Emigration Facts &figures Files/Lebanese%20electoral%20law%202017.pdf (Chapter Eleven: Voting3 Lebanese electoral (2017) law for Lebanese ). https://www.mfa.gov.lb/Library/Files/Uploaded%20 No.2 Law of1946, asamendedbyDecree 10828 of1962. Legal unavailable text inEnglish.www.gfmd.org ›filespfp Lebanon_EN definition ofwhat constitutes amemberofthe “diaspora”. Lebanese Diaspora ataround 10millionemigrants, America.Thislargely inNorth ofwhich68% residing are beingafunctionofthespecific Lebanese emigrants the1millionmark,otherdata doesnotexceed highlighted (2018) intheEconomic namely, Visionreport estimate the 1 Althoughstatistics conducted bytheUnitedofEconomic Nations,Department andSocial Affairs indicate thatthe total numberof % ofemigrants in total population ,al-jāliyyah Terminology: refers to its diaspora as ‘the Lebanese Expansion’ (Arabicاجلاليةاللبنانيةal-lubnaniyyah intishar al-lobnani;also .( inflow(USD billion): 7,313 Remittances asashareofGDP: 12.5 1 Lebanon doesnothaveadiaspora engagementpolicy. LEBANON Diaspora engagementmapping % ofwhich in theEU 3 % United StatesofAmerica Kingdom ofSaudiArabia Top countries ofdestination Political rights Online/at embassiesorconsulates Voting fromabroad: Dual citizenship for citizensresidingabroad Right tovote innationalelections 2 73,746 94,516 99,705 127,280 150,183 اللبناين االنتشار اللبناين

3 al-

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- 6 proved that proved 9 . 10 In an attempt to bolster an ever-absent an ever-absent bolster to In an attempt 5 enables emigrants of Lebanese descent to to descent of Lebanese emigrants enables 4 , May 05, 2016 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ 2016 05, May , Star Daily The 11 and to support an aggravated economic crisis that had left the country economic financially support and to an aggravated 7 Numerous initiatives, like the Lebanon Diaspora 2020 Crisis Relief Effort Crisis Relief 2020 Diaspora the Lebanon initiatives, like Numerous 8 crippled. Governmental efforts to strengthen relationships with the diaspora have been mainly to strengthen relationships with the diaspora efforts Governmental Development Investment the through namely investments, foreign attracting on focussed the establishment envisaged in 2006, A plan developed (IDAL). Authority of Lebanon medical like sectors potential high in specialised and tax-free zones, economic ‘special of processing’. and food media, high-tech tourism, Trends Trends of amongst a plethora inflation, and political instability, Driven by high unemployment rates, - has long been a recurring an aspiration theme – sometimes emigration other push factors, nationals. Lebanese for efforts government crises because to as a reaction often is comes support Lebanon to Diaspora and un-sustainable. example,are For seen as sporadic in October the civil unrest that began witnessed significant diasporic engagement as ‘Thawra’, in to referred commonly 2019, and support. display of unity In an unprecedented with their country of origin and the social fund- protests, peaceful organised emigrants Lebanese it faces, and political challenges coordination facilitate to online platforms campaigns, and created lobbying events, raising the globe.and news sharing across Their participationmovement have the and support to traction. been crucial in it gaining by donating PPE and Covid-19 against in its fight supported Lebanon the diaspora In March 2020, kits testing Lebanese abroad, ‘may be far in distance, but close at heart’. The diaspora also showed their The diaspora in distance, close at heart’. but be far ‘may abroad, Lebanese following the portexplosion in the of Beirut initiatives different support through

the MFA successfully registered 82,970 voters in 40 countries. in 40 countries. voters registered successfully 82,970 the MFA representation of Lebanese immigrants in the country’s immigrants representation of Lebanese law electoral the Lebanese life, democratic the parliamentary and governed of 2017 adopted The unprecedented was elections of May 2018. expatriates register and vote. to law six It additionally allocated of Lebanese the right highlighted Institute, National Democratic the to According the diaspora. to parliamentary 128 total) (of seats Voting for Lebanese Diaspora, Lebanese electoral law: electoral Lebanese Diaspora, Lebanese for Voting Lebanese Citizenship Reacquisition Law: Law 41 Law: no. Reacquisition Citizenship Lebanese reclaim their citizenship. Although lauded by some, it was deemed controversial and discriminatory and reclaimby some,Although lauded their citizenship. deemed controversial it was descent. Lebanese of patrilineal individuals only to as it is applicable others, women by against

