July 2022 – March 2023 (finished)

STAAR was contracted by FCDO Lebanon to provide advisory services to Lebanon’s Multipurpose Cash (MPC).

Technical expertise was provided through an embedded advisor who supported donor coordination on the WFP cash programme in Lebanon, ensured quality assurance, advised on strategic and operational issues, and contributed to global learning on social protection in crises. It also included administrative support and promoted inclusive approaches.

Insights from the adviser’s time have been useful in shaping the FCDO Lebanon post’s understanding of dynamics across donors and partners – which have fed directly into FCDO Lebanon’s plans for influencing the system. Findings have also informed STAAR’s understanding of what works to support coordination through technical assistance – thereby strengthening scoping and design of wider STAAR assignments.

January 2024 – March 2025 (finished)

Building on previous work focused on Ethiopia, this new assignment highlights how social assistance systems can be built, maintained, adapted, and strengthened, including learning from countries with existing social protection systems facing new conflicts, as well as fragile and conflict-affected states experiencing protracted emergencies. It will draw on case studies from Ukraine, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Sahel region, and Yemen, as well as wider evidence from other relevant contexts.

The synopsis note offers forward-looking guidance for policymakers and practitioners, which highlights both the challenges and promising practices for social protection in conflict contexts, with a focus on the components of systems that are most effective for retention and adaptation during crises.

Country Case Studies:

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Yemen case study

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Ethiopia case study

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Sudan case study

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Armenia case study

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Sahel case study (Niger & Burkina Faso)

Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Somalia