The Sustainability and Inclusive Development Cluster at the Institute aims to generate knowledge and influence policy around the human, social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainability and inclusive development. The Institute addresses current local and regional challenges, such as climate change, energy, social protection, refugees, education, and economic recovery, through policy dialogue and research that promote sustainable and equitable development.
Financial Recovery and Economic Reconstruction of Lebanon
Lebanon's ongoing multi-faceted crisis demands sustained policy advice and research-driven solutions. The cluster contributes to national debates on economic reconstruction while considering regional and international contexts. The Institute monitors government activities and achievements, providing evidence-based advice for sustainable recovery pathways. Our political economy research focuses on structural reforms, fiscal frameworks, and governance systems critical to long-term stability and sectoral competitiveness.
The cluster will organize targeted sectoral workshops to identify the needs, policy frameworks, and investments required to position Lebanon as an economic hub. We also plan a post-war reconstruction event, potentially including a comparative study between 2006 and the present. Where relevant, we will support local recovery efforts through research and targeted policy recommendations.
Social Protection and Vulnerable Populations
As Lebanon embarks on potentially painful economic recovery and reconstruction plans, the Institute places social protection at the core of sustainable development. The cluster addresses three interconnected pillars: poverty and inequality reduction, healthcare system reform, and pension security. We invest in social protection research to inform policy responses during this critical transition.
Our approach examines how targeted transfer programs, healthcare access, and pension reforms can protect Lebanon's most vulnerable populations while supporting economic stabilization. We analyze social safety net design for both citizens and displaced populations, ensuring recovery does not deepen existing inequalities. Our research explores fiscally sustainable models that operate within Lebanon's constraints and align economic transformation with inclusive welfare strategies.
The cluster builds upon the Institute's established research in displacement and education policy. Our refugee research has extensively examined the resilience and socio-economic participation of displaced populations within Lebanon's unique context.
Future of Work and Artificial Intelligence
The South West Asia and North Africa Future of Work (SWANA-FoW) Hub, hosted by our Institute, representing part of the global FutureWORKS Collective, researches evolving employment trends. It promotes evidence-based employment policies, with a focus on the impacts of low-carbon transitions, the digital economy, and Artificial Intelligence on employment patterns.
Artificial Intelligence is both a research tool and topic, given its potential for transforming production patterns and enabling administrative reforms. Through this agenda, the Institute addresses emerging challenges and opportunities shaping regional labor markets and economic development trajectories, ensuring that policy recommendations remain relevant with rapid technological and economic changes.
Climate, Environment, and Resource Nexus
As climate change accelerates worldwide and is exacerbated in the Mediterranean region, the Institute focuses on adaptation strategies crucial for regional resilience. Building on recent studies, we examine vulnerabilities, livelihoods, resilience mechanisms, climate-induced migration, and infrastructure needs. The cluster advances environmental and ecosystem protection from national and regional perspectives, producing evidence-based policy recommendations in partnership with expert stakeholders.
The water-food-energy security nexus is integrated across our research. Each component is studied both individually and in relation to the others to tackle the region's interlinked sustainability challenges. This framework supports policy recommendations that address the complex ties between environmental and human development needs.
Energy Paths and Opportunities
The transition to cleaner energy sources is central to the Institute's climate mitigation agenda, and a key for economic reconstruction. The Institute investigates energy resources and consumption patterns across Lebanon and the region, covering both traditional and renewable sources. Our research spans oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, solar energy, and emerging technologies like hydrogen in trans-Mediterranean corridors. We place special focus on Lebanon's electricity network, a critical infrastructure challenge requiring sustainable policy reform.
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