#Lebanon #Solidarity2020

[THREAD]
With the outpouring of donations and commitments for Lebanon post the #Beirut explosion, it is essential that these go towards independent civil society actors and initiatives.
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However, it is important to distinguish independent actors from ones that are affiliated politically, religiously, or linked to clientelistic networks.
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The latter have indeed contributed to maintaining the political status quo, and the resilience of the regime, in a context of absence of the rule of law.
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In this context, and while it is necessary to support NGOs that cover basic assistance, and urgent needs of affected populations, it is also important to support associations that focus on the defense of human rights in Lebanon, as well as political social change.
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The civil society landscape in Lebanon had been witnessing increasing constraints in the past years due to scrutiny, censorship, and/or repression.
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Additionally, this space is further fragmented and its impact limited given rigid, professionalised structures that are less reactive to needs on the ground, as well as the constant fund hunt that contributes to heightened competition among local actors.
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It is important for incoming aid not to contribute to further shrink and fragment civic space.

In this context, and in preparation for the upcoming wave of international aid, it is necessary to preserve the local civic space and reflect on past experiences,
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beyond the “urgency” of the immediate response, in order to retain the values, principles, and mission of this space, and avoid it being further transformed into another market.
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Moreover, while coordination mechanisms in response to the emergency abound, it is also important that these remain inclusive and that coordination does not become an end in itself, in a context marked by post-crisis cacophony, leaving some areas & populations under-targeted.
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As such, there is also a need for complete transparency of data and information, whether financial or pertaining to the response and needs on the field.
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Finally, it is important to reiterate the inherent political nature of civil society work and to steer away from discourses of neutrality in aid, mobilisation, and emergency response.
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