Vision
A leading foundation for an empowered and active community.
About us
A non-profit civil development organisation working since 1973 to build people, strengthen families and empower local communities across Lebanon.
The Social Development Foundation is a non-profit social development organisation founded in Beirut in 1973. It contributes to community development by focusing on the family and on human resources through training, qualification and awareness.
The Foundation delivers an integrated community-service approach in the local environment through programmes for child care, literacy, vocational training, awareness and guidance. It pays special attention to youth, women and those with fewer opportunities in education, skills and access to resources, supporting family stability and safeguarding its social and economic security.
Over five decades the Foundation has built wide field experience in relief, crisis response and long-term community development, through a deep network of partnerships with ministries, municipalities, civil associations and international organisations.
Identity card
مؤسسة الإنماء الاجتماعي
Social Development Foundation
Founded7 November 1973
- Legal status
- Non-profit civil association
- Licence
- Notification No. 316 / A.D
- Scope of work
- Lebanese governorates
- Registration
- General Directorate of Political Affairs and Refugees — Ministry of Interior and Municipalities
- Financial registration
- Lebanese Ministry of Finance
- Headquarters
- Beirut — Tariq al-Jadida, Al-Bustani Street, Kobeissi Building
Mission
To help widen the choices of young women and men and build their capacities, and to support the foundations of the family and its access to resources.
The values we work by
Human dignity
People are the real capital, and building their capacities is the core of our work.
Family cohesion
The family is the first unit of stability and the basis of any sustainable development.
Justice & inclusion
Priority for those with fewer opportunities in education, skills and resources.
Partnership
No development without integration with municipalities, associations and institutions.
Transparency
Audited accounts and periodic reports to official bodies and supporters.
Volunteering
Local volunteer teams are the driving force behind our programmes.
General objectives
- Contribute to community development by focusing on the family and on human resources through training, qualification and awareness.
- Deliver an integrated community service in the local environment through child care, literacy, vocational training and guidance programmes.
- Provide advanced social development services that strengthen sufficiency, cohesion and balance within the family.
- Enable youth, women and those with fewer opportunities to reach resources, education and jobs.
- Support family stability and safeguard the social and economic security of the Lebanese family.
- Promote environmental protection, social cohesion and equality in local communities.
Seven fields of work
Family & social cohesion
Programmes that support the foundations of the family, its cohesion and balance, and safeguard its social and economic security.
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Education & literacy
Adult literacy programmes, support for activities that counter school dropout, and extracurricular activities for children.
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Vocational training & jobs
Vocational and IT training centres and courses that support employment for youth and early school leavers.
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Health & community awareness
Health awareness and vaccination campaigns, blood-type testing, first aid, and disaster management and evacuation.
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Relief & emergency response
Shelter and reception-centre management, distribution of food rations and heating supplies, and damage and needs assessment.
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Women & youth empowerment
Women's awareness activities and support for patients, leadership and self-development courses, trainer preparation and project writing, and courses in embroidery, sewing and family support.
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Environment & local development
Source-sorting of waste projects in partnership with municipalities, voluntary work camps and agricultural guidance.
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Target groups
Families
Families in need, displaced families and host communities.
Youth & children
Students, graduates and early school leavers.
Women
Homemakers, women who head households, and those with fewer opportunities.
Fifty years of resilience and innovation
From relief and shelter to peace education and empowerment, then training and digital transformation. One red thread links every milestone, like the arc of our logo.
1973
Founding and early engagement
The Foundation is established in Beirut and engages from day one in community projects and in field partnerships with official authorities, municipalities, youth associations and scouts, especially Jarrah Scouts and Jarrah Guides.
1975 — 1983
A pivotal role in relief
Providing shelter for displaced people, running reception centres, distributing food rations, and patient transport across regions, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs.
1977
Camps and shelters
Organising camps for displaced people with scout associations, and helping equip shelters in Sidon, Beirut, the Bekaa and Tripoli.
1982
A key response partner
A partner of the Ministry of Social Affairs in securing and distributing food storage, and in assessing damage in Beirut, Tariq al-Jadida and the South.
1984 onward
Moving to social-support programmes
Community, health and family awareness campaigns, local-community empowerment, adult literacy support and school-dropout prevention.
1988
Statistics and social surveys
Taking part through volunteer teams in statistical and social surveys under the King Fahd project, with Oger Liban and the Hariri Foundation.