News/Lebanon-News/2016/May-05/350667-bassil-announces-citizenship-law-for-lebanese-diaspora-in-effect.ashx 3. footnote to 5 Refer https://www.ndi.org/sites/ 2020, 29, June , accessed Institute National Democratic Parliamentary 2018 6 ‘Lebanon Elections Final Report’, default/files/Lebanon%202018%20Parliamentary%20Elections_Final%20Report%20%28v.3%29.pdf https://www.iom.int/sites/ (IOM Research), 6 May 2020, IOM UN Migration Analytical engagement’, Diaspora Snapshot #31: 7 ‘COVID-19 default/files/documents/covid-19_analytical_snapshot_31_-_diaspora_engagement.pdf help the most disadvantaged’, in the US join hands to Diaspora the Lebanese in one hour: Claude,raised 8 ASSAF ‘One million dollars https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1213746/one-million-dollars-raised-in-one-hour-the-lebanese-dias Jour, 8 April 2020, L’Orient-Le pora-in-the-us-join-hands-to-help-the-most-disadvantaged.html 9 https://www.givingloop.org/livelove 10 https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2020/8/25/after-beirut-blast-grief-and-guilt-in-lebanons-diaspora#:~:text=On%20a%20 balmy%20August%20evening,homeless%2C%20in%20a%20matter%20of 11 https://www.nordeatrade.com/en/explore-new-market/lebanon/investment#:~:text=The%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20 just,high%2Dtech%20and%20food%20processing.

4 A translation of the law into English can be found here https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024817/http://eudo-citizenship.eu/ law of the English can be found 4 A translation into docs/Translation_Draft%20Law%20_Lebanon.pdf/ diaspora’, Lebanese lawcitizenship of implementation announces for ‘Bassil • Overview policy of the framework and legislative •

2017 2015

LEBANON • • • • 12 May2006, https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/events/pdf/expert/11/Paper13_Labaki.pdf NATIONS EXPERT GROUP MEETING ONINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION ANDDEVELOPMENT REGION, INTHEARAB UN/POP/EGM/2006/13, Labaki17 Boutros, ‘THEROLE OF TRANSNATIONAL COMMUNITIES INFOSTERING DEVELOPMENT INCOUNTRIES OFORIGIN*’, UNITED difficult to out-dated/inaccessible.reach; someoftheir websitesextremely were 16 Thiswas first-had experienced duringtheprocess ofworkingonthefiche for Lebanon. Mostministerial institutions contacted were min/user_upload/documents/Mckinsey_Plan/Summary__of_the_Economic_Vision.pdf 15 ‘SUMMARY OFLEBANON ECONOMIC VISION’, Consultation Institute 72019, andResearch , March https://www.fes-lebanon.org/filead - www.arab-reform.net/publication/lebanese-communities-abroad-feeding-and-fuelling-conflicts/ Tamirace,14 Fakhoury ‘Lebanese Communities Abroad: Feeding andFuelling Conflicts’, Arab Reform Initiative,5December 2018, https:// 13 Migration Centre- Policy Migration Profile, Lebanon,June2013 https://migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/migration_profiles/Lebanon.pdf 12 https://www.economy.gov.lb/media/11893/20181022-1228full-report-en.pdf Obstacles • • • • investment, dissonance: TheLebanesePriority government hasalways to attracting givenpriority diasporic institutions andbenefitfrom theirservices. pocesses thatmake itdifficult orabroad for – toaccess said Lebanese generally –in-country ministerial institutionsdealing withthediaspora. Thisisexacerbated bycumbersome bureaucratic isalackofcoordination Lebanese There Poor coordination between andunreliablesupport: provoked adeterioration ofconnection withthesecond ofquality andthird generation diaspora. whilst attempting to reinforce theLebanese identity, Lebanon stilllacks amigration policy. Thishas Absence ofadequatelegalframework: Despite itsrecentefforts to engage with Lebanese abroad in unison. a challenge for thedisparate groups theirdemandsvis-à-vis to express theLebanese government diaspora andhasledto tensions amongstdifferent Lebanese communities abroadremains andit landscape hasalways beenshapedbysectarianism. Thissegmentation ismirrored withinthe andpoliticalpolarization:Abroad, justasinthehomeland, Lebanese political Lack ofunity through organisations the establishment ofdiasporicnetworks, andfora. the unwavering success andinfluence ofthediaspora haveled to better support to Lebanon, Law Diaspora law, oftheLebanese aspart electoral andtheLebanese law CitizenshipReacquisition their democratic toits expatriates exercise rights. The adoption of the international organisations dealing withemigrants’ issues(see UNDP, TOKTEN), andmotivates It encourages the transfer ofremittances, facilitates promotes returns, dialogue with can betranslated asthegovernment’s andorganisations. to support diasporicnetworks vis-à-vis thediaspora. Althoughproper isstilllacking, legislativesupport the‘concord’ approach Generally, theLebanese government of‘concord’ adopted apolicy (as depicted bytheMFAE) lobbying and advocacy channels and mechanisms also need to be put in place. channelsand mechanismsalsoneedto beputinplace. lobbying andadvocacy Lebanese economy through remittances, knowledge sharingand market access. Efficient goes handinwiththe enhancement oftieswiththediaspora inaway thatdrivesthe Policy of‘Concord’Policy Achievements Report (2018), When it comes topriorities in terms future of diaspora the Economic Vision engagement, , remain two of the main achievements on this front, given their importance. Generally, giventheirimportance. ofthemainachievements onthisfront, two , remain 14

