Dissecting Collaboration Mechanisms and Dynamics Between the Lebanese Government and United Nations Agencies in Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis (2011-2018)

Abstract

This research explores collaboration mechanisms and evolving dynamics between the Lebanese government and the United Nations (UN) agencies in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, examining the period between 2011-2018. The primary objective of the thesis is to contribute towards expanding existing literature on the Syrian refugee crisis that has paid little attention to the ways national governments structure and manage their responses, and the relations between host countries and UN agencies. This research relies on qualitative data collected from interviews with key informants and lead staff members within humanitarian organizations, UN agencies and INGOs, as well as representatives from Lebanese ministries. This thesis, therefore, seeks to conceptualize the evolving dynamics in relations between the Lebanese government and UN agencies, contributing to fill the gap in literature on refugee crisis management, policy-making and relations between host countries and United Nations agencies, and provide useful recommendations and lessons learnt from these experiences. An analysis of the data reveals a turn in the Lebanese government’s response to the refugee crisis after 2015, whereby the government adopted an active position in shaping the response plan, and shifted its dynamics of everyday collaborative work with designated UN agencies. This shift has had significant impacts on the provision of services to the most vulnerable refugee beneficiaries via implementing partners.