Abstract

This policy brief examines the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) as local first responders during the 2024 war and displacement crisis in Lebanon. Drawing on interviews, focus groups, and desk research, it highlights how local actors mobilized rapidly to provide emergency assistance amid weak state capacity and fragmented coordination systems. The brief identifies key challenges related to governance, funding, preparedness, and data management, and proposes policy recommendations to strengthen coordination, institutionalize the role of civil society, and support more inclusive and anticipatory emergency response frameworks.

Date: February 2026