Call for Proposals: Assessing and Strengthening Farmers’ Movements in Lebanon

1. Background and Purpose

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) is a German political foundation affiliated with the German party “Die Linke” (the Left party). RLS is dedicated to political education and progressive social research. The RLS Regional Office in Beirut, established in May 2017, primarily supports projects in Lebanon and Iraq. Additionally, RLS publishes reports and analyses on developments in Iran and Syria

Agricultural governance in Lebanon has historically given limited voice to smallholder and agroecological farmers, leaving them underrepresented in decision-making and policy processes. Efforts to organize and advocate for farmer interests have emerged over the years in different regions, yet these have often been fragmented, lacked institutional continuity, or were insufficiently documented. As a result, valuable experience has been lost, and opportunities for building stronger collective structures have been missed.

To inform future support for farmer-led organizing, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung – Beirut Office seeks proposals for a participatory research initiative that will document and analyze past and present farmer organizing in Lebanon. The study should also examine selected examples from movements in the wider region to identify transferable approaches and lessons. Findings will be used to generate practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the capacity, sustainability, and influence of farmer-led structures in Lebanon.

2. Objectives

• To document and analyze the history and current dynamics of farmer organizing in Lebanon.
• To identify challenges, opportunities, and lessons from past and present mobilization efforts.
• To explore comparative experiences from the Arab region and extract relevant learnings.
• To produce actionable recommendations that support stronger, more sustained farmer-led organizing in Lebanon.

3. Deliverables

• Research report of upwards to ten pages concerning learnings from past and present farmer organizing in Lebanon with actionable recommendations for future mobilization efforts.

4. Eligibility & Requirements

• Proven experience in participatory research, especially with grassroots or farmer communities.
• Strong knowledge of Lebanon’s agri-food landscape, particularly smallholder or agroecological practices.
• Familiarity with regional farmer movements and/or social movements in the Arab world.
• Strong facilitation and documentation skills.
• Alignment with the values of RLS, including commitment to social justice, equity, and anti-discrimination.