Challenges of aid coordination in a complex crisis: An overview of funding policies and conditions regarding aid provision to Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Abstract

With a refugee population that accounts for more than a quarter of its population, Lebanon\rfaces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and it is the most affected host country in the\rregion. The unexpected numbers of the crisis community has raised numerous challenges for\raid donorship. The aim of this paper is to take stock of and critically assess the state of aid\rprovision for Syrian refugees. In order to do so, it will begin by identifying the numerous\ractors, donors, and their funding mechanisms and implementation strategies, which constitute\rthe very heterogeneous Lebanese aid landscape. It appears that the traditional–mainly\rWestern–humanitarian actors are now being challenged by so-called non-traditional donors–\rmostly from the Gulf States. This major switch in humanitarian aid has an important impact\ron most of the identified challenges, which will be analyzed in the second section; challenges\rthat range from coordination shortcomings to Lebanese terrain specificities. The paper will\rconclude by emphasizing the dangers of ultra politicization of aid provision and its ultimate,\rnegative impact on coordination efforts.