The World Bank has approved US$350 million in new financing to support Lebanon’s economic and financial recovery by strengthening social protection systems, promoting economic inclusion, and accelerating the digital transformation of public services. The financing package, approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors, aims to help the country meet the urgent needs of poor and vulnerable populations while improving the delivery of high-impact government services.
Lebanon continues to face multidimensional economic and social crises that have significantly increased poverty, food insecurity, and barriers to healthcare access, while also undermining public service delivery. Although some progress has been made in the digitalization of public services, institutional gaps and limited implementation capacity have slowed the country’s broader digital transformation agenda. The new World Bank financing is designed to address these challenges through targeted investments with wide-reaching social and economic impact.
A central component of the financing is the Social Safety Net Enhancement and System Building Project, which allocates US$200 million to strengthen Lebanon’s social protection delivery system. The project will complement government-funded cash transfer programmes by providing integrated support to poor and vulnerable households, while also expanding access to economic opportunities and social services, particularly for women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.
The social protection project also focuses on improving institutional systems to ensure sustainable and effective programme delivery. This includes enhancing the DAEM platform to function as a comprehensive social registry capable of supporting multiple government programmes, building on reforms aimed at increasing domestic financing, improving targeting through regular recertification, and strengthening shock preparedness.
The remaining US$150 million will support the Lebanon Digital Acceleration Project, which seeks to expand access to essential public services and economic opportunities through secure and inclusive digital platforms. The project will improve government operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance data infrastructure to support more transparent and effective service delivery.
In addition to infrastructure investments, the digital acceleration initiative will strengthen the legal, institutional, and human capital foundations required for a trusted digital ecosystem. By piloting the digitalization of selected high-impact public services, the project aims to improve transparency, efficiency, citizen access, and climate resilience, contributing to Lebanon’s long-term recovery and development.
