Lebanon is experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis compounded by a political crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to large segments of the population rapidly plunging into poverty, pushing demands for immediate basic needs assistance to levels unparalleled since the end of the civil war (1990). Women and girls are hit particularly hard. Due to the movement restrictions enforced by the government to fight the pandemic, women and girls’ access to protection services was negatively affected. Many individuals were forced into sex work in order to be able to ensure their basic needs.

Adding to all of this, on 4 August 2020, a massive ammonium nitrate explosion at the Beirut port triggered a shockwave causing devastation across the city. The homes of more than 300,000 people were damaged or even completely destroyed.

Expected Results

ER 1: The mid-term review of the GAC project informs the modalities and best practices of livelihood and protection programming to meet the most marginalized groups and promote the highest impact of the intervention.
ER 2: To provide increased and more equitable access to holistic protection services among women, men, boys and girls affected by the Beirut blast and the socio-economic and health crises in Lebanon.
ER 3: Increased capacity of businesses (particularly those who are women-led), employees and their families, affected by the Beirut blast, socioeconomic and health crises in Lebanon, to recover their livelihoods and continue to provide essential goods and services.

Main Activities

• Provision of training for local partner staff on core protection concepts, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) key messages and mainstreaming, and distribution modalities and tools.
• Vulnerability Assessment and validation of beneficiaries.
• Dissemination of multipurpose cash assistance to vulnerable households.
• Distribution of food parcels to vulnerable households.
• Distribution of hygiene kits to vulnerable households.
• Distribution of informative Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials related to PSEA and CARE´s feedback and accountability mechanism, including CARE and the partner’s helpline numbers.