Home The CentreDiaspora for Research: Lebanon

The Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL), in collaboration with the Office of Research at the American University of Beirut (AUB), has launched a new network to convene Lebanese diaspora researchers and local research colleagues.

D4R: Lebanon is the first of a series of diaspora research networks that are currently being established for a range of crisis-affected and post-conflict settings.

Each tailored to the local context, the purpose of the networks is to convene diaspora academic research experts from across the globe and those from the crisis-affected setting, and facilitate connections and collaborations to help support in-country colleagues during and in the aftermath of humanitarian events.  Equally, diaspora will also benefit from the expertise, engagement and lived experience of colleagues in the crisis-affected setting.

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D4R Activities

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Who will the network convene?

D4R: Lebanon will convene any researcher of Lebanese background in the diaspora or in Lebanon, and those working in the research administration and management space. The network is open to those from all disciplinary and thematic backgrounds.

Register for D4R:Lebanon on the AUB website.

The D4R story

The D4R initiative was born out of an existing strong collaborative relationship between CHL and the American University of Beirut, with the initial concept conceived during the 2024 war in Lebanon.  Seed funding from the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) was received to conceptualise and establish D4R: Lebanon. A joint CHL-AUB Secretariat was assembled, co-chaired by Dr Marian Abouzeid (CHL) and Prof Elie Akl (AUB) and supported by co-ordinators from both institutions (Petra Helal, CHL and Rima Rassi, AUB). Following the intensive co-conceptualisation and establishment phase, D4R: Lebanon will be wholly administered and managed by AUB. Consistent with CHL’s values of supporting localisation and empowering local leaders, ownership of this important initiative will now be fully transferred to Lebanon. CHL is proud to have co-founded this important effort.

D4R: Lebanon is the first of a series of diaspora research networks that are being established for a range of crisis-affected and post-conflict settings.

D4R vision, mission and values

Vision

D4R envisages a world in which knowledge production ecosystems challenged with crises are resilient, responsive, inclusive and agile, able to generate locally-led and contextually relevant research and drive innovations and creativity, towards stronger research capacities, institutions and infrastructures.

Mission

D4R works to support a system that delivers timely, impactful research that can inform real-world action in crisis-affected and post-conflict settings. Mobilising expertise and empowering leadership in-country and within the diaspora, D4R drives connections and encourages collaborations, helping amplify voices and facilitating surge support to the local research community whilst enabling an avenue for diaspora to support initiatives in their country of origin.

Values

  • Collaboration: Fostering partnerships and inclusive engagement with diverse stakeholders.
  • Courage: Promoting a culture of courage, where difficult issues are discussed respectfully, diverse perspectives are encouraged, and injustices bravely challenged.
  • Innovation: Encouraging innovative approaches and solutions to address complex systems challenges.
  • Integrity: Upholding ethical approaches, accountability and transparency in all activities.
  • Inclusivity: Ensuring that all activities are culturally sensitive, contextually appropriate and inclusive.

Key links

Image: Photo by Jo Kassis from Pexels