​Despite this large deficit, which renders the state incapable of assuming its responsibilities and stops its realization of the projects and activities expected of it, the state continues to finance a large number of non-governmental organizations associated with certain sects and politicians to facilitate, in turn, their provision of healthcare and social services, which, in principle, are at the very core of the state’s mission. Some of these NGOs substitute for the absence of the state in certain areas and offer useful assistance, appreciated both by their beneficiaries and followers. Others, usually constituting the larger portion, however, invest the public funds allocated to them in either personal or delusional projects in favor of persons within their close circles.

 

The largest amount of government spending on NGOs is provided through the Ministry of Social Affairs, which uses two mechanisms for spending:

-    Assigning  allocations

-    Signing joint agreements with NGOs, according to which the latter undertakes certain activities (for example, establishing a dispensary or a nursery, etc.).Theoretically, expenses are to be divided between the ministry and the association in question. But scratching beneath the surface shows that although primary spending is handled by the state, most of the beneficiaries pledge gratitude to the association or the sects or the authorities giving out the funding, mistaking one of the above as the primary provider of funds.

 

Most striking is that the substantial deficit in public budget did not prompt a reconsideration of the spending policy for NGOs. Ironically, spending is still in full swing and is unlikely to be frozen or scaled down amidst the current sectarian, regional and political quotas governing the state’s policies, to the detriment of the general concept of the state itself. 

 

According to the contracts signed between the Ministry of Social Affairs and NGOs, allocations worth roughly LBP 140 billion were assigned to 366 associations serving close to 40,000 citizens.

 

1- Agreements with associations caring for the disabled

The ministry has agreements with 94 associations concerned with the care, education and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. The beneficiaries from the services of these associations total 8340 and are distributed as follows:

-    5787 members in educational programs

-    2417 members in training programs

-    136 members in technical education programs

  

Over the course of 365 days, the Ministry covers each beneficiary by paying the association a daily allocation that varies depending on the disability of each member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is noteworthy that 5 associations out of 94 caring for the disabled snatched up 36.8% of the total LBP 65 billion offered by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The share of each of them exceeded LBP 2 billion with the Kafaat topping the list at LBP 10 billion.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Social Affairs has agreements with 165 social welfare associations concerned with sheltering, educating and caring for the poor and the downtrodden. These agreements are worth roughly LBP 63.5 billion and benefit 30,205 members distributed as follows:

-    Education (inpatient programs): 13,259 members

-    Vocational education (inpatient programs): 2,968 members

-    Vocational training (inpatient programs): 1,220 members

-    Vocational education (outpatient programs): 9,266 members

-    Vocational training (outpatient programs): 1,794 members

-    Infants: 797 members

-    Elderly people: 901 members

 

The following are the daily allocations assigned per member over the course of 365 days:

-    Regular social welfare: LBP 6,250

-    Vocational education (inpatient services): LBP 5,750

-    Vocational education (outpatient services): LBP 3,750

-    Vocational training (inpatient services): LBP 4,750

-    Vocational training (outpatient services): LBP 2,750

-    Infants: LBP 16,000

-    Elderly people: LBP 17,500

 

The Ministry of Social Affairs signs agreements with roughly 85 associations- both civil and religious- worth close to LBP 3.9 billion annually as illustrated in Table 2. The number of agreements varies from year to year but remains within this range, noting that the majority of such agreements are virtual contacts offering no tangible projects.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Social Affairs is also committed to contracts with 11 institutions caring for difficult social cases among segments of population deemed at a risk of deviation. 567 people benefit from the services of these institutions and the Ministry’s contribution goes up to LBP 1 billion as illustrated in Table 3.

 

Over the course of 365 days, the Ministry pays the following daily allocations per beneficiary:

-    Outpatient drug addicts: LBP 12,000

-    Inpatient drug addicts: LBP 23,000

-    AIDS patients: LBP 9000

-    Abused women and females at risk of delinquency (inpatient services): LBP 22,000

-    Infants (inpatient services): LBP 13,000

-    Juveniles at risk (inpatient services): LBP 22,000

-    Elderly, adults and homeless persons (inpatient services): LBP 14,000
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ministry has signed agreements aimed at caring for juveniles deemed to be at risk with 11 associations assisting 634 juveniles. The worth of these agreements stood at LBP 2.6 billion as illustrated in Table 4, the Ministry’s daily assistance being LBP 22,000 for inpatient care and LBP 6,384 for outpatient care. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While some, in particular the heads of these NGOs, may claim that the assistance delivered by the Ministry can only cover a minor portion of the costs they shoulder, their statement seems inaccurate especially that they’re receiving uninterrupted aid over the course of 365 days for those beneficiaries who do not benefit from the services over this entire period. Also large numbers, particularly those in inpatient facilities, spend different periods of the year with their parents and families especially during holidays and vacations. Thus, the burden placed on NGOs is mitigated by putting them in a position where they can make profits rather than be in deficit, not forgetting the donations they obtain from the public sector. Why does the state not minimize these expenses or at least manage the distribution of funds properly so as to stop squandering and make its contribution commensurate with the services provided?