SHiFT Social Innovation Hub

SHiFT is a social innovation hub leading the transformation of post-conflict and/or marginalised zones towards peaceful and prosperous communities. It brings people together and bridges differences through building capacities, raising awareness, creating opportunities, promoting success models and mentoring.  

SHiFT has 3 centres, one on the previous conflict frontlines in Qobbeh, Tripoli.  One in Mina, Tripoli and one in Mar Mikhael, Beirut – established after the Beirut blast. The centres provide a neutral space for people to meet and participate in different activities. 

SHiFT has 4 main programs that especially target persons from post-conflict/vulnerable areas. We strive to create opportunities for persons who due to different reasons are vulnerable, for example, youth who due to economic marginalisation face limited opportunities, persons whose ability to work is affected by disability and women who face challenges to secure sustainable livelihoods due to gender-based constraints. 

The programs are:   

• Tatweer program: supporting businesses to grow, by providing business development support and in-kind grants to existing and new nano, micro and small businesses located in Tripoli, in addition to restoring access to economic opportunities to the affected NMSMEs following the Beirut blast Beirut. 
• Tamteen program: supporting the self-development of individuals to increase their chances of finding employment by providing training, coaching, mentoring and job placement services. 
• Tasaloh program: facilitating/incubating peace and reconciliation initiatives. SHiFT’s community engagement and peacebuilding component incubates and hosts several initiatives or committees that work for social cohesion and reconciliation in the area. 
• Tadamon program: Providing Mental Health support and addressing the protection needs of at-risk individuals through implementing different Community-Based Psycho-Social Support (CBPSS) activities

Our centre has an Incubation centre, that offers business incubation services to local start-ups, entrepreneurs and social initiatives; a social kitchen; a rooftop space; a cinema; Diwan; a media lab (Shadda); a digital lab; and a design lab (7orfa) that offer modern facilities for start-ups, artists, designers and young media professionals. We also offer these spaces for rent to other organisations, in addition to the 10 training/meeting rooms of different sizes that can be rented as co-working spaces or for meetings, training and events.