The Action of Foreign Entities in the Development Sector in Lebanon since 2019: A Case Study on the FdFL

Abstract

This project examines the role and impacts of foreign actors in the humanitarian aid and development sector in Lebanon since 2019, with a specific focus on the France-Lebanon Endowment Fund (FdFL). It will therefore focus on foreign states, international organisations, INGOs, diaspora which may have a weight in these sectors and may influence other actors, more likely local organizations and state institutions. It explores the frameworks, challenges, and impacts of foreign interventions in response to Lebanon’s overlapping political, economic, and social crises.

The project was inspired by two factors: the critical role of humanitarian and development initiatives in the wake of state inaction, and the author’s ongoing internship at FdFL. Drawing on literature related to civil society, international NGOs, and foreign aid actors in Lebanon, the study will investigate the coordination among stakeholders, their interactions with local institutions, and the positioning of FdFL as a distinct case within the broader ecosystem of international aid.

The project will be structured as follows: an introduction that contextualizes the Lebanese crisis landscape since 2019; a literature review of international actors in Lebanon; a case study of the FdFL focusing on its structure and selected projects; and a conclusion reflecting on the future of humanitarian aid in Lebanon. We will see that there is a multitude of foreign actors who, by funding and executing humanitarian and development programs in Lebanon, contributed to the post-disaster resilience. Each actor has a significant impact but also faces challenges that block and limit their actions. The case of the FdFL is very interesting because, as an endowment fund created by individuals from the Lebanese diaspora, it operates in a unique way and has a distinct impact. To collect data about the FdFL and situate it within the broader framework, IRB-approved online interviews have been conducted with its members and partners.