81309881-Awareness raising and behaviour change activities related to food and nutrition security in Lebanon

Lebanon continues to face severe challenges such as an economic crisis causing food security to worsen and a financial crisis due to the constant depreciation of the Lebanese Lira exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic effects and the explosion in the Beirut port. Economic downturn and lost livelihoods are among the consequences of this multi-layered crisis that the Lebanese population is going through. Due to the value loss of the Lebanese Lira, imports have become so expensive that importing necessary inputs for food production is challenging putting food security at risk. Vulnerable households and municipalities are particularly affected by these issues. Moreover, and the hosting of the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, the repercussions of the Syrian conflict, coupled with the conflict in the region since October 7, 2023, have compounding Lebanon woes. According to IOM Lebanon Displacement Matrix in March 2024, this has resulted in the internal displacement of already 92 621 individuals, most of them finding shelter with relatives or friends or renting private accommodations, putting them in a fragile situation while being already in a challenging context.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC- https://www.ipcinfo.org/), approximately 1.4 million people, comprising Lebanese citizens and refugees, face alarming food insecurity, marked by malnutrition and inadequate food consumption. Over 800,000 Lebanese and 540 000 Syrian refugees fall into IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or higher, necessitating urgent humanitarian intervention. Disturbingly, 59 000 Lebanese residents and 48 000 Syrian refugees are classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), demanding immediate food assistance. As mentioned above the crises facing by Lebanon have several roots and a constellation of direct and indirect consequences, at national as well at the regional levels. It is therefore of utmost importance that the most vulnerable are educated on how to reduce food expenditure while keeping a healthy diet using locally available foods and to uphold their nutritional health and wellbeing.

Within such context, the project Strengthening Agriculture, local Communities, and small and medium Enterprises (ACE) aims to strengthen economic stabilization and improve social cohesion. The project is categorized as part of the transitional development assistance, with a focus on food security and social stability. Up to 2026, ACE project will implement in the areas of Mount Lebanon, Chouff, Hasbaya and Southern Baalbek, through three areas of action: 1. Agriculture: Supporting farmers to form agricultural associations and to produce in accordance with market needs, including training and sharing of good agricultural practices, 2. Accompanying micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), targeted promotion of income prospects with financial and capacity-building measures to promote entrepreneurial action and closing important gaps in the value chains, 3. Fostering local communities' capacities to act locally, throughout joint planning and implementation of low-threshold community initiatives both within civil society and together with local governments to strengthen positive intergroup experiences as well as increasing confidence in local capacity to act.