Since 2004, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has provided Lebanese stakeholders with technical advice and support on a wide range of electoral and governance issues. IFES has provided technical assistance and trainings to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) to strengthen the credibility and management of its election administration and supported its voter education strategies. IFES also worked with the MoIM to develop an election violence risk assessment tool, which included a Lebanon-specific assessment methodology and a database to track and analyze violence risk indicators, and integrate the information and analysis into strategic planning for elections. For almost a decade, IFES sought to build the capacity of civil society in Lebanon to effectively advocate for reform on key electoral issues, women’s inclusion in the political process, campaign finance reform and the advancement of political rights of persons with disabilities.

Currently, under the “Identify, Interpret and Respond” project, IFES, in partnership with the Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities and ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality, supports Lebanese civil society organizations’ ability to jointly advocate for meaningful political participation and prevent identity-based political discrimination and violence. The project addresses the intersectional needs of Lebanese individuals with multiple social identities – including gender, disability and religion – by building on partnerships that amplify a diversity of voices.