Help families in Tripoli to fill their food basket

This is the 12th progress report submitted to GLOBAL GIVING Donors for The Social Grocery that sells basic households' food and non-food goods for a reduced price (Feb 2024 to June 2024).

The SOCIAL GROCERY is a financially sustainable social enterprise model that aims at achieving public good by allowing poor families to purchase their basic items for affordable prices.

This report covers the project activities undertaken from Feb 2024 to June 2024. Due to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, poverty in Lebanon has more than tripled over the past decade reaching 44% of the total population, according to a new World Bank report released on May 2024. Based on a recent household survey covering the five governorates of Akkar, Beirut, Bekaa, North Lebanon and most of Mount Lebanon, the report finds that 1 out of every 3 Lebanese in these areas was poverty stricken in 2022, highlighting the critical need to strengthen social safety nets and create jobs to help alleviate poverty and address widening inequality.

In addition to the ongoing challenges in the country, influenced significantly the economy of Lebanon and led to a significant negative impact on vulnerable groups. Now almost half of Lebanon has fallen below that line. One of the most significant difficulties poor families are facing is the price rocketing of essential food and non-food items. With the currency losing more than half its value, food prices have soared. Some staples like rice have nearly tripled in price over the year. Long-term residents of Tripoli, including journalists who covered the civil war and subsequent conflict on their home turf, say they have never seen the city so depressed or tense. This increase in prices is sometimes justified due to the inflation in the national currency, but it is exaggerated in many cases. Poor families in Tripoli need cheaper options since commercial supermarkets are becoming extremely expensive.