From Crisis to Policy: Youth-Led Policy Labs for Lebanon’s Reconstruction

Swiss partners

• UNIBAS: Aya Kachi (main applicant)

 MENA partners

• Lebanese American University : Leila Dagher (main applicant)

Presentation of the project

This Swiss–Lebanese project establishes the first Youth-Led Policy Labs in Lebanon—a 12-month initiative that places university students aged 18–25 at the center of evidence-based policymaking in a country facing prolonged economic, political, and social crisis. Jointly implemented by Prof. Leila Dagher (Lebanese American University) and Prof. Aya Kachi (University of Basel), the project combines original empirical research with hands-on policy training in a real-world reconstruction context in the Beirut region.

The project addresses two urgent policy challenges facing Lebanon today: (1) how to integrate youth and affected communities into post-crisis reconstruction policymaking, particularly in Greater Beirut, and (2) how to prevent the continued loss (“brain drain”) of highly educated young people during prolonged compound crises. Through original surveys and focus groups conducted by participating students, the Policy Labs generate empirical evidence on inclusive reconstruction processes and youth brain retention, while building local capacity by training students in evidence-based policymaking through applied research.

Students work in two parallel Policy Labs under close academic supervision, leading all substantive research steps—from refining research questions and collecting data to analyzing findings and formulating policy recommendations. Training integrates qualitative and quantitative methods, ethical and trauma-sensitive fieldwork, and policy communication, ensuring that capacity building and knowledge production reinforce each other.

The project produces concrete, policy-relevant outputs, including two professional bilingual (Arabic–English) policy briefs coauthored by students and faculty, a fully anonymized and publicly accessible dataset deposited in open repositories, an open-access Youth-Led Policy Lab Toolkit (curriculum, instruments, ethical guidelines, and facilitation manuals) jointly published by the Lebanese and Swiss partners and designed for replication across crisis-affected MENA countries, and a highlevel closing policy dialogue in Beirut with key public, international, and private-sector stakeholders.

Anchored at LAU’s Center for Policy Action, the project contributes to Lebanon’s reconstruction while offering a scalable model for inclusive, evidence-driven policymaking in fragile and post-conflict contexts.