The 1990s
Opportunity camps and peace education
Summer camps for children in the South and the Bekaa with the Middle East Council of Churches, participation in UNICEF's peace-education programme, and training of trainers and unit leaders with Jarrah Scouts and Guides.
The 2000s
Safe spaces and activity centres
Activity centres and safe spaces for children and young people for recreational and cultural activities and capacity building, alongside surveys and social support for families in need.
2006
Receiving displaced families
Receiving displaced people and providing support during the July war in Beirut, Sidon, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and the North.
2011 onward
Responding to the Syrian crisis
Vocational training centres and IT and music courses, health awareness and vaccination campaigns with the Ministry of Health in displacement areas, and source-sorting of waste projects with municipalities in Marj.
Ongoing presence
Current programmes
Extracurricular activities for children with international organisations, distribution of food and heating supplies, health awareness, blood-type testing and first aid, and support for breast-cancer patients and honouring mothers.
Today · 2026
Towards the training and development arm
Launching Al-Inmaa Center for Training & Empowerment “Bunyan”: a platform combining capacity building, digital transformation, AI and social innovation.
Field presence
From Beirut to the Bekaa, the South, the North and Mount Lebanon: choose a region to see its towns and our documented work there.
- 5Regions with field presence
- 21towns and neighbourhoods in our documented work
Click a region on the map, or its card, to highlight its figures.
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- Tariq al-Jadida
- Zarif
- Karakol al-Druze
- Ras al-Nabaa
Documented highlights: Headquarters in Tariq al-Jadida. Reception and shelter centres and food-ration distribution (1975–1983), damage assessment (1982), safe spaces and activity centres, and receiving displaced families in the July 2006 war.
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- Aley and surroundings
Documented highlights: Field presence in Aley and its surroundings, and receiving displaced families and providing support in Mount Lebanon during the July 2006 war.
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- Tripoli (Zahrieh, Qobbeh, Abi Samra)
- Mina
- Beddawi
- Mrebbata
- Sir al-Dinniyeh
- Minieh
Documented highlights: Health awareness and vaccination campaigns with the Ministry of Health in Tripoli and Akkar as part of the Syrian-crisis response, and receiving displaced families in the North in 2006.
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- Arsal
- Ras Baalbek
- Saadnayel
- Taalabaya
- Qab Elias
- Marj
Documented highlights: Health awareness and vaccination campaigns, distribution of food and heating supplies in displacement areas, source-sorting of waste projects with municipalities in Marj (West Bekaa), and children's summer camps in the 1990s.
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- Sidon
- Jezzine
- Tyre
- Nabatieh / Kfar Roummane
Documented highlights: Camps for displaced people and equipping shelters in Sidon (1977), damage assessment in the South (1982), and opportunity and peace-education camps in the 1990s.
Governance & transparency
A registered, audited organisation working within a network of official and international partnerships.
Notification No. 316 / A.D
Registered with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities — General Directorate of Political Affairs and Refugees.
Financial registration
Registered with Lebanon's Ministry of Finance under the applicable regulations.
Audited accounts
Financial statements and the annual budget are audited and approved by the board and the general assembly, and submitted yearly to the Ministry of Finance.
An elected board
The general assembly elects the board every two years.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the Foundation and its programmes.
What is the Social Development Foundation?
A non-profit civil development association founded in Beirut on 7 November 1973, working to build people, strengthen families and empower local communities across Lebanon through training, qualification and awareness.
Is the Foundation officially licensed?
Yes. It is registered under Notification No. 316/A.D with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and with the Ministry of Finance, and its audited accounts are submitted to the Ministry of Finance every year.
What is the Bunyan centre?
Al-Inmaa Center for Training & Empowerment, the Foundation's training and development arm. It offers four training bags (AI, Training of Trainers, soft skills, social media) using a “productive training” model that links training to real paid work. The centre is in its launch phase.
Where does the Foundation work?
In Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the North and Akkar, the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel, and the South and Nabatieh, with its headquarters in Tariq al-Jadida, Beirut.
How do I verify a certificate issued by the centre?
Enter the serial number printed on the certificate, or scan its QR code, on the certificate verification page.
How can I partner with the Foundation or support its programmes?
Contact us through the Partner & contact page or WhatsApp, and we will design a programme with you with measurable impact indicators.