On 4 June 2024, CIS Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed a cooperation agreement to support vocational education and enhance youth employability in Lebanon.
The agreement focuses on developing technical and vocational training programs aligned with labour-market requirements and private-sector needs. It is part of the “Afaq” (Horizons) initiative, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, which supports host communities and vulnerable groups through education, vocational training, and social protection.
The agreement also includes improving governance practices at CIS, upgrading educational services, and helping young people, especially those affected by conflict, acquire the skills employers need.
“IFC, with its global expertise, will play a central role in developing governance practices and equipping youth with the skills required by companies. We are committed to collaborating with IFC to expand our services and secure a better future for our graduates.”
— Dr. Abdul Kader Mekdash, President, CIS Group
“Lebanon is facing serious social, economic, and financial challenges, especially high youth unemployment. This agreement fosters youth inclusion in the job market and supports Lebanon’s economic recovery.”
— Hans Peter van der Woude, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lebanon
It is IFC’s first engagement in Lebanon’s vocational education and training sector, and a key step toward empowering young people and fostering public-private partnerships.
Related: the partnership also underpins the NammiSkills platform, a UNICEF, IFC, and CIS initiative, and sits within CIS’s wider funded programs. See all CIS partnerships.
Read more: IFC press release · Sky News Arabia.
