A newsletter by Lebanon Support

Lebanon Support is a multidisciplinary space creating synergies and bridging between the scientific, practitioner, and policy spheres. Lebanon Support aims to foster social change through innovative uses of social science, digital technologies, and publication and exchange of knowledge.   

Lebanon Support undertook the 2nd iteration of the mapping of solidarity initiatives in Lebanon following Beirut's blast on 4 August 2020, based on a survey of more than 100 civil society organizations and initiatives. The mapping focused particularly on the effect of the January-March 2021 on CSOs’ operational and civic space.

Shrinking space, constraints, and fragmentation: Lebanon CSOs’ civic & operational space during the lockdown of January-March 2021 

Infographic | Lebanon

This infographic provides an overview of civic space and CSOs’ operational space in Lebanon during the January-March 2021 Covid 19 related lockdown. It shows that, although local civil society organisations and initiatives are the main responders on the ground, they have faced many limitations and restrictions, which have affected their impact. Data points to gaps in coverage of interventions and overlooking certain regions and vulnerable groups. It also sheds light on the main recommendations suggested by respondents in order to face challenges. 

The mapping and infographic are developed in partnership with the Fondation De France

Check the infographic here
 

Digest: “Solidarity initiatives and CSOs civic & operational space in Lebanon during the lockdown of January-March 2021”

Digest | Lebanon

This digest presents an overview of the main data trends from the 2nd iteration of the mapping on solidarity initiatives in Lebanon, which focuses on the civic space and CSOs operational space in Lebanon during the Covid-19 related lockdown and state of emergency between January and March 2021. It highlights the difficulties they have faced in a context of an increasingly shrinking civic and operational space, specifically constraints related to the banking sector, government decisions, and donors’ practices, as well as poor coordination efforts among CSOs themselves. 

The digest also invites us to question CSOs’ role limited to implementation, in a country where the state has historically outsourced social issues, rights, and services to the non-profit sector.

Read the article here