SEE Change Call for Support

Terms of References

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lebanon continues to witness multifaceted and intertwined crises, which puts the country and its people in a vulnerable position. The severe economic crisis was compounded with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases being reported starting from September 2020. Furthermore, the explosion that destroyed large neighbourhoods in Beirut, on August 4, 2020, led to the resignation of the government and further social, economic and administrative demise.

Protests in Beirut broke out on Saturday August 8th and Sunday August 9th, demanding accountability and justice following the blast.

Social entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded as a tool capable of easing communal tensions and contributing to communities’ socio-economic development.

SEs can “contribute to the economic security of all segments of the population and contribute to economic diver­sity as it invests in territorial development and proximity, promoting community participation, prioritizing local impacts and modelling participatory values”[1].

In Lebanon, a 2019 mapping showed that SE has recently gained more national visibility among urban communities in big cities[2]. This can be explained by the fact that SE responds to the national priorities and is aligned with Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) goal, and the strategy of both the Livelihood and Social Stability Sector. During the past few years, several projects started promoting SE as a tool to strengthen social stability and support local economic development for Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian refugees. Some of the projects invested in building the knowledge and awareness of community members on SE, others supported the identification of social ventures and their evolvement into SE through the provision of ad hoc technical and financial support, and others focused on developing a legal framework for SE[3].

Brief presentation of the project

Oxfam in partnership with Beyond Group and COSV is implementing an EU Funded project entitled “Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Change” (SEE Change).  As of September 2020, and over the course of 3 years, the project will be implemented in 5 different areas in Beqaa, North, Mount Lebanon, Jezzine and Nabatieh.

The project aims at increasing the impact of social entrepreneurial activities in Lebanon, creating employment and social stability opportunities, and supporting the local economy.

Objectives

Oxfam is launching a national social entrepreneurship Call for Support with the aim of awarding around 60 social ventures financial and business development (technical) support. The competition targets new and existing SEs, from start-ups to maturity level.

The type of activities that can be supported include, but not limited to, equipment linked to the core activities of the SE, small infrastructure intervention, cash, marketing & communication related activities, capacity building costs, etc.

Selection Criteria

• Show clear social impact through submitting your theory of change or social impact report
• The idea should aim to generate potential employment opportunities or income for youth and women
• Include a solid business plan, with return on investment strategy for sustainability.

Eligibility Criteria

• A project or idea that addresses a social problem through introducing an innovative solution
• Basic understanding of business and social impact
• A person or a group of persons above 18 years old
• Operating in Lebanon
• All nationalities are welcome to apply
• Agree to enter an incubation phase of at least six months

[1] Developing Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation in the Mediterranean and Middle East. 2019. Tallie Hausser, Constantin Tsakas, Karine Moukaddem. Med Brief No 23.

[2] Beyond Group, 2019. Mapping of SE in Lebanon. Unpublished report.

[3] EU MADAD-funded BADAEL and EU MADAD-funded FURSA