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.
Lebanon Support has published multi-disciplinary and transformative knowledge on the region focusing on cross-cutting thematics, aiming at informing action at both policy and grassroots levels. In addition to research papers and reports, the centre publishes interactive mappings, infographic visuals, timelines, and a peer-reviewed journal, among others, to increase the reach and impact of findings. These publications are also paired with the organisation of knowledge sharing events to nurture a space for discussion and exchange on research thematics.
1.- Transformative knowledge for action
1.a Civil Society Review, Issue 4: “Challenging ‘Migration Governance’ in the Middle East and Turkey: Dynamic Power Relations, Contested Interventions, and Individual Strategies”
Co-edited by Amreesha Jagarnathsingh and Maissam Nimer.
MENA | Journal | Civil Society Review
The Civil Society Review, Lebanon Support’s peer-reviewed journal, produces evidence-based research and analysis, and disseminates findings and recommendations to promote civic engagement, shape policies, and stimulate debate within civil society spheres. This fourth issue aims to challenge the way in which migration is “governed” in the Middle East and Turkey. This issue argues for a re-evaluation of migration governance strategies at the supranational level, with more careful attention to the national, local, and individual levels. Moreover, it underlines the importance of local knowledge production in the Global South, favouring more grassroots, tailored, and locally grounded interventions over global initiatives.
Click here to read the full issue
1.b Mapping of gender actors in Lebanon
Lebanon | Mapping
Lebanon Support relies on quantitative mapping exercises to inform its qualitative analysis, thus combining both methodologies. Our Gender Actors Map’s data and typology have been both updated recently. Based on a survey of 75 gender actors, this map serves as a tool for various stakeholders working on gender issues to better understand the gender sector landscape, tailor their actions and interventions, identify gaps in the sector, as well as opportunities for collaboration.
This map is developed in partnership with Diakonia.
Explore the map here
1.c Social Protection in Lebanon: The National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
Lebanon | Mapping
Part of our ongoing research on socio-economic rights and social justice in the region, we are developing a series of visuals that present insights and recommendations in a user-friendly and accessible manner. This first infographic, on Lebanon, provides an overview of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), that covers workers in the formal sector, excluding informal workers, but also the unemployed, the 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 the full infographic here
2. Focus on: Beirut blast responses
The blast and destruction of Beirut on the 4th of August 2020 has caused the death of more than 200 persons, over 6500 were wounded, and more than 300,000 families have lost their homes. Lebanon Support has been documenting the responses of state and non-state actors.
2.a Mapping of solidarity initiatives in response to the Beirut’s blast on August 4th, 2020
Lebanon | Mapping
After the Beirut Blast on August 4th, Lebanon Support conducted a mapping of the organisational and individual solidarity initiatives and interventions that were active in the aid and relief efforts. The mapping sought to inform interventions and responses, and to facilitate collaboration among actors, and ultimately coordination. The data notably showed the prevalence of local initiatives in the response, including national and local CSOs, grassroot initiatives, as well as campaigns. This reiterates how local and civic initiatives are the first responders mobilising on the ground following a humanitarian crisis. However, with less than 37% of respondents having conducted a needs-assessment, the data also shows a disconnect between the identified priorities for intervention, and the actual efforts on the ground. More than 3 months after the blast, local civil society is still the main respondent on the ground, but within limitations and constraints (that are structural and organisational) which affect both their reach and impact.
Explore the data here
2.b Beirut blast response: Civic Collective Actions VS State Responses
Lebanon | Infographic
The civic mobilisation in response to the Beirut blast ought to be read in the context of an increasingly constrained civic space. This visual provides an overview of all collective actions, policy decisions, and state security responses that took place in the aftermath of the Beirut port blast, between August 4th and August 31st 2020. Overall, it highlights the dynamism of civic collective actions in comparison to the slow response of the state. While state security responses focused on maintaining order, and policy decisions centered around the ongoing investigations, collective actions mostly consisted of solidarity and relief efforts, as well as protests demanding accountability.
Read the full infographic here
3. Webinars and knowledge sharing events
In addition to publishing research and data in a variety of formats (scientific research, reports, policy briefs, but also maps, infographics and visuals), Lebanon Support aims to create synergies and spaces for discussion among academic, practitioners, and civil society spheres through various knowledge sharing events.
3.a-Social justice in the SWANA region
Webinar | SWANA
Part of our work on social justice in the South West Asia and North Africa region, we launched a series of webinars during the summer of 2020 tackling social justice, social protection, and social contracts in the region.
Discussions covered the main characteristics of social protection in the MENA region, and how the spread of the COVID19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of prevailing systems, notably during the 28 July 2020 webinar: Can the Covid-19 crisis bring social protection back on the public policy agenda in the Middle East?
This webinar, moderated by Dr Lea Bou Khater (Consultation and Research Institute), with speakers Rabie Nasser (Syrian Center for Policy Research), and Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development) stressed on the importance of implementing a universal and inclusive social protection systems that would benefit everyone, not only those most vulnerable.
Watch the full webinar here
Reflecting on the structural causes of inequality and aid interventions in the region, speakers Dr. Rana Jawad (University of Bath), and Adv. Samar Muhareb (Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development – ARDD) stressed the need for comprehensive socio-economic policies reforms in view of fairer societies in the webinar of 3 September 2020: Beyond aid: social justice and social contracts
The discussion, moderated by Léa Yammine (Lebanon Support), explored the formulation of new social contracts and ways to achieve social justice in the SWANA region.
Watch the full webinar here
The notions of targeting and universalism in social protection provision, and social policy more broadly, were discussed in the 17 September 2020 webinar: Towards universality: social policy and social protection beyond charity in the SWANA region.
The discussion, moderated by Dr. Marie-Noëlle AbiYaghi (Lebanon Support), with speakers Dr. Ghada Barsoum, (AUC The American University in Cairo) and Dr.Stephen Kidd, (Development Pathways), examined to which extent the adequate and rights based institutionalisation of social protection can be perceived as the pillar of a social contract between the state and its citizens, and reflected on the efficiency of a citizenship paradigm versus a charity and targeting based one.
Watch the full webinar (with Arabic translation) here
3.b-Daleel Madani goes on Tour
With the aim to strengthen cooperation between civil society actors in the region and beyond, Lebanon Support expanded Daleel Madani, the civil society network, to the region. Part of the Daleel Madani Goes On Tour series, the online platform was introduced to civil society actors in Jordan on 15 September 2020.
Stop in Jordan
Jordan | Webinar
The webinar gave an overview of the features of the website and how to use and benefit from it in order to increase actors’ outreach and enhance their collaboration with others.
Read the summary of the webinar here
Register your organisation on Daleel Madani here
4- Jobs and opportunities
4.a Programme Officer
Lebanon Support is seeking to recruit a Programmes Officer who would ensure the overall, strategic, and day-to-day management of Lebanon Support’s programmes and their smooth functioning. A masters degree or higher qualifications in NGO/ project management, social sciences, or a related field as well as 3 to 5 years of experience in the relevant field are required.
The deadline to apply is on 13 December, 2020.
Read the required qualification and application guidelines here
4.b Researcher on social justice
Lebanon Support is seeking to recruit a researcher who would contribute to the centre’s mission by leading on, and developing research on social justice in the region. A Masters degree in sociology or political science is required, and PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
The deadline to apply is on January 5, 2021.
Read the required qualification and application guidelines here
