About the Program

The Nawaya Network has been implementing UNICEF’s Generation of Innovation Leaders (GIL) entrepreneurship program in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the South since 2016, reaching 8,303 youth.

The program aims to develop the income-generating opportunities for marginalized Lebanese and refugee youth through innovation, entrepreneurship and business development training.

The training is followed by an incubation phase through which successful youth-led projects receive further business coaching and seed-funding to help launch their small businesses.

The program also includes post-incubation support through mentorship, short educational online sessions, referrals to local, regional, and international competitions, as well as other opportunities within the country.

Impact

Youth trained
Youth incubated
0
MSMEs launched
0
Female-led MSMEs
0 %
Of 985 MSMEs earn revenue
0 %
Revenue generated by 651 MSMEs
$
Of 736 MSMEs hired new staff
0 %
Of 736 MSMEs expanded business
0 %
MSMEs generating revenue support their families
0 %

GIL Stages

  • Stage 1

    This 7-day entrepreneurship training offers youth the opportunity to learn how to turn problems in their communities into opportunities, conduct field research, determine the building blocks and viability of their solutions and how to pitch in front of a jury.

  • Stage 2

    FinCamp is a 7-day training that enables youth to dive into the finances of their projects by creating realistic projections and a solid financial plan to back up their ideas. This stage is the final qualifier for incubation, with a second round of pitching, and a more solid plan.

  • Stage 3

    Successful youth who move on to the Incubation stage will receive seed-funding to launch their business, and will get the chance to work with a coach, hone their business skills, develop a prototype and cover other business topics related to their projects. Incubation takes 2 to 3 months and follows a methodical approach for optimal…Read More

  • Stage 4

    Post incubation, youth will receive additional support through short-term mentorship by professionals related to key topics, referrals to local, regional, and international competitions, as well as other opportunities within the country, including GIL’s flagship events, Hakaya GIL and Jawa2ez GIL.

Program Partners

The entrepreneurship track is part of The Generation of Innovation Leaders program, powered by UNICEF Lebanon, funded by the Government of the Netherlands and The Andan Foundation.