Participation in Policy Making

LAU actively participates in policy making at the national level to implement programs and policies aimed at ending poverty in all its dimensions.

Through its involvement in initiatives like the Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (TLP), funded by MEPI, the university equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to address poverty-related challenges. The TLP fosters leadership in tackling social and economic disparities by supporting community-based projects, such as “Towards the End of Period Poverty,” which addresses access to essential hygiene products for marginalized populations.

The university also collaborates with local and international organizations to influence policy discussions and implement impactful programs. For example, the university engages with policymakers through partnerships with the Arab Institute for Women (AiW) and the Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center (FMIC), which support innovation-driven approaches to reduce poverty and enhance economic inclusion.

Furthermore, the university’s Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) department contributes to shaping policies by fostering community service projects (CSPs) that address poverty’s root causes. By aligning these projects with sustainable development goals (SDGs), the university ensures its impact transcends local boundaries, contributing to regional and global poverty alleviation efforts.

These multidimensional initiatives highlight the university’s role in policy advocacy and program implementation, positioning it as a leader in tackling poverty at every level.

The Lebanese Government’s Financial Recovery Plan Explained

LAU hosts Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami for a timely interactive discussion on the economic recovery program that aims to resolve, rather than manage, Lebanon’s financial crisis.

In an attempt to shed some light on Lebanon’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tackle the country’s financial and socioeconomic meltdown, LAU’s Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution (ISJCR), in partnership with LIFE Lebanon and the Middle East Institute (MEI), hosted an interactive fireside chat with the Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami who is leading the Lebanese negotiating team.

The two-hour event, held on July 13 on Beirut campus, was an opportunity for the general public to get some clarity on recent developments in the negotiations and voice their concerns. The discussion was driven by questions from online participants, interactive polls, and a Q&A that reflected public sentiment on core social, financial and economic issues.

In a candid and open conversation moderated by World Bank advisor Ronnie Hammad, Chami detailed the pending hurdles and the steps needed to resolve – rather than perpetually manage – Lebanon’s debilitating crisis.

“Every single person in this room, and following online, has been impacted one way or another by the ongoing economic meltdown,” noted Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and ISJCR Director Fadi Nicholas Nassar in his opening remarks. The discussion, he added, fell in line with the institute’s and LAU’s shared vision of “fostering a space that brings together decision makers, academics and the broader public, while encouraging meaningful—even if critical—dialogue on national policy issues.”

Since the recovery plan was never fully communicated to the public, the purpose of the event, stated Hammad, was to “have a collective understanding of the problem that we are facing, get some details about the recovery plan, and understand the implications of the plan on the vulnerable and what it may mean for us.”

Fielding questions as they were received online, Chami addressed issues that have mystified the Lebanese, from the sudden onset of the economic crisis – a crisis, which, he clarified, had actually been simmering since 2011 but was managed with financial engineering to buy time – to the measures needed for recovery, and whether there was any hope of redressing the situation with some compensation to depositors.

Ensuring macroeconomic stability, he explained in response to one question, was a prerequisite to economic stability, and should be implemented regardless of the negotiations with the IMF. This entails fighting corruption in governance, reducing poverty, unifying the Dollar-to-Lebanese Pound exchange rate, reaching fiscal sustainability to reduce debt, and conducting state-owned enterprise reforms, starting with the notorious power sector.

Here, he added, time was of the essence, as the country’s deficiency currently stood at $72 billion, having risen from an estimated $69 billion in October 2021.

On the suggestion of using state assets to pay off bank depositors, Chami clarified that “Lebanon’s assets, such as gold, should be off the table, as we cannot deprive the budget of these resources – which ultimately are shared with future generations – to compensate a few thousand depositors.” Even if we were to consider this option, the value of the state assets, as it currently stands, “would require 60 years to plug the gap in the financial system.”

Nor can we count on oil and gas revenues, he stated, as “at the moment, we do not have full clarity over the value of Lebanon’s oil and gas, and whether it even exists. It is out of the question.”

So, who should bear the brunt of the bank losses?

Chami called for “respecting the hierarchy of claims,” which starts with looking into the commercial banks’ capital. Based on the internationally acknowledged Bank Resolution Law, he said, existing shareholders and some of the depositors can take part in securing recapitalization for the banks. Ultimately, this will decide the fate of the banks – whether they will survive, merge with other banks or cease to exist.

Diplomats, bankers, business owners, risk strategists, academics and students in attendance probed Chami on the role of the government in managing the crisis, and raised a number of points such as accountability, regaining confidence in public institutions and the banks, and the likelihood of economic growth, among other topics.

