Supporting Social Security and Institutional Reforms towards a Strengthened Social Protection System in Lebanon

The project focuses on addressing the social protection challenges exacerbated by the economic crisis in Lebanon building on the recently approved National Social Protection Strategy. The economic downturn has underscored gaps in the social protection system, adversely affecting living standards, coverage, and adequacy of benefits, and contributing to increased vulnerabilities, especially for those experiencing lifecycle contingencies. To facilitate a recovery, the project advocates for integrated social protection reforms aligned with a rights-based, human-centered, and inclusive approach. The strategy targets reforms in two main areas: preventing the collapse of the Social Insurance sector through structural and institutional reforms, building on policy reforms being discussed or recently passed in parliament, and strengthening underlying government processes and institutions for the delivery of non-contributory social grants. The project's expected outcomes include strengthening the pension system, developing sustainable health financing for universal health coverage, and improving national systems for implementing the National Disability Allowance and Social Grants. The first outcome focuses on comprehensive pension reforms, addressing issues in both public and private sectors. The second outcome aims to restore health coverage amid a fragmented system, emphasizing dialogue and recommendations for comprehensive and sustainable health packages. The third outcome builds on the existing National Disability Allowance, focusing on strengthening institutions and developing a roadmap for internal government processes to operate social grants.

Project symbol

LBN/23/02/GBR

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Start date

01/04/2024

End date

31/03/2025

Total allocation

1327620

Total expenditure

Status

Active

1195214

Development Partners

United Kingdom/UK-Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office

Country/Countries

Lebanon

Outcomes

Outcome 7: Universal social protection