As the Syria crisis continues into its sixth year, there is a growing recognition that more durable solutions are needed to assist countries hosting large numbers of refugees. Expanding the right to work and supporting income earning opportunities is also needed for refugees. Host countries, donors and civil society must also address the longer term needs of those affected by the crisis by identifying ways to create jobs and improve local economies.

The Syrian crisis has led to an influx of more than 1.2 million refugees into Lebanon, creating severe economic, political and social strains. Due to the protracted nature of the crisis, Syrian refugees and local Lebanese communities already struggling pre-crisis with high unemployment rates and a weak economy are becoming increasingly vulnerable. To better understand the effect of these strains on employers who can drive Lebanon’s economic recovery, the International Rescue Committee (IRC)2 has partnered with Building Markets3, an expert in accelerating the growth of local businesses in developing countries, to identify how to support the private sector to buffer the impact of the Syrian crisis on host countries and on refugees living there, possibly even creating opportunities for economic growth. 

Available documents & links