Conducting a Livelihoods Learning Journey for the DRC in the Middle East

DevLearn conducted two DANIDA-funded Livelihoods Learning Journey consultancies for DRC Middle East on business and employment support. The first assignment focused on support to micro, small and medium businesses, and the second focused on waged-employment support. The goal of the assignments was to:

•  Map out the activities undertaken by each country and identify common program models
• Identify strengths and weaknesses, best practices, and lessons learned
• Provide guidance to program teams on developing quality market-based business and employment support programs

For each, we began by conducting a desk review of the Livelihoods Journey and interviewed key staff from the Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey offices. We identified common program models and facilitated a series of five webinars with country team members to discuss and validate them.

We then summarized the activities undertaken by each country program in a program mapping report. Finally, we developed a series of guidance notes to support teams to design and implement quality market-based activities. These guidance notes provide detailed tips, checklists and relevant examples for each program model.