Community consultations for the design of multipurpose cash assistance programs in Lebanon

Key Findings: Unlike the Syrian refugee crisis, Lebanese communities receiving or in need of assistance have not been displaced. Instead, they have been forced to contend with the effects of Lebanon’s economic and financial crisis, cutting across traditional...

Bridge the gap – Youth and community

In order to contribute to enhancing relationships between youth in the community, Mercy Corps - Lebanon has partnered with Peace Labs to provide a safe space for expression and interaction beyond the confines of the stress of the current context and any other factors...

The path towards a good governance

As one of the requirements of good governance is enhancing civic participation of local communities in public life, the IJMAA+ program has partnered with Upload and is seeking to bridge the gap between residents, particularly youth, and five municipalities in the...

Mrs. Flavor, a woman fighting to fulfill her dreams

𝗠𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 Fatima Sahily is a young woman living with her parents, and her five siblings in Rayak, Bekaa. Fatima, like other Lebanese women, seeks to fulfill her goals and find possibilities to live in dignity in Lebanon. She...

Mercy Corps CEO visit to Lebanon

Lebanon is an incredibly beautiful, dynamic and diverse country that has faced enormous challenges in recent years. Now, the situation is worsening due to the ripple effects from the war in Ukraine. In the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon – about 30 kilometers East of Beirut —...

HORECA Market Linkages

To facilitate market linkages and enhance networking opportunities, Mercy Corps Lebanon supported five Small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the latest edition of HORECA Connects 2022. Throughout the three-day exhibition, the SMEs showcased their...

Cash assistance is critical for communities recovering from crises

With a cash grant from Mercy Corps, Andy repaired his music shop after it was destroyed by the explosion in Beirut. No one could have anticipated the catastrophe that struck Lebanon in August 2020. It was an ordinary Tuesday evening when an explosion rocked Beirut,...

How a small business owner is breaking gender norms

Safa Masri improved her business with training and support from Mercy Corps in Tripoli, Lebanon. On a bustling street in the east of Tripoli, Lebanon, customers who enter Safa Masri’s bake shop are greeted with the sweet smell of desserts. Cake pops, cookies,...

Surviving crisis: Why rebuilding Beirut’s small businesses matters

The blast that struck Beirut on August 4, 2020 shook Lebanon’s capital like an earthquake, destroying half the city and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. More than 6,000 injuries and 180 deaths have been confirmed, and more than a dozen people remain...

Building strength within a community of Syrian refugees

Raised tensions and widespread devastation mark the end of the ninth year of crisis in Syria. While a ceasefire has been called, the recent conflict in Idlib caused catastrophic human suffering and created an unprecedented level of need. Nearly one million people have...
October Crisis Update

October Crisis Update

Key Takeaways: Since October 8, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in escalating tit-for-tat attacks along Lebanon’s southern border. Eleven civilians have been killed in the fighting and 31 others injured as of November 9. As of November 1, 25,708 individuals had been...

August Crisis Update

August Crisis Update

Key Takeaways: Fighting between rival factions in the Ain el Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp killed 13 people and heavily damaged multiple neighborhoods in late July and early August. After the clashes subsided, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine...

July Crisis Update

July Crisis Update

Key Takeaways: Central Bank Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri was named acting Central Bank governor after the cabinet failed to select a successor to former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh. Prior to taking on his new position, Mansouri and three other vice governors...

June Crisis Update

June Crisis Update

Key Takeaways: The Lebanese pound (LBP) parallel market exchange rate has been largely stable for three consecutive months and averaged LBP 93,500 per 1 US dollar (USD) in June. Daily average Sayrafa transactions increased in June compared to May, a key driver of LBP...