EIIP Lebanon Monthly Update – January-February 2026

‍General Overview

The Employment-Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP)Phases V (2023- 2026) and VI (2024–2027), funded by the Government of Germany through KfW and implemented by the ILO, remain a critical crisis response and recovery instruments in Lebanon’s highly volatile context. Covering the period January-February2026, this factsheet reflects a phase focused primarily on programme set-up, project identification, design finalization, and institutional strengthening, with a full-scale implementation scheduled to commence in upcoming months of 2026.

Furthermore, the financing agreement for EIIP Phase VII(2026 – 2027) was signed with KfW and put in effect as of early January 2026for a budget of 9.95 million Euros.

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Sustainable Infrastructure Development:

By the end of 2025, EIIP interventions under phase V contributed to improved access to public infrastructure across multiple governorates through completed municipal works, routine road maintenance, agricultural infrastructure, forestry and environmental activities, and emergency shelter rehabilitation. All routine road maintenance projects and the majority of municipal and agricultural infrastructure interventions were completed, while three additional projects entered design and tendering phases under the project’s extended timeframe and additional remaining funds.

For phase VI, a structured, evidence-based project identification process was completed, resulting in a prioritized pipeline of 10 infrastructure interventions across municipal infrastructure, routine road maintenance, agricultural (green) infrastructure, and social protection facilities. The latter are yet to be identified and cleared by KfW.

For phase VII, the project identification builds on the results of the same for phase VI. A consultant was commissioned early in 2025 to execute the project identification process following a structured, three-phase approach to ensure a transparent, evidence-based, and participatory selection process. Municipalities shortlisted based on vulnerability criteria, and identified projects were assessed based on technical feasibility, economic viability, social impact, and long-term sustainability beyond the EIIP intervention. A long list of the selected projects along with the detailed report of the identification was shared with KfW that provided relevant comments that were taken into consideration. So identified projects were later shortlisted for phase VI and others deferred for phase VII. Nevertheless, some of the vulnerable areas that we were not able to outreach during this process due to the absence of municipal councils (note that this was during the municipal elections) will be revisited for another layer of needs assessment and project identification. As such, a list f potentially identified projects for phase VII will be shared with KfW for its clearance and no objection.

Below is a table indicating status of each project within phases V and VI:

Phase V:

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Phase VI:

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Employment Generation:

By the end of December 2025, the project had generated 356,670 worker-days and 5,850 jobs, reaching 97% of its updated Phase V employment targets. Employment generation has not yet materialized for phases VI and VII, however recruitment should start in March 2026 together with the commencement of several projects as mentioned in the tables above.

‍Overall employment figures

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening:

Since 2025, government institutions have increased their engagement with the EIIP programme, with a stronger focus on supporting national counterparts in fulfilling their mandates. This institutional focus is central to EIIP’s sustainability strategy under Phases VI and VII, emphasizing capacity building through workshops on Labour-Based Road Technology (LBRT), EIIP methodologies, and the updated EIIP Guidelines. Key partners include the Ministries of Social Affairs, Labour, Public Works and Transport, Agriculture, and Interior and Municipalities, as well as municipalities. Strengthening institutional ownership and aligning EIIP approaches with national systems aims to promote sustainable employment generation, improve coordination, and enhance Lebanon’s capacity to respond to recovery and stabilization needs. In parallel, the EIIP Guidelines are being updated through a consultative process involving ILO specialists, partner ministries, and social constituents. Following final ILO review, the guidelines will be published and used to update training materials and launch new training activities for EIIP stakeholders.

During this reporting period, a workshop for officials from Ministries of Agriculture and Public Works was completed covering key aspects of Employment Intensive Projects including labour intensity, decent work, local resource-based technology…etc. The workshop was conducted on the 11th of February with (25 MoA and 5 MoPWT members). Following the training, both ministries expressed interest and commitment to receiving further support with regard to the ESSF and its incorporation into their SOPs for activities beyond EIIP interventions.

In addition, 12 municipal officials completed the online training of EIIP from Al Marj, Deir al Ahmar, and Haouch el Harimeh.

More information on EIIP Lebanon can be found on the website: www.EIIPLebanon.com.

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