Women & Youth Leading Development (WYLD)

We’re excited to announce the launch of the WYLD Project, an inclusive new initiative designed to empower women and youth led Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Lebanon to lead community-driven development in collaboration with municipalities.

Lebanon is experiencing a deep and prolonged crisis marked by economic collapse, political instability, and weakened trust in public institutions. Citizens face limited access to services, declining governance, and widespread exclusion from decision-making processes.

Women and youth are particularly affected by these challenges:

• Youth unemployment has reached nearly 48%, leaving young people excluded from meaningful civic and economic participation.
• Lebanon ranks among the lowest in the region on gender equality, with women underrepresented in both politics and governance.
• Civil society organisations led by women and youth, despite their crucial role at the grassroots level, remain under-recognised, under-resourced, and excluded from municipal planning.

Yet across Lebanon, women and youth-led CSOs are active drivers of change, supporting their communities through social, cultural, and environmental initiatives. WYLD seeks to empower these actors by connecting them to municipal partners, building their skills, and resourcing their initiatives—creating a stronger, more inclusive foundation for local development.

OBJECTIVES

The WYLD Project aims to:

1. Strengthen collaboration between municipalities and women/youth-led CSOs through co-designed community projects.
2. Empower women and youth leaders with skills, confidence, and visibility to lead change.
3. Support the implementation of 12 community development projects that reflect local needs and priorities.
4. Promote inclusive, transparent, and participatory governance at the local level.

Challenge social norms and shift perceptions of women and youth as legitimate and capable civic leaders.