Positive developments, such as moving in the direction of lifting banking secrecy, would pave the way to transparency and accountability, he explained. In this regard, a forensic audit of the Central Bank could set a precedent for auditing other governmental institutions.

To questions regarding the impact of capital controls on economic growth and the insufficiency of IMF funds to cover the shortfall, he explained that fresh money was not subject to capital controls and that the IMF deal is not meant to make up for the deficit but to inspire confidence in foreign investments.

“A deal with the IMF is key,” he contended, which is why it was developed with the collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including bankers, labor union representatives, financiers and economists.

“We are hoping that the political establishment understands the severity of the economic situation, and accepts the reforms in parliament,” added Chami, acknowledging the persistence of public mistrust in the government – “an expected result of years-long economic mismanagement and misguided policies.” That said, he was adamant that there was hope for a deal with the IMF, citing “no major objection by any of the political parties.”

“The country can be put on the right path in a matter of a few months,” he reiterated, confident that once the needed reforms are met, “we can begin to get us out of the crisis within five years.”

New Links with Lebanon’s Public Administration

LAU has signed a partnership agreement with the Lebanese Customs, following similar agreements with other governmental institutions. The university will offer tuition grants for officers, members, and retirees, as well as their spouses and children, thus providing access to LAU undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Customs will provide internships for LAU students, and may sponsor academic conferences.

Youth Leadership Simulation Programs

As a middle-school or high-school student, you will find in these programs a launchpad to build leadership, research, debate, public speaking, problem-solving, and writing skills — all essential tools to help them succeed academically and professionally. Through these programs, and since 2005, the university has helped empower a generation of youth leaders.

The Impact Since 2004

By Students, for Students 

All five LAU Simulation Models are entirely student-led and organized. The training content is prepared, delivered and managed by LAU students – themselves a large, diverse group of motivated youth who are majoring in different disciplines but united in their vision and mission to promote youth leadership. They meticulously manage school relations, prepare the training content that they deliver, provide technical support, organize special events within the programs, and ensure that the work runs seamlessly.  

Many LAU student leaders are selected to participate in the annual Global Classrooms International Model United Nations Program in New York City, which brings together middle school and high school students from all over the world to role-play and train as ambassadors. 

Through the Simulation Programs, You…

Step into the shoes of ambassadors You learn how international diplomacy works.

Get hands-on training For a few months, you come to LAU to get training in research and interpretation, rules of procedure, writing position papers, public speaking, role playing, conflict resolution, negotiations, caucusing, and more.

Why Take Part in LAU’s Simulation Programs?

You will immerse yourself in the culture of the United Nations, Arab League, European Union, African Union and Good Governance. You will come out of the programs stronger at:  

• Art of Public Speaking:
• Dynamics of Debate
• Tactics of Role-Play
• Process of Conflict Resolution
• Essence of Research
• Professional Writing

Your doorway to a scholarship

In line with its vision to seek and reward talented students, LAU allocates 50 and 25 percent scholarships every year to middle and high schoolers who show exceptional skills in the simulation programs.

Our Flagship Programs

Ever year thousands of middle and high schoolers flock to both LAU campuses to take part in the simulation programs. Find out more and choose the program that is right for you:

Classroom International Model United Nations (GCI MUN)

Classroom LAU Model United Nations (GC LAU MUN)

LAU Model Arab League (LAU MAL)

LAU Model European Union (LAU MEU)

LAU Model African Union (LAU MAU)- Not offered this year

LAU Model Good Governance (LAU MGG)

Towards the end of period poverty

Period poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. The term also refers to the increased economic vulnerability women and girls face due the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies. Period poverty does not only affect women and girls in developing countries; it also affects women in wealthy, industrialized countries. Difficulty affording menstrual products can cause girls to stay home from school and work, with lasting consequences on their education and economic opportunities. It can also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, pushing women and girls closer toward dangerous coping mechanisms [1].

The deprivations associated with period poverty connect strongly to the SDGs, including SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).

The aim of this project is to work with local NGOs on the development of a local sanitary pad production line. The designed machines will be according to international standards and abide by local norms. The machine will look into the utilization of sustainable material and packaging to have an environmental friendly life cycle. In addition to the reduction of the cost of sanitary pads, the production line will provide job opportunities for vulnerable women in areas where it is most needed. The project will also include working on awareness campaigns that will run in partnership with the Arab Institute of Women at LAU.

