Reflections on the initiatives of NGOs, INGOs, and UN organizations in eradicating poverty in Lebanon through the case study of RMF

Abstract

Despite several measures aimed at helping the poor, almost three-quarters of the Lebanese residents plunge into poverty (ESCWA, 2021), owing to a severe political, economic and financial crisis that hit the country since the last quarter of 2019 (WorldBank, 2021). These combined shocks have resulted in a drop in the living conditions for a large percentage of the Lebanese, minorities, and refugees. Many efforts have been set to lower the levels of poverty by INGOs,NGOs, and UN organizations in the country whether by providing direct relief support to the poor, minorities and refugees or by funding SMEs and startups, yet the changes in the poverty levels are still low. This paper aims at exploring the effects of the programs and projects being implemented by key local NGOs, International NGOs, and UN organizations in the country in an attempt to examine their ability in changing the lives of the beneficiaries and in reducing poverty in the nation. To do so, the paper considers one of the relief programs implemented by René Moawad Foundation RMF; the “Food for Assets through the Construction and Rehabilitation of Irrigation Canals and Agricultural Roads” project that is funded by the European Union MADAD Trust Fund – WFP. The Yin case study protocol was used (R. K. Yin, 2011) (Stake, 1995) (Tellis, 1997) to gather data and analyze them. The paper concludes that such interventions are important and can change the living conditions of the beneficiaries temporarily, but for reducing poverty, sustainable interventions are needed to achieve long run goals.