Our Story
45 Years of Sustainable Human Development
Since 1979
The years of war and turmoil between 1975 and 1990 had a destructive impact on the Lebanese economy and society at the political, administrative, educational, and security levels as well as on urban infrastructure. Lebanon was in economic isolation; the cost of total direct and indirect losses was estimated at 100 billion USD. Lebanese human capital was affected by war dynamics and repercussions; with 150,000 dead, 300,000 wounded or disabled, 17,000 missing, 1 million displaced, and 600,000 seeking refuge, an exceptional intervention was needed.
The Hariri Choice
In 1979, martyr H.E. Rafic Hariri took the decision to launch an unprecedented national rescue mission aimed at ending the war and saving Lebanon from isolation and intolerance and responding to the collapse and destruction. H.E. Rafic Hariri and H.E. Bahia Hariri incepted Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, launching its first program to invest in nearly 36,000 students from all Lebanese regions and backgrounds through funding educational scholarships to pursue their studies in national and international universities and institutions across 27 countries worldwide.
This educational program was paralleled with a national mission led by H.E. Rafic Hariri for reconstruction and state-building through the empowerment of institutions and individuals. Hariri Foundation embarked on the national mission, investing in knowledge and education and capitalizing on their potentials in disengaging young people from war and indulging them in building a safe, stable and prosperous future for Lebanon.
Investing in People;
Investing in Lebanon’s Future
Martyr H.E. Rafic Hariri
Well into its fifth decade since its inception, the foundation, presided by H.E. Bahia Hariri, has implemented more than 200 projects and activated more than 30 dedicated development centers across Lebanon. Hariri Foundation has effectively localized ever-transforming global frameworks and scientific modalities to address the needs and potentials of Lebanese sectoral societies and local communities.
The Hariri’s choice through Hariri Foundation has been perceived to be the first-of-its-kind social and developmental framework in the Arab world for reorganizing post-conflict societies and promoting public order, where the whole of society is empowered to take part in sustainable national development.
Hariri Foundation has ever since expanded its scope of work, shifting towards a more diversified portfolio of interventions aimed at national state-building and sustainable human development. Over the course of more than four decades, the foundation has advanced its approach and developed its programs and services to address national and global transformations. It has become a lead advocate of sustainable human development, expanding its developmental role to mainstream best practices of sustainability and resilience.
The foundation has collaborated with hundreds of international and local organizations and networks to achieve Agenda 21, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Decades
Decennial
As a direct response to the needs of the war-afflicted population, the Foundation managed to secure the future of 34,000 Lebanese youth by extending scholarships at 1,766 universities and colleges worldwide.
The rescue mission represented a confirmation of its belief that investing in people is synonymous with investing in Lebanon’s future. Such interventions have turned the page of conflicts in Lebanon and Martyr PM Rafic Hariri’s rescue mission during the Lebanese civil war constituted the exit of the country from a dark chapter in its history. He ceased the impact of the civil war through his legacy of reconstruction, education, and social inclusion.
Vicennial
In its capacity as an NGO, the Foundation has worked on promoting social cohesion and safeguarding civil accord in post-war period. Individual and institutional capacity building was at the heart of its operations.
This decade was marked by the return of the international development community to Lebanon. The foundation has led the reconstruction process upon international standards and in tandem with human development. This has regained people’s trust in the state and generated job opportunities and investments in Lebanon.
Tricennial
Based on the foundation’s leading role as a partner with the private and public sectors in the sustainable development process, a thorough review of the Foundation’s achievements was conducted taking into consideration the development pillars and the need to act in prospect rather than retrospect and to establish balanced partnerships.
Quadragennial
The Foundation focused on building the capacities of local authorities through strategic approaches and partnerships, civil society organizations to enhance their role in