Our commitment to the Middle East
Caritas Switzerland has supported crisis-affected populations in the Middle East since 2012, with a strategic focus on Syria and Lebanon. Through country offices in Beirut and Damascus and strong partnerships with local actors, we deliver principled, locally led humanitarian and recovery programming across key regions in the different countries.
Our work centers on cash-assistance, livelihoods, education, and protection, with embedded MEAL and finance support strengthening partner’s capacity. Our overall objective is to improve the living conditions, resilience, and self-reliance of vulnerable crisis-affected populations through principled, locally led, and context-specific programming.
Priorities of our work in the Middle East
The following operational priorities define the work of Caritas Switzerland in the Middle East.
Partners and networks
We work with strong national and international partners in Syria, Lebanon and in Gaza:
- In Syria, Caritas Syria and the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East (GOPA - DERD) are the main partners.
- In Lebanon, we partner with Caritas Lebanon and Amel Association to implement our programs.
- In Gaza, we work with Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Jerusalem. In other countries of the Middle East the national Caritas network partner is the logical counterpart.
Partnerships are built on shared principles and strengthened through continuous support in MEAL, protection, cash programming, and financial management to ensure quality and sustainability.
We are an active contributor to relevant coordination mechanisms at regional, national levels and is a member of both the Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum and the Syria NGO Forum. Caritas Switzerland co-led the Cash Working Group in Damascus for five consecutive years and continues to engage in working groups and clusters across sectors including Basic Needs, Livelihoods, Education, and Protection. In Lebanon, we participate in national coordination forums, including the Livelihoods Sector Working Group, and supports learning processes through joint research and evidence generation.
Caritas Switzerland’s Middle East Program (MEP) is a regional program covering Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, and Iran. It is managed under a unified strategy that fosters synergies in CVA, livelihoods, education, psycho-social support, social cohesion, and locally led action. The setup promotes cross-context learning, tool adaptation, and partner support, whereas lessons learned are shared globally to strengthen institutional quality.
Building on this regional foundation, the MEP is broadening its strategic reach by diversifying funding sources and engaging nontraditional donors – from private foundations to publicsector partners – while continuing to cultivate strong ties with institutional donors such as SDC, SwS, and ECHO to ensure greater sustainability and amplify program impact.
Due to the increased uncertainty and levels of conflicts in the region, Caritas Switzerland adjusted its geographic coverage. Transitioning out of the first emergency response phase, the Gaza context was integrated into the Syria Response Program and merged into the Middle East Program.
To ensure timely, effective, and principled humanitarian action in crisis situations, Caritas Switzerland intends to reinforce its collaboration with local Caritas partners across the MENA region, with an initial focus on Caritas Jerusalem, Caritas Iraq, and Caritas Iran.
Header image: Destroyed in the war: the Syrian city of Aleppo. © Hasan Belal