female
37 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
5.2: Progress Summary of LIFE Project Indicators
Indicator Title 2017 
Result
2017 
Target 2018 Result 2018 
Target 2019 Result 2019 
Target
2020 
Result
2020 
Target
2021
Q1Y5 
Result
2021
Q1Y5 
Target
Total till 
present
Target till 
present
Proportion of female 
participants in USG-assisted 
programs designed to increase 
access to productive economic 
resources
39% 35% 48.35% 35.00% 40.00% 35.00% 53% 35.00% 42% 35% 35%
Value of new private sector 
investment leveraged by USG 
assistance 
$48,000 $4,500 $1,416,498 $330,000 $20,743,739 $5,450,000 $9,498,093 $5,450,000 $3,773.49 $1,278,750 $31,710,103 $12,513,255
Number of full-time equivalent 
(FTE) jobs created with USG 
assistance (EG.3-9) (PMP 
contributing to DO2 a) 
2 18 24 88 32 102 42 56 10 9 110 273
Number of people with 
improved incomes as a result 
of USG assistance
3 53 209 265 6146 4205 12085 4072 258 27 18701 8622
Number of people with 
improved access to financial 
services as a result of USG 
assistance
3 3 1830 720 7934 10600 8262 9600 0 1219 18029 22142
Total number of new entrants 
to the financial sector as a 
result of USG assistance
0 2 1023 432 1061 6360 24 5760 0 2108 12554
Number of jobs 
improved/maintained through 
LIFE
0 218 0 1415 0 1632 6235 872 0 54 6235 4191
Number of staff of NGOs￾MFIs/commercial partners 
receiving USG-funded training
319 720 507 720 588 0 244 0 0 0 1658 1440
Number of policies, 
regulations, administrative, 
procedures in development 
stages of analysis, drafting and 
consultation, legislative review, 
approval or implementation as 
a result of USG assistance
0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 3 2
38 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Number of TA packages 
delivered to LMFA&MFI 
members
8 5 6 5 1 5 0 18 0 0 15 33
Number Of days of TA and 
training provided to LMFA 
/MFI staff
45 15 5 15 2 15 0 0 0 0 106 45
Number of days of USG￾funded TA in financial sector 
enabling environment provided 
to counterparts or stakeholders
55 5 55 10 22 10 0 13 0 0 132 38
Total value of loans accessed 
as result of USG assistance 
(Contributing to Sub IR 2.2.b)
$48,000 $4,500 $1,416,498 $330,000 $20,531,248 $5,400,000 $8,327,778 $4,185,000 $1,100.49 $1,266,375 $30,324,625 $11,185,875
Number of microenterprises 
/Individuals that have 
successfully accessed loans 
from commercial banks/MFIs, 
private equity or both as a 
result of USAID assistance
3 3 216 220 6122 3600 6211 3600 2 844 12554 8267
Total number of savings 
accounts opened in 
commercial banks as a result 
of USG assistance.
0 0 1621 500 1812 7000 24 6000 0 3457 13500
Number of person days of USG 
funded training provided to 
support microenterprise 
development
339 220 2858 1428 9311 1648 7226 880 539 80 20273 4256
39 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
6. COMMUNICATIONS
LIFE in the Newspaper
LIFE’s Communications & Marketing Manager focused his 
efforts on getting LIFE featured in at least one of the major 
newspapers in Lebanon. In the first week of August 2020, 
a reporter from the “L’Orient Le Jour” newspaper came 
to LIFE offices and conducted an interview with LIFE’s
COP followed by a second interview with Ibdaa’s General 
Manager. 
Due to the Beirut harbour explosion on August 4, 2020 
the article was delayed to of the October 6, 2020 print 
issue.
L'Orient Le Jour newspaper
Issue of Oct 6, 2020 L’Orient Le Jour Website link:
https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1235267/le￾microcredit-libanais-pas-epargne-par-la-crise.html
LIFE Communication during the post-blast time 
In a continuation of the #Lending_a_Hand campaign, the LIFE team arranged interviews 
with the management of four MFI partners in December 2020, in addition field visits to 
meet with some of the beneficiaries of LIFE support. 
To emphasize our efforts toward the empowerment PWDs, a 
videographer/photographer was hired to accompany the LUPD team and document the 
implementation of their grant starting on October 28, 2020. Since then several short 
videos have been produced and disseminated on LIFE’s social media to promote the 
activity . These videos captured the attention of USAID Lebanon and USAID Middle East 
on several occasions and they were promoted on their social media as well.
40 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
 
USAID-LIFE visibility through its partner NGOs 
Through regular communication with the partners, LIFE ensured several media 
appearances on TV and social media. Many short documentaries produced during this 
period were shared on USAID’s social media networks.
 