17 rather thanfocussing onwhatthey, could offer asagovernment, return. in 12 highlights that the adoption of an emigration a priority. remains policy This 13 andinternationalsuccess 16

Voting for Lebanese 15

LEBANON 20 Although promising 22 19 No figuresmore on deployments arerecent 21 18 2014 23

18 http://www.lebanity.gov.lb/ 18 http://www.lebanity.gov.lb/ 2020 project is ending in July as the inaccessible *Official website 19 https://www.facebook.com/LiveLebanonUndp/ http://www.toktenlebanon.org/ 20 21 https://www.lb.undp.org/content/dam/lebanon/docs/Governance/Projects/Project%20document.pdf 22 https://www.mieux-initiative.eu/en/actions/150-lebanon-diaspora-affairs-migration-and-development 23 https://www.lde-leb.com/ (LDE) Energy Diaspora conference Lebanese gather an conferences LDE annual and Emigrants, Ministry by the Lebanese Initiated Affairs of Foreign worldwide and explore successes horizons the diaspora’s expatriates celebrate to of Lebanese abundance of cooperation. MIEUX (MIgration EU eXpertise) (2015MIEUX (MIgration Project 2018) - ‘to maximise the was Its main goal by ICMPD. MIEUX is an initiative implemented impact of Lebanese investment and activity of Lebanon.’ development in the socio-economic diaspora Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) 2005-2018 Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) Through of Knowledge Transfer is a UNDP mechanism that TOKTEN and Reconstruction, Development for with the Council In partnership - Accord in Lebanon. consultancies short-term expertise by facilitating allows the utilisation of expatriates’ 600 trained Lebanese institutions, 16 benefitted the project (2010-2012), TOKTEN the final ing to report of the world. 19 experts around nationals, and deployed from Live Lebanon is a programme implemented by UNDP that engages with the Lebanese diaspora, amongst diaspora, Lebanese the with engages that UNDP by implemented programme a is Lebanon Live Their work supports the most vulnerable, underpriv- projects. fund development to other stakeholders, the equipment to donation of medical from ranging activities through of Lebanon communities ileged of local schools. renovation The Lebanese Expatriate Project: Live Lebanon 2009 – 2020 – 2009 Live Lebanon Expatriate Project: The Lebanese Initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, the program aims at re-establishing ties with the program and Emigrants, by the MinistryInitiated Affairs of Foreign can descent Lebanese of which emigrants through an online platform expatriatesoffering by Lebanese various benefits of highlights the the website languages, different in four Available nationality. apply for nationality as voting rights and residency. such reclaiming the Lebanese Lebanese Nationality Program 2017 – ongoing Nationality Program Lebanese effective practices effective SPOTLIGHT: available. ) (Investment Development Authority of Lebanon on IDAL action, focussed the project’s stages, in its early closed prematurely The action was no and counterparts. Lebanese from commitment sustained lacked developed. action document was

