“In Baalbek, assistance is not simply delivered. It is experienced as empowerment.” Against the backdrop of deepening economic hardship across Baalbek Governorate, The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST), with the support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and in partnership with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), is implementing a response that goes beyond traditional aid. The project Empowering Baalbek Communities: Cash Assistance for Food Security is designed not only to help families meet urgent needs, but to strengthen dignity, amplify community voices and foster locally driven solutions.
The initiative currently supports 1,655 individuals from 380 vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households across Mokrak, Zaboud, Bejeji, Jdeideh, Labweh, Nabi Othman and Ain. While food security remains central, the project is grounded in a broader understanding of vulnerability, one that recognizes the close links between economic hardship, protection risks and deep-rooted social inequalities. At the core of the intervention is a cash assistance model intentionally designed to preserve autonomy and dignity. Assistance is delivered through a structured and transparent multi-round system, with six of the twelve planned distribution cycles already completed. Each cycle follows rigorous verification and monitoring procedures, ensuring accountability while safeguarding beneficiaries.
Rather than prescribing how assistance should be used, the cash-based approach enables families to make their own decisions, prioritizing the food they need most, stabilizing household consumption and reducing reliance on harmful coping mechanisms. In an environment marked by persistent financial uncertainty, this flexibility offers more than purchasing power; it restores a sense of control, confidence and resilience. The project’s impact, however, extends well beyond economic relief. During the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, LOST transformed the initiative into a platform for community mobilization and dialogue. Over sixteen consecutive days, awareness and advocacy activities unfolded across schools, community centers, media platforms and public institutions throughout Baalbek.
Women, men, youth, students, educators, media professionals, religious leaders, policymakers and civil society actors engaged in conversations addressing harassment, online violence, harmful gender norms, healthy relationships and safe reporting mechanisms. Interactive workshops, psychosocial support sessions, youth-led dialogues, artistic initiatives, public marches and community exhibitions created inclusive spaces for reflection and collective learning.
A high-level policy dialogue examined gaps in the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Women, generating practical recommendations for institutional follow-up. In parallel, a specialized media workshop strengthened ethical and survivor-centered reporting practices, reinforcing collaboration between journalists and civil society actors. The campaign culminated in a powerful theatrical performance presenting real-life testimonies of girls affected by online violence, using storytelling and artistic expression to build empathy, encourage prevention and underscore the shared responsibility of communities in confronting gender-based violence.
Complementing both assistance and advocacy, the project places women at the center of community leadership. Female-led Community Advisory Committees were established in targeted areas, bringing together local leaders, municipal representatives, educators, association members and beneficiaries. These committees support implementation, monitor activities, identify priorities and shape locally driven responses, ensuring communities are not passive recipients of aid, but active architects of change.
Empowering Baalbek Communities ultimately reflects a core lesson in humanitarian and development work: food security is not only about access to resources. It is about dignity, voice, equity and resilience. By integrating cash assistance with protection advocacy and women-led governance, the project demonstrates how targeted interventions can catalyze broader and more sustainable social transformation.
