Table 1 Challenges faced and solutions implemented by the GBV task force during the different phases of the compounded crises and the aspects of GBV coordination leveraged to address each challenge
Emergency situation and Timeframe | Challenge | Solutions implemented by the GBV Task Force | Aspect of GBV coordination leveraged |
|---|---|---|---|
Multiple crises 2019–2023 | Parallel response frameworks developed to address the multiple crises, created a complex humanitarian architecture | • Coordination across all frameworks integrated at the sector level under the established LCRP interagency system • GBV task force maintained GBV sub-sector coordination • Implemented the Lebanon Aid Tracking initiative in 2023 for tracking GBV funding implementation across all organization’s - comprehensive of all humanitarian and development funding received in Lebanon including LCRP, ERP, and others | • National coordination |
COVID-19 Pandemic and Public health and social measures 2020–2022 | Transition of coordination meetings to virtual modality | • Continued monthly remote meetings at national and sub-national level • Strengthened the interface between the national and sub-national coordination through communication, coordinating and experience sharing | • National and sub-national coordination |
• Conducted a multi-stakeholder 2020 assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on GBV • Issued a report on the impact of COVID-19 on GBV survivors, focusing on minority groups such as LGBTIQ + communities • Published regular gender and COVID-19 policy briefs with recommendations for policy makers and practitioners to ensure a gender-equitable response | • Data and information management | ||
Reduced access to GBV services and transition of service delivery to remote modalities | • Developed guidelines for GBV response and risk mitigation during COVID-19 • Provided harmonized guidance and tools that supported actors at the field level to adapt to remote modalities and respond to the pandemic • Developed a training manual for health care providers to provide remote services to GBV survivors • Delivered trainings on provision of remote case management • Established an emergency hotline through which women and girls could reach security forces • Local actors supported women with safety plans and phone credit to call the hotline | • Intersectoral coordination • Support for service provision | |
Reduced uptake of CMR services due to fear of contracting COVID-19 at public hospitals | • Provided alternative solutions including referral for CMR to INGOs rather than government run hospitals | • Support for service provision | |
Negative COVID-19 test required by GBV survivors before being admitted to safe shelters (52) | • GBV and health partners allocated funding for testing GBV survivors • COVID-19 testing costs for GBV survivors incorporated in the ERP | • Intersectoral coordination | |
Difficulties providing remote MHPSS services for GBV survivors | • Provided group psychosocial support via WhatsApp using a mixed approach of chats, voice messages and live calls • Prioritised high-risk cases for in-person services | • Support for service provision | |
Increased GBV and child marriage in adolescent girls | • IRC initiated remote PSS programs for adolescent girls in Akkar and Bekaa, facilitating access via providing girls with phones and engaging outreach volunteers, with safety precautions taken to prevent additional risks including regular safety audits, and PSEA risks addressed through training of outreach volunteers | • Support for service provision | |
Beirut Blast Aug 2020 | Major disaster on top of Syrian crisis, Economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic | • Maintained MOSAs co-leadership of the national GBV task force | • Reinforce government leadership of coordination |
• Sub-national coordination mechanism leveraged in Beirut and Mount Lebanon • GBV actors accessed funding for GBV projects through HRF flash appeal | • Sub-national coordination • Prioritization and resources | ||
Nationwide economic crisis including Fuel and power shortages 2021–2023 | Fuel and power shortages | • Conducted an assessment in August 2021 to gauge the impact of Lebanon’s fuel and electricity crisis on GBV programming. Showed that 27% of providers reported severe impact on their capacity to deliver services, and 96% reported difficulties for service users to access GBV providers. Local providers implemented measures to ensure service continuity, with increased support for communication and transportation costs (38). | • Support for service provision • Localisation |
Increasing GBV risks and deepening vulnerability of marginalized groups alongside budget restrictions limiting initiatives to support LGBTIQ + survivors, PwDs, and those requiring MHPSS | • Targeted efforts to mobilize funding to support vulnerable populations to access to life-saving services including LGBTIQ + community, migrant workers, adolescent girls, PwDs • GBVIMS data used to assess the impact of the compounded crises and adapt GBV coordination and services • Used data to advocate for funding, develop policy briefs, inform programming and service coverage • Used the 2021 16 Days of Activism to raise awareness on increasing GBV risks, expanding vulnerable populations, and the importance of continuing to prioritize and fund GBV • Interagency working group developed a policy brief to highlight the needs of PwDs and identify policy and programming gaps. It provided recommendations for key stakeholders to ensure more inclusive and specialized services and interventions for PwD in the response (70). • Efforts to strengthen the use of the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS) for Lebanese, Palestinian, migrant, and other nationalities, ensuring that outreach and support were inclusive of all nationalities | • Targeted support for marginalised groups • Support for service provision • Prioritization and resources • Intersectoral coordination • Data and information management | |
