Migration crisis in Lebanon: strengthening protection to vulnerable populations
The Syrian and Iraqi crises have sparked a significant migration movement that has reverberated throughout the Middle East and beyond. The consequences of this population displacement are particularly evident in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, where 5.6 million Syrian refugees have been officially registered (UNHCR, 2020). In this context, the urgent need to enhance the ability of host countries to accommodate this substantial influx of refugees has become increasingly evident. To address this challenge, the QUDRA2 project was initiated—a venture funded by the European Union and executed by five European cooperation agencies: AECID (Spain), Enabel (Belgium), Expertise France, GIZ (Germany), and Hungarian Interchurch Aid (Hungary), operating within the "Team Europe" framework.
Expertise France has contributed to this project through implementation of activities in Lebanon aimed at providing protection to vulnerable populations through community-based services and strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs and 14 of its Social Development Centers. This initiative seeks to ensure better living conditions and support for those affected by the ongoing crises in Syria and Iraq, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity in its approach.
The protection systems and service delivery capacity have been strengthened at the local and national level
Expertise France worked in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) to enhance the protection systems capacity and ensure service delivery for Syrian refugees and their host communities in Lebanon. With the impulsion of the QUDRA 2 project, 329 governmental and implementation partners' staff have been trained on child protection, protection, and organizational issues. This includes particularly social workers who have been equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the challenges surrounding child protection and organizational dynamics, thanks to the daily management of a coach
In addition, Expertise France coordinated the delivery of psychosocial support, awareness raising and arts and crafts activities led by the 6 NGO partners in the 14 targeted social development centers (SDCs). The pair-work system implemented between MoSA and the NGOs greatly improved protection services delivered through enhanced collaboration, referrals and comprehensive support to each beneficiary.
Finally, our agency covered the running costs of the 14 SDCs to enable them to be fully functional. It also set up a transportation scheme to improve delivery capacity for our partners and accessibility for the beneficiaries (free buses and mobile units to provided services in the refugee camps and remote areas).
Measures have been taken for the self-development and well-being of children and vulnerable adults and elderly
In the quest to enhance protection measures for the self-development and well-being of children and vulnerable adults and elderly, our efforts have brought forth noteworthy outcomes:
- Individualized Support: A total of 6,731 individuals received specialized assistance through either referrals or comprehensive case management. This approach ensured that each person's unique needs were met, nurturing their self-development and overall well-being.
- Psychosocial Support: Encompassing a broad spectrum of individuals, a remarkable 23,374 children and adults engaged in psychosocial support sessions. These sessions not only provided immediate aid but also fostered emotional and psychological resilience through sensibilization sessions as well as recreational activities and arts & crafts. Importantly, this outreach extended to those in remote areas through mobile units, ensuring that no one was left behind.
- Caring for the Elderly: Recognizing the challenges faced by elderly individuals, especially those experiencing isolation, we took a significant step. We developed comprehensive guidelines) to address the unique needs of the elderly population which have been handed over to MoSA to guide future services. In total, 751 older persons received individual support during the life cycle of this initiative, a demographic that up until now received a limited amount of attention.
Regarding the social impact of these protection measures, one of our social development centers notably reported that : 
out of 29 cases referred to the psychological service, 9 cases have shown a remarkable and huge transition in their lives socially and psychologically. As for the remaining 20 cases, the quality of life has improved according to the goals set at the beginning of the sessions.
Ms Saja Sabbagh, Project Manager at Mouvement Social