Lessons from the Lebanese Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Overview

Social enterprises in Lebanon operate under a weak regulatory framework and face a number of operational and policy-level challenges. Gaps in services mean it is difficult for them to function effectively, and there is a need for a coordination platform that can facilitate improvements in the social enterprise ecosystem. The needs of social enterprises are unique and should be addressed differently to those of for-profit businesses. This paper draws on a landscape study conducted by Beyond Relief and Development for Oxfam’s MedUP! Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean Region project. It identifies the barriers social enterprises in Lebanon face and makes recommendations on how the environment in which they operate can be improved.