SHiFT Social Innovation Hub - About

SHiFT- Social Innovation Hub has initially started its operations from Qobbeh, Tripoli in economic revival in its post-conflict neighborhoods into prosperous, peaceful, and cohesive communities. SHiFT now operates in North Lebanon and Beirut, and aspires to be operating at the national level to deliver its vision and mission across the nation.

It specializes in supporting individuals and small businesses to grow and develop through services such as, but not limited to, business development training, job placement, mentoring, coaching, life skills, vocational training and business incubation. Being one of the only NGOs active in Qobbeh, a former conflict frontline, SHiFT is building bridges between the local communities by providing a safe and neutral space for people to meet, work and learn together.

SHiFT has 6 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.
• Taalam Program: This program provides education services to children who have dropped out of school and school support classes.
• SHADDA - Media Lab: Shadda Media Lab is a platform that serves as both a media outlet and a shared workspace for media producers in Lebanon. The lab's mission is to promote peace and positivity by creating and disseminating content that is informative, entertaining, and grounded in reality.

Our centre has an Incubation centre, that offers business incubation services to local start-ups, entrepreneurs and social initiatives; a social kitchen (Al Khan); a rooftop space; a cinema; a digital lab; and a design lab (7orfa). These labs offer modern facilities for start-ups, artists, designers and young media professionals. SHiFT also offers 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.