The Vocational Training/ Tool-kits Program
GOPA-DERD’s Livelihood team organizes Vocational Training courses according to beneficiaries’ and market needs assessment results, such as: cosmetology, sewing, electronic devices maintenance, cooking, beekeeping, just to name a few. The program also provides specialized courses in language skills, computer skills and other life-skills courses.
According to the selection criteria, the most/moderately vulnerable beneficiaries are chosen and introduced to the labor market, where they are prepared and supported to obtain temporary or permanent jobs, in accordance to market and beneficiary’s needs.
Lastly, beneficiaries who have proven commitment during the course of the program, alongside other essential criteria, are entitled to receiving a tool-kit matching the vocation they have conducted, which enables them to kick-start their own income-generating project at the privacy of their own home.
Small Business Grants Program
The program aims at assisting refugee, IDP returnees, and affected Syrians aged between 18 and 60 years, in obtaining a small business start-up grant, in order to start and benefit from their own income-generating project. Also, this project would provide beneficiaries with necessary life-skills, such as managerial skills, that would assist them in presenting comprehensive feasibility studies about their proposed projects. These projects would later be submitted to a specialized jury, who will in turn study it, interview candidates, assess and choose the best projects to be financed according to certain criteria, such as the projects’ market needs, resilience and sustainability.
Cash/Voucher Assistance (CVA) Program
GOPA-DERD views Cash/Voucher Assistance program as a short-term solution to inadequate livelihoods, faced by those most in need and vulnerable populations. Due to continuous crisis caused by military unrest, economic shocks, pandemics and natural disasters, refugee, IDP returnees and affected households are constantly threatened by basic needs-related risks: unmet health needs, shelter and food security needs (especially of elderlies and people with disabilities), adult and adolescents’ exposure to degrading/hazardous jobs, child labor, the double SEA burden placed on girls and women, and high level of debts. To respond to these protracted needs, this program aims to provide life-sustaining, if not life-saving assistance through multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), which helps these families live a decent and dignified life.