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Projects
Increased resilience of refugee and local communities through food security and access to health services
Short Description:
Overall goal
The aim of the project is that Syrian refugees and marginalized Lebanese in North Lebanon with a focus on women and girls have secured short term needs through food assistance and access to health services and are equipped to meet their long term needs through awareness raising and access to training and livelihood opportunities (contribution to SDGs 2.1, 3.2, 5.6 and EU GAP II Targets 11, 12, 15).
Expected results
1) 7,605 Syrian refugees and Lebanese have increased their awareness on nutrition and improved food security.
2) Sustainability of the community kitchen and improved access to livelihood opportunities are ensured.
3) 300 pregnant and lactating women and mothers of infants have inclusive access to direct health services (ante- and postnatal) at Public Health Centres and 3,000 persons (2,850 female, 150 male) have increased awareness on mother-child-health.
4) Provision of essential community support to 396 Syrian and Lebanese pregnant women, lactating mothers and mothers of children under 2 years of age through the establishment of Mother Care Groups to facilitate healthy behaviour change.
Target group / Beneficiaries
The direct target group of the project are food insecure and socially vulnerable households from the Syrian refugee communities (60%) and host communities (40%) in El Mina, Tripoli, in North Lebanon. The project will specifically target female-headed households, households with children under five years of age and pregnant and lactating women, single parent families, families with elderly or people with disabilities, displaced families that have been evicted, and new arrivals. In total, the project will reach 11,446 (8,943 female, 2,503 male) direct beneficiaries and approximately 57,155 indirect beneficiaries.
Activities
The following activities are foreseen under the project:
Trainings for kitchen staff on food safety and dietary diversity; distribution of hot meals and management of community kitchen; food/nutrition awareness raising sessions and focus group discussions for project beneficiaries; agro-food workshops; market analysis and food-supply/service mapping exercise; development of a sustainability and marketing strategy with the community kitchen based on a clear business plan; food processing technical trainings (including business development); trainings on food waste and entrepreneurial skills training; development of Information, Education and Communication material; individual counselling to women; awareness sessions for women and men on maternal and child health; selection and training of lead mothers; focus group discussions and development of training material; monthly neighbour group meetings; household visits.
Context
Lebanon remains at the forefront of one of the worst humanitarian crises since 1975. With a population of just over four million Lebanese and around 1.5 million Syrian refugees (registered and non-registered), Syrians in Lebanon comprise almost a quarter of the total population, making it the country with the highest concentration of refugees per capita in the world. This substantial influx of Syrians has overwhelmed the Government of Lebanon, United Nations agencies, and local and international organizations. Syrian refugee women and girls of diverse backgrounds continue to confront inequality, which manifests in less access to resources, services, and opportunities, as well as higher risks of violence, abuse and exploitation. The numbers of non-registered Syrians continue to increase, which presents an additional challenge as they are not properly assisted and resort to negative coping mechanisms. The shortfalls in funding for humanitarian assistance at all levels have stretched the government's capacity to respond to basic needs while thousands of refugees and host communities continue to face extreme hardships.
The situation becomes more challenging, with Lebanon experiencing its worst socio-economic crisis compounded by the outbreak of COVID-19, vulnerable populations in Lebanon are suffering from drained funds, insecurities, debt, and increased challenges as people increasingly spend savings. COVID-19 will further deteriorate the socio-economic crisis in the country. Subsequently, food security and poverty are elevated, with up to 30% of people in Lebanon living below the national poverty line. Currently, Al Mina, Tripoli, in North Lebanon, has one of the highest concentrations of refugees resulting in economic constraints and limited access to health services.