Addressing life-cycle vulnerabilities through social protection – Establishing Social Grants in Lebanon

Lebanon’s multiple overlapping crises have led to rapidly rising vulnerability and exacerbated structural inequality. We estimate that nearly three-quarters of Lebanese are now income vulnerable. The effects of the crises are most keenly felt by specific vulnerable groups who face pre-existing lifecycle vulnerabilities, structural barriers, and higher costs, including households with children, people with disabilities and older persons. However, in reviewing the evidence on the national social protection system, important gaps in social assistance are apparent. While an anti-poverty programme is in place and gradually being scaled-up, no social assistance exists in Lebanon to address lifecycle vulnerabilities. Lebanon does not have in place a national Child Grant, a Disability Allowance, nor a Social Pension. As a result, this programme “Addressing life-cycle vulnerabilities through social protection – Establishing Social Grants in Lebanon” aims to address this major gap. A new ILO/UNICEF paper lays out a framework to establish the foundations for an inclusive social protection floor in Lebanon that includes Social Grants. The national 3RF Sector Plan and forthcoming national sector strategy reiterates this need. The programme’s specific objectives are: SO1: National social protection system is strengthened; SO2: Social grants are provided to the most vulnerable persons and linkages and referral systems built for complementary services; and SO3: Evidence-based engagement of non-governmental stakeholders in the social protection strategy debate is enhanced. Thus, the programme is effective both at the higher, national strategic level, as well as delivering at the operational, programmatic level. The initiative will be established through the delivery of three outcomes related directly to the specific objectives. Under Outcome 1, key initiatives include the development of a monitoring system for the national social protection strategy, support to and strengthening of coordination, as well as developing a medium-term programming and financing framework for the sector. In addition, a model to support establishment of a unified registry will be developed. Outcome 2 involves the design of the national model for Social Grants, as well as its testing and roll-out to key populations, with establishment of linkages for referrals to complementary services. Outcome 3 relates to the participation and evidence-based engagement of non-governmental stakeholders through local research production, capacity development and debate. In relation to the key strategies and assumptions that are in effect, highlight several key points are worth highlighting, including the importance of developing the national social assistance system within which the Social Grants and the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP) are complementary, coordinated pillars; as well as the importance of including both Lebanese and non-Lebanese households with linkages to existing humanitarian cash assistance. Key risks are apparent that require mitigation, not least related to the transfer currency of the Social Grants. In addition, a detailed monitoring and assessment plan will be implemented to track and assess the effects of the Social Grants. Finally, a communications and visibility plan is central to the success of the initiative. Overall the programme is a joint initiative between UNICEF and the ILO, based on extensive prior technical analysis and programming by both UN agencies, including building on UNICEF’s expertise to deliver cash assistance directly to vulnerable households. Key strategic partners include the Government of Lebanon as well as central non-state actors identified under civil society platforms.

Project symbol

LBN/21/01/CEF

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Start date

01/12/2021

End date

31/03/2025

Total allocation

2323568

Total expenditure

Status

Active

2219232

Development Partners

United Nations Children's Fund

Country/Countries

Lebanon

Outcomes

Outcome 7: Universal social protection