International Development Grant
Expanding the Social Safety Net
Project Number: CA-3-P009476001
Status: Operational
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $45,500,000.00
Start Date: February 05, 2021
End Date: December 31, 2025
Duration: 4.9 years
Project Description
The project aims to enhance food security and the social safety net for the most vulnerable Lebanese families impacted by the explosions in Beirut. It will also help address the economic crisis for those who can no longer meet their daily food needs. Project activities include: (1) providing monthly food assistance to families via a food e-card; and (2) providing technical assistance to enhance governance and gender-sensitivity of Lebanon’s national social assistance program.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: 1) Maintained or improved consumption of sufficient nutritious foods by vulnerable Lebanese households including female headed households; 2) Enhanced responsiveness of the national social assistance program to the needs of vulnerable Lebanese households including female headed households.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of December 2023 include: (1) provided food cash assistance to 74 300 households of 412 035 individuals (208 694 women) through Lebanon’s National Poverty Targeting Program. This led to an increase in individuals reporting an acceptable Food Consumption Score from 40% in 2022 to 75% in 2023; (2) provided training 600 Ministry of Social Affairs staff on identifying and responding to gender and protection issues. This included conducting a national poverty targeting program gender study to enhance the program’s responsiveness to the needs of vulnerable households particularly women-headed households; and (3) provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Social Affairs to integrate the National Poverty Targeting Program through Lebanon’s Emergency Social Safety Net program.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
WFP - World Food Programme
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
EGM Europe Arctic Middle East and Magh
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated