Coding Through Crisis: Building a Digital Social Protection System in Lebanon

Inclusive Finance Frontiers

In 2019, Lebanon witnessed the start of one of the most severe socio-economic crises globally since the mid-nineteenth century, plunging many Lebanese into poverty.

Amid the hardships, a new hope emerged in 2021. The World Bank set up a $246 million social safety net project and the Government of Lebanon (GoL) designed a registration platform for this program, with the help of Siren Associates, called DAEM (Arabic for "support"). Built in record time, DAEM is more than just a registry; it’s a fully localized social protection system that provides a lifeline to Lebanese families hit by crisis.

In this episode, we hear from the GoL, CGAP, the World Bank, and Siren Associates about how collaboration was key to DAEM’s success and how, even in the most challenging conditions, it’s possible to design solutions that go beyond emergency relief and sow the seeds for a more inclusive financial system. 

This is Season 2, Episode 6 of CGAP's podcast, Inclusive Finance Frontiers.

• Ahmed Fatih Ortakaya, Senior Social Protection Specialist, World Bank
• Carole Alsharabati, Research Director, SIREN Associates
• Marie Louise Abou Jaoudeh, Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) of the Government of Lebanon
• Nadine Chehade, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank 
• Souraya Sbeih, Consultant, CGAP 

Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. To learn more, visitwww.cgap.org. To share feedback, connect with us [e-mail]. 

This episode incorporates a news report from PBS NewsHour, Financial crisis leads some in Lebanon to rob banks to access their money.