BUILDING

NETWORKING HUMAN CAPITAL HUMAN FUNDING DIGITAL CAPACITY CAPACITY

LEBANON itating, foreign andretaining investments,IDAL for is alsoresponsible thepromotion ofLebanese exports. agency workingacross arange andtourism). Inadditionto attracting, ofsectors facil (agriculture, industry - Under thetutelage oftheCouncil ofthePresident ofMinisters, IDAL isanationalinvestmentpromotion ofLebanon (IDAL)Investment DevelopmentAuthority 1994 engagement inLebanon and abroad. andis oneofthebiggestconsidered channelsworkingondiasporanon-denominational, and non-profit’ world. Supported by the Lebanese ‘but working independently’. government, It defines itself as ‘secular, The WLCU isaninternational, non-governmental, ECOSOC-accredited organisation withoffices around the World Lebanese Cultural Union(WLCA) General Directorate ofEmigrants (GDoE) 1993 the Lebanese diaspora. Itissupported bytheGeneral Directorate ofEmigrants. The MFAE for isresponsible diplomaticandconsular missionsinadditionto thegeneral management of ofForeign Affairs andEmigrants (MFAE)Ministry 1943 • Arab countries inAfrica andWestern whilepromoting better coordination andcooperation. Lebanon isamemberoftheArab League, organisation aregional thataimsatenhancingtiesbetween The Arab League 1945 Diaspora relatedinstitutions List ofActors Annex: 25 Refer to footnote no. 17/p.18. 24 Officialwebsite inaccessible. transactionsproperty amongstothers. facilitating thediaspora between andLebanon therelations registration, inthefieldof inheritance and GDoE operates undertheMFAE andisdedicated to maintaining the ties withLebanese by expatriates • At regional level { { { { { { At ministerial level At locallevel At level sub-ministerial 25 1959 24

LEBANON - - - Find out more at www.diasporadevelopment.eu Integration activities Integration Integration activities Integration Development activities activities Integration ApLL is a Brussels-based independent association promoting the establishment of a secular state in Leb of a secular state the establishment independent association promoting ApLL is a Brussels-based Saleh Sarah, ICMPD by: Saleh Sarah, Written Edited by: EUDiF August 2020 2005 2005 Lebanon) Secular a for (Association (ApLL) Association pour un Liban Laïque (House of Lebanon) that hosts Lebanese students on its premises, that hosts Lebanese the Maison du Liban (House of Lebanon) sociation manages Universitairepart of Paris. of the Cité sphere. religious freedoms and minorities in the private anon while protecting ACFL is a Paris-based association that aims to reinforce cultural ties between Lebanon and . The as France. and between ties Lebanon cultural reinforce to aims that association Paris-based is a ACFL 1949 France France Association) 1949 Cultural (Franco-Lebanese (ACFL) Libanaise Franco Association Culturelle Amis du Liban is a Lausanne-based, secular, apolitical association promoting peace in Lebanon and sup- in Lebanon peace apolitical association promoting secular, Amis du Liban is a Lausanne-based, communities. porting under-privileged (Friends of Lebanon in Switzerland) (Friends of Lebanon Suisse Amis du Liban en Diaspora organisations in Europe organisations Diaspora LIFE is a global, non-religious, apolitical support network of Lebanese professionals taking its roots in the in its roots taking global, non-religious,LIFE is a professionals apolitical support networkof Lebanese LIFE de worldwide, more than 10 countries encompassing Lebanon. including with a global reach diaspora, 2009 Executives (LIFE Lebanon) Finance International Lebanese among ties expertiseploys the ‘Connect’ (creating three mains pillars: expatriates of highly-skilled around and ‘Promote’ generations) of younger on the development (focused ‘Nurture’ a professionals), Lebanese and scholarships business networking offers events, organises LIFE economy). the Lebanese (targeting and of economic the development whilst encouraging job creation and promotes programmes, mentoring Lebanon. in financial policies

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