Centre for Humanitarian Leadership: Lebanon Diaspora Humanitarian Research Network

The escalation of hostilities in Lebanon has caused a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over 1.2 million people and causing extensive damage and destruction. This has occurred over a background of multiple recent overlapping cycles of crises in Lebanon and an already dire humanitarian situation.

Diaspora researchers can play a critical role during crises. Through their contextual knowledge, cultural awareness, language skills, and networks, ties and linkages, diaspora researchers may be strategically placed to provide substantial support and rapidly mobilise. A coordinated approach may help streamline efforts, avoid duplication, optimise support and resources, and minimise the burden and engagement load on colleagues in the humanitarian setting.

This project will establish a Lebanon diaspora humanitarian research network to leverage diaspora expertise. The initiative aims to connect diaspora experts working on research related to humanitarian crises with their colleagues within Lebanon, to provide surge research support during and in the aftermath of crises and an avenue for diaspora to contribute. The network is a novel approach to collaboration, convening, and drawing on diaspora expertise based on the needs of colleagues in crisis-affected settings. To achieve this, the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL), in partnership with the American University of Beirut (AUB), will conduct the following activities:

• Establish the network: Conceptualise and establish the network, including assembling the Secretariat and governance structures, developing promotional materials and dissemination plans, and strengthening partnerships.
• Diaspora outreach: Conduct outreach and disseminate news of the initiative to encourage relevant diaspora and local experts to engage.
• Network action plan: Convene Secretariat conceptualisation workshops to design and develop a diaspora network action plan.
• Glean lessons learned: Develop a document reflecting on the initial experience, challenges and process learnings of convening this network. Lessons gleaned from establishing the Lebanon network can inform similar initiatives for other diaspora communities and other crisis-affected contexts in the future.

This project is led by CHL at Deakin University, in partnership with the Office of Research at the AUB.

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