The Aspen Institute

The week of November 12, 2016 the Aspen Institute and the Middle East Investment Initiative will co-lead a Partnership Opportunity Delegation (POD) to Lebanon, where participants will engage in meetings and conversations around innovative local solutions to addressing both the refugee crisis and other sustainable development challenges in Lebanon. Delegates will have the opportunity to meet with entrepreneurs, foundations, local investors, accelerators, as well as international organizations and NGOs working to address the most pressing development obstacles.

The Middle East, particularly Lebanon, faces an unprecedented influx of refugees due to the ongoing civil war in Syria the need for sustainable solutions to key social services are acute both for Lebanese and
the refugee communities they host. Despite the instability, local communities are finding new and innovative ways to identify solutions to local community needs, especially in areas of health, education, water, and sanitation. These entrepreneurs have the power to fill service gaps that government, aid agencies and relief organizations do not have the capacity to do.