Examples: On the Left a video produced by SHIFT shared by USAID Middle East. On the 
right a video produced by Al Hadatha shared by USAID Lebanon.
41 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Throughout the following 2 months several media appearance took highlighted below:
- Dareb El Najah press release by the Michel Daher Social Foundation (MDSF) was 
published on more than 24 online media outlets promoting Dareb El Najah and 
the booklet titled “The hidden Treasures of the Beqaa”:
o https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon/560119/Lebanon-news-lbci/ar
o https://www.facebook.com/101009044726976/posts/207799294047950/
o https://manachyr.com/articles/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-
%D9%83%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-
%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9
o https://www.lebanonfiles.com/articles/%d9%85%d8%ac%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%b9-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%86%d9%8a-
%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%a9/%d9%85%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%a9-
%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%ac%d8%a7%d8%ad-%d9%84%d9%80usaid/
o https://alahdath24.com/ar/money-business/36661/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1-%D9%81-
%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A9-
%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86
o https://www.alhananpress.com/id/news/22529/
o http://www.zahletoday.com/?p=news&i=7113
o https://www.facebook.com/183498685785369/posts/827232078078690/?extid=0&d=n
o http://www.alkalimaonline.com/Newsdet.aspx?id=528638
o https://www.lebanonon.com/news/48442
o http://denleb.com/?p=74062
o http://www.zahlepolitics.com/single_post/9882/
o http://dailylebanon.net/?p=48583
o https://www.elsiyasa.com/article/148267
o https://www.vdlnews.com/news/62381
o https://www.facebook.com/100365818444243/posts/160123112468513/
o https://twitter.com/sawtkellebnen/status/1328987764877127681
o https://www.facebook.com/187641518097503/posts/1536814773180164/
o https://www.facebook.com/sawtkellebnen/posts/3514775051952133
o https://www.lebnewsonline.com/248378/
o https://www.lebanondebate.com/news/507391
o http://alloubnania.com/Newsdet.aspx?id=412861
o http://www.shouelakhbar.com/2020/11/18/950/
o https://www.facebook.com/738965782951417/posts/1710595062455146/
- Following the success of the above press release, a two-minute TV ad is currently 
being produced in close coordination with the leading TV station in Lebanon, LBCI. 
It will feature a message from USAID Mission Director, Eileen Devitt, addressing 
the importance of USAID support to Lebanon through the regional revitalization 
hubs under LIFE. The TV ad will air starting January 1st, 2021 for 4 consecutive 
days four times a day according the schedule below.
- Phoenix project, in coordination with EDF, was also promoted in a Live TV 
Interview on MTV, one of the leading TV stations in Lebanon: 
42 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Interview with Afaf Nehme, EDF Executive 
Director and Charbel Matar, LIFE Beqaa Area 
Manager on December 4, 2020.
Partner’s campaign 
LIFE’s Marketing and Communications Manager produced a campaign promoting “Dareb 
El Najah” beneficiaries in coordination with the LIFE Beqaa Area Manager and EDF’s
Executive Manager. 12 1-minute videos were created featuring 12 beneficiaries providing 
advice in different business fields such as traditional food production, hospitality, car 
maintenance, bee keeping, soap production and many more.
Social media Insights 
Facebook: 
Facebook page likes increased organically from 4954 on September 30th, 2020 to 5135 on 
December 31st, 2020 
While the number of women following the page fluctuated around 60% of all the followers, 
women in the age bracket of 35-44 constitute most of LIFE fans, they also are the most 
engaged with LIFE posts. The results show that most of men who follow the page are 
between 25 and 44 years of age.
43 | P a g e LIFE Year 5 Quarter 1 Report
October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Instagram:
Instagram followers increased from 1431 at the end of September 2020 to 1503 at the 
end of December 2020. Most followers are between 25 and 34 years old. 61% of all 
followers are women.
 
YouTube
LIFE’s YouTube channel got around 500 views in the last 90 days.