A newsletter by Lebanon Support
Lebanon Support is a multidisciplinary space creating synergies and bridging between researchers, experts, civil society and NGO practitioners, and activists. Lebanon Support aims to foster social change through innovative uses of social science, digital technologies, and publication and exchange of knowledge.
1- Towards Universality: The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Voluntary Health Insurance
Infographic | Lebanon
The NSSF Voluntary Health Insurance scheme, created in 2002, allows categories of the uninsured segment of the population to voluntarily enroll in the NSSF and benefit from healthcare coverage. This visual provides an overview about this scheme, access to it, application process, and benefits it offers. It also features data based on a survey, conducted between October and December 2020, of 1000 randomly selected residents in Lebanon (including Lebanese and non-Lebanese). The survey assesses the current size and nature of health coverage in Lebanon as well as the awareness and perception of respondents of the NSSF Voluntary scheme. This survey was conducted by the Consultation and Research Institute and Lebanon Support.
Check the full infographic here
2- More on social justice and protection
Lebanon Support has been publishing extensively under the broad theme of social justice. You can find our latest and some curated content below. For more on Right to Health, check out our infographics on the definition of right to health (global) here, and country specific infographics on Jordan here, and Lebanon here.
Our centre also organises regular seminars and knowledge sharing events on social justice, social contracts, and social protection, watch previous ones on our YouTube channel here.
2.1- What is social protection?
Video | MENA
This video provides an overview of social protection in the Arab region with examples from Jordan and Lebanon. It shows notably that social protection schemes are fragmented with a multiplicity of schemes and benefits, and only cover 30 to 40% of the population in the region.
Watch the video here
2.2- Social protection in Lebanon
Infographic | Lebanon
This infographic provides an overview of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), that covers workers in the formal sector, excluding informal workers, but also unemployed, self-employed, and retirees. It offers targeted recommendations for reforms, namely developing a unified and universal security framework, that are especially needed in these times of acute crises in Lebanon.
Read more in the infographic here
2.3- Social protection in Jordan
Infographic | Jordan
This infographic provides an overview of the two main Social Security systems in Jordan: the Social Security Cooperation (SSC) and the National Aid Funds. It shows that both are limited in terms of inclusivity and reach, leaving segments of the population without any form of social protection, and offers targeted recommendations for reforms.
Read more in the infographic here
2.4- Understanding the social protection needs of civil society workers in Lebanon. Towards strengthening social rights and security for all
Report | Lebanon
In times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, civil society workers are not only essential workers and first responders, but also at the forefront of any aid or development intervention. However, their work remains largely invisible and unprotected. This action-oriented research aims to inform practitioners and decision makers on social protection status, needs and gaps of workers in the civil society sector in Lebanon. It formulates recommendations that aim at enhancing access of civil society workers to social protection, and that target the Lebanese state, the donor community and international NGOs, and local NGOs.
Read the report here
2.5- Access to healthcare for Syrian Refugees. The impact of fragmented service of provision on Syrians’ daily lives
Report | Lebanon
This report explores the fragmented organisation of healthcare services in Lebanon, for Syrian refugees. It reflects on the challenges and underlying dynamics of the current Lebanese system, which are reproduced in the healthcare provision for Syrian refugees. It highlights the privatised, rather ad hoc, and irregular provision of healthcare in Lebanon, notably for Syrian refugees, which tends to take on a more curative rather than preventive approach, resulting in significant costs on the patients. Consequently, a great number of vulnerable Lebanese and non-Lebanese residing in Lebanon, notably Syrian refugees, are unable to access health services.
Read the report here
2.6- The Arab Watch Report 2014: Lebanon and social protection: between charity and politics (report in Arabic)
Report | Lebanon
This report discusses the state’s role in the development process in Lebanon, as well as the legislative framework and characteristics of social protection systems. It also details the role of social security related institutions, their programs, and the effects of crises and wars on social coverage. Lastly, it proposes recommendations on how to build a more universal social protection system based on human rights standards.
Read the report here
