The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, hosted a reception with Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed and a visiting research team from the University of Sussex’s Institute of Development Studies, reaffirming the UK’s longstanding partnership with Lebanon on social protection and gender equality. The event gathered Members of Parliament from both countries, civil society representatives, journalists, and regional partners to celebrate ongoing collaboration and shared priorities in building an inclusive social protection system.
The UK highlighted its leadership role in supporting social protection in fragile and conflict-affected countries, noting that Lebanon was among four focus countries chosen by IDS to study social protection in contexts of recurring shocks, protracted conflict, and forced displacement. The event showcased UK support for social protection programs and announced new partnerships with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
This year, the UK is helping MoSA’s Aman social safety net reach over 200,000 additional vulnerable Lebanese, building on prior assistance during the 2024 war through the World Food Programme, which supported 200,000 households via MoSA’s Shock Responsive Safety Net. UK support also focuses on strengthening Lebanon’s national social protection system, including pension reforms, social health protection, and MoSA’s Rights and Access programme for persons with disabilities.
On gender equality and inclusive service delivery, the UK has partnered with UNFPA to implement Lebanon’s National Strategy for Women, working with the National Commission for Lebanese Women and supporting MoSA’s efforts in preventing gender-based violence and expanding sexual and reproductive health services through Social Development Centres. Kate McDermott, Head of the Development and Humanitarian Team, emphasized that the UK’s approach combines direct assistance to vulnerable Lebanese with efforts to make national systems stronger, more inclusive, and evidence-based.
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