Beirut: The Ministry of Social Affairs announced that the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $200 million in funding aimed at strengthening the social safety net and building systems, reflecting the Lebanese state’s commitment to protecting underprivileged and vulnerable groups.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the project seeks to enhance the sustainability of the national social protection system and support the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the neediest groups, amid Lebanon’s challenging economic and social conditions. This funding coincides with the Lebanese Parliament Council’s endorsement of the general budget, which includes a significant increase in social spending. Notably, $55 million has been allocated for the first time to the “Aman” program, ensuring its continuity and sustainability within the national budget.
In this context, Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister emphasized that the project aligns with the Ministry’s vision and social role, ensuring the “Aman” program’s continuity as a crucial safety net for most underprivileged families. The Minister stated, “It constitutes part of the social assistance pillar in the Ministry’s strategy, which is based on supporting people in the most difficult circumstances, developing social protection systems to enhance their efficiency and fairness, and restoring the relationship between the citizen and the state on the basis of dignity and rights.”
The project is part of the Lebanese government and Social Affairs Ministry’s efforts to modernize the social protection sector, transitioning from situational responses to building a sustainable national system. This system aims to better protect the most vulnerable groups and promote long-term social stability.