[1] https://www.unfpa.org/menstruationfaq

Desire Disciplines

• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Biology
• Business

Team Leader

• Ali Ammouri

Industry Partners (Potential)

• ACTED
• UN Women
• LAU Industrial Hub
• AIW

Food Security Is Not an Impossibility

Lebanon-specific research and panel discussion called for meaningful interventions that can mitigate food waste generation and its repercussions.

According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), one-third of all food produced worldwide is either wasted or lost every year, and 61 percent of this waste happens in households. In parallel, more than 800 million people suffer from hunger globally, while enough food is produced to feed two billion people.

In Lebanon, the gravity of the issue has been exacerbated by the multifaceted socioeconomic crisis and power outages, as more households struggle with food insecurity.

Well before the onset of the crisis, LAU Associate Professor of Food Science Hussein F. Hassan, LAU Associate Professor of Nutrition Lama Mattar, Professor of Food Science at the American University of Beirut (AUB) Mohamad G. Abiad, and Associate Professor of Applied Economics at AUB Ali Chalak had been actively researching and publishing at length about drivers of food waste generation and its impact on the environment, economy and food security, at both the household and hospitality levels in the country.  

Most recently, they found that an estimated 1,620 tons of food are wasted by people dining out in Beirut alone every year– “an alarming rate, as Lebanon highly depends on food imports and has limited resources for increased food production to sustain food and nutrition security.”

This staggering figure also produces the equivalent of 4,110 tons of carbon dioxide and contributes to the country’s solid waste-management crisis, as food waste from restaurants alone in Beirut amounts to 0.15 percent of Lebanon’s total organic waste, yearly.

Their research findings and proposed solutions were presented at a panel discussion jointly organized by LAU and AUB on September 29, International Awareness Day for Food Loss and Waste. Titled Combatting Food Waste for Improved Food Security in Lebanon, the event brought together Director General of the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade Mohamad Abou Haidar, International Specialist-Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Consumption and Production at UNEP Regional Office for West Asia Paolo Marengo, as well as Dr. Hassan and Dr. Abiad. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mattar.

In the hospitality sector, people tended to generate more food waste when dining out, said Dr. Abiad. “For a table of four, about half a kilogram of food is wasted per meal – the equivalent of the average food wasted at home in an entire day,” he explained.

Other factors contributed to more waste generation, according to Dr. Abiad, such as the types of cuisine and service. “At restaurants that serve mezze, where people order and share several dishes, the average food wasted is 34 kilograms per day, and that rate goes further up when it comes to open buffets,” he said.

On that score, Dr. Abou Haidar spoke about a draft law that was successfully passed in the Lebanese parliament in June 2020, which offers incentives to the hospitality sector in exchange for adopting measures that limit food waste, such as donating the surplus to food banks. The law has yet to be implemented.

Until then, combatting food waste remains an individual pursuit, starting at the level of households, which account for 61 percent of the total food wasted in Lebanon, per a UNEP report, as Dr. Hassan pointed out. In comparison, 26 percent and 13 percent of food waste are generated from the hospitality sector and supermarkets, respectively.

Apart from cultural drivers, such as generosity and topping up dishes when serving them at home, Dr. Hassan named two additional factors that have recently contributed to generating more food waste: the power and fuel crises, which have resulted in food preservation and transportation challenges.

On the household level, other variables, such as employment, education level, number of members in the household, and income directly influence the food waste volume, according to another study done by the LAU-AUB team. “Rural households in Lebanon, where food is typically shared with relatives and neighbors, wasted less food than their urban counterparts,” said Dr. Hassan, adding that the level of religiosity and guilt feelings about wasting food also seemed to be driving factors.

Ultimately, the panelists agreed that the best approach to combat food waste is by spreading awareness of its economic, environmental and social impact to influence behavioral change. In this regard, Marengo spoke about the UNEP’s Recipe for Change Campaign aimed at maximizing the visibility of the rampant global food waste problem by engaging leading chefs from the region to convey the messages to a wide audience and specifically the youth.

A nationwide competition will also be organized in 2023 in collaboration between LAU and the Ministry of Economy and Trade. It will call on university students to create and produce short awareness videos on combatting food waste.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Hassan described Lebanon’s current crisis as “a golden opportunity for us to address food waste and to change our attitudes and behaviors.” He gave practical tips such as logging food waste, meal planning, following recipes accurately, avoiding impulsive buying or shopping for food when hungry, checking for expiry and best-before dates, and sharing and donating surplus food.