Drawing on field research in Sad el Boushrieh and Dekweneh, the report challenges the dominant narrative that Syrian refugees are a burden and instead highlights their active role in sustaining key sectors of Lebanon’s informal economy. It argues that the current policy of containment and legal exclusion undermines both refugee livelihoods and national economic recovery. The report calls for a pragmatic shift toward structured economic inclusion, emphasizing that integrating refugees into the formal labor market is in Lebanon’s strategic interest. Key recommendations focus on legal reform, vocational training, improved donor coordination, and more inclusive public discourse. With the right frameworks in place, the presence of Syrian refugees can become a catalyst for resilience and shared development. The report is a timely contribution to evidence-based policymaking in a context of ongoing crisis.