Increased GBV cases among children and child marriage | • GBVIMS steering committee issued a report that made a series of recommendations on safeguarding and responding to the needs of adolescent girls and child survivors including improved coordination across the protection sector and strengthened programming focused on adolescent girls • Several agencies implemented approaches to engage with religious leaders on child marriage and GBV task force held a dedicated meeting to share approaches and good practice • GBV and CP held joint coordination meetings to discuss issues and approaches to address GBV among children including access to services and prevention activities • Developed a guidance note on Care and Support for Child Survivors of GBV • UNICEF and UNHCR developed decision tree on referrals of child survivors of GBV to case management services • In 2023, GBV organizations worked with MOSA to review and update the National Plan for the Prevention and Response of Child Marriage in Lebanon which was developed in 2020 but never officially launched | • Data and information management • Intersectoral coordination • National coordination • Support for service provision • Reinforce government leadership of coordination | |
Lebanese currency devaluation and fluctuating exchange rates affected cost of delivering services | • Increased GBV sub-sector funding request for 2022 by 20% compared with previous years • Advocated for inclusion of GBV within ERP • Jointly with protection and CP, National GBV coordinators organised bilateral donor briefings with several donors (Spain, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark), to brief donors on sectoral trends and analysis and to highlight critical advocacy messages, especially the need for increased and multi-year funding. | • Prioritization and resources • Intersectoral coordination | |
Deprioritization of GBV prevention and response across government and affected communities and GBV actors faced challenges in engaging women and girls with conventional GBV services | • UNFPA piloted implementation of cash assistance in case management and assessed the impact to guide further expansion • Local actors worked with survivors on medium to long term livelihoods plans • MOSA Protection coordinator co-leading GBV task force and advocated with government | • Prioritization and resources • Reinforce government leadership of coordination • Support for service provision | |
Migrant workers abandoned by employers and left reliant on humanitarian assistance | • Included funding needs of migrant workers in ERP • Worked with Migrant Sector to support a mapping survey of migrant domestic workers’ main challenges and urgent needs | • Targeted support for marginalised groups | |
Progress on institutionalising GBV services within government run social development centers (SDCs) threatened and lack of sustainability | • Capacity building and support to strengthen the role of national and local NGOs in service provision | • Support for service provision | |
Provision of CMR services hampered by fuel and power shortages, as well as lack of payment for healthcare workers and low rates of GBV referrals from health service providers’ | • Support to strengthen the role of national and local NGOs in service provision • Enhanced referrals and collaboration with health sector and CMR working group to engage front line workers | • Support for service provision • Intersectoral coordination | |
High turnover of humanitarian actors and loss of skilled and educated Lebanese workers | • Reinforced government leadership of the humanitarian response • Maintained MOSAs co-leadership of the GBV task force • Included local and national organization’s as co-leads of sub-national coordination | • Reinforce government leadership of coordination • Localisation | |
Staff burnout in local organization’s, threats and concerns about GBV staff safety and difficulties continuing service delivery | • Assessed the impact on frontline workers and highlighted findings with donors and other stakeholders • Local providers implemented adaptive measures to ensure the continuity of GBV services including providing support to GBV survivors for communication and transport • Local actors provided staff with psychosocial support | • Prioritization and resources • Support for service provision • Support for frontline staff | |
Escalating levels of psychological and mental health issues, and a rise in substance abuse causing heightened risks of GBV | • MHPSS, Protection, GBV and CP working groups collaborated to implement a series of trainings for front line workers to enhance identification and safe referral of persons with MHPSS needs to relevant service providers. Sessions included self-care components. | • Intersectoral coordination • Support for service provision | |
Lack of access to smartphones, phone credit, and internet connectivity challenged communication for GBV survivors | • Local actors allowed women and girls to charge phones in local offices • Service providers increased funding for communications and transport for women and girls • The UNHCR Innovation Service introduced a Digital Gender Inclusion and Innovation Bootcamp to equip refugee-led and community-based organizations with the necessary skills to bridge the digital gender gap in their communications | • Support for service provision • Localisation |