Lebanon

The spread of poverty in Lebanon varies considerably between regions and sectors. The majority of the poor live in the suburbs of the capital and other cities, while a majority of the destitute poor, who make up one fourth of the population, live in the rural areas. Moreover, it is believed that abject poverty is concentrated in the remote regions of Baalbeck and Hermel in Bekaa, Akkar in North Lebanon and Southern Lebanon.

• Unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Population below poverty line: 28%

The United Nations estimates that a third of Lebanon's people cannot provide for their basic needs due to a lack of access to productive resources, thus, preventing the poor from starting up small or medium income businesses.

Poor people in Lebanon find it extremely difficult to gain access to banking or financial facilities, because credit policies are not favorable to small and medium establishments Access to credit is very important for the poor in Lebanon to lift themselves out of poverty, so non-governmental organizations, like Al Majmoua, have a very important role to play.

Learn more about Grameen-Jameel’s work in Lebanon.