The transfer of employability skills in Lebanon : the case of Intaj Mercy Corps

Abstract

Employability skills refer to any and all skills that can make an applicant more attractive for the job market. It refers to a set of skills that can help a prospective employee secure an employment opportunity. This study aims to look into the transfer of employability skills in Lebanon. More specifically, it looks into the transfer of skills from the INTAJ at Mercy Corps project to the surrounding population in the North Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. We also aim to study the effect of those skills in making the participants more attractive for the job market, and to help them secure an employment opportunity. To be able to do so, three administrators from the INTAJ program were interviewed regarding the design of the program, its objectives, and its relative success. Focus group was conducted too in order to gather information that is related to the participants of INTAJ points of view. Results showed that the program was able to transfer a significant amount of soft and technical skills to participants. More than two-thirds of participants agreed that the skills developed were essential to make them more attractive for the job. However, only half the participants stated that the training was beneficial in actually securing an employment offer. Finally, although one-third of participants indicated employers appreciation of skills learned, two-thirds of the population were neutral about the topic. One issue that was expressed by the employees was the lack of proper follow-up after training was done. With a target to provide at least 25% of participants with job offers, they were able to provide jobs for 40 participants. In conclusion, the INTAJ program was successful in transferring desirable employability skills to the intended population, and was able to create jobs in a tumultuous economic environment. The relative success of the project should be evaluated on the long run, and frequent follow-up with participants after training is essential for continuity and sustainability of the program.