The EU-funded project “Contributing to Building a Rights-Based Social Protection System in Lebanon and Consolidating Social Assistance for the Most Vulnerable”, jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, aimed to support the operationalization of Lebanon’s National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) and strengthen access to inclusive social assistance mechanisms, with a particular focus on persons with disabilities and vulnerable populations affected by Lebanon’s prolonged socio-economic crisis.
The FCDO-funded project “Supporting Social Security and Institutional Reforms towards a Strengthened Social Protection System in Lebanon” supported critical reforms within Lebanon’s social protection system through evidence generation, policy dialogue, institutional strengthening, and technical assistance. Implemented by the ILO, the project contributed to Lebanon’s National Social Protection Strategy by supporting reforms related to pension systems, sustainable health financing, and the institutionalisation of social assistance mechanisms.
Under this assignment, a mid-term evaluation of the EU-funded project and a final evaluation of the FCDO-funded project were conducted in parallel due to overlapping thematic areas and stakeholders. Both evaluations applied a utilization-focused approach aligned with OECD-DAC criteria, UNEG ethical guidelines, and ILO and UNICEF evaluation standards.
The evaluations relied primarily on qualitative methods, including comprehensive desk review, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). KIIs were conducted with project teams, government institutions (Ministries), social partners, donor representatives, international organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, and civil society actors. FGDs engaged National Disability Allowance (NDA) beneficiaries and other disability stakeholders, including Lebanese beneficiaries, caregivers of children with disabilities, older persons with disabilities, refugee beneficiaries, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring representation across gender, disability type, nationality, and geographic location. FGDs were conducted across Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and Tripoli/North Lebanon to ensure representation of different population groups affected by Lebanon’s social protection challenges. Findings were triangulated to generate evidence-based recommendations.