Lebanon – C4D Network

Dignity and humanitarian action in displacement (ODI report, 2019)

April 3, 2019

This report draws on the findings of a two-year HPG research project on ‘Dignity in displacement: from rhetoric to reality’. The goal of the project was not to define dignity, but to understand what it meant to affected people in different places, with different cultures and at different times. It explores how refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and returnees in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, Lebanon, the Philippines and South Sudan understand dignity, and whether (and how) they feel that their dignity has been upheld in displacement.

It then compares their understanding with that of humanitarian workers in these responses, analysing what this means for humanitarian policy, programme design and implementation more broadly, and the localisation agenda more specifically.

It suggests six recommendations for incorporating dignity into a humanitarian response including:

Invest time and resources in listening to the affected population from the start of the response, and use this information to inform project design and implementation.
Use more face-to-face communication, especially in the assessment phase of the humanitarian response, and pay attention to what means of communication are appropriate at each stage.
To better understand the local culture and language, include anthropologists, sociologists, translators and others in the response, who can help in understanding the affected population and the dynamics of their situation.
Invest in programmes that promote self-reliance, where possible, and encourage more participation by affected communities in project design and implementation.

Click here for full report.

Inclusive Civic Engagement Toolkit (Inclusion International, 2015)

July 31, 2018

This toolkit was developed as part of an Inclusion International project, Accessing the Ballot Box, funded by the UN Democracy Fund. The project was designed to address the limited political participation of people with intellectual disabilities in Kenya, Zanzibar and Lebanon.

It sought to identify and challenge the barriers people with intellectual disabilities face in exercising their right to civic engagement and political participation and increase the awareness and knowledge of project stakeholders (people with intellectual disabilities, their families and representative organizations, service providers and governments) on building inclusive democratic processes.

While the project was focused on three countries, the tools and resources have been designed to be applicable in ALL countries. The limited political participation of people with intellectual disabilities is a result of a number of factors – law, policy and practice. Even in countries where no legal prohibition exists, the data suggests that political participation remains low.

Political participation is not simply the act of casting a ballot on election day. Political participation – happens before, during and after elections. To increase political participation and to help shape inclusive civic engagement, our focus, too, must extend beyond the ballot box to look at what inclusive political participation means and how people with intellectual disabilities can access the ballot box.

Click here for full toolkit.

C4D Network joins local NGOs and UNICEF staff in Lebanon for ‘Back to School’ training sessions (July, 2017)

October 8, 2017

The C4D Network has been busy training in Lebanon with fantastic NGOS and UNICEF staff – focusing on interpersonal communication for ‘Back to School’ initiatives; for six years many hundreds of thousands of Syrian children and others have been without schooling – but now there is a huge effort to address this. We have been joined by some of the most amazing and generous C4D trainers – who are also psychologists, artists, communication specialists and entrepreneurs; we salute you!

C4D Network Meet-Ups: Beirut (2 August) and Amman (7 August)

July 28, 2017

The C4D Network would like to invite members and interested friends to our upcoming Meet-Ups in Beirut and Amman! Links for both can be found below:

2 August, Beirut: http://c4dnetwork.apps-1and1.net/event/c4d-network-meet-up-beirut-lebanon-2/

7 August, Amman: http://c4dnetwork.apps-1and1.net/event/c4d-network-meet-up-amman-jordan/

These are open events for all who are interested in meeting fellow communication for development enthusiasts, both members of the Network and friends. So please feel free to extend these invitations to interested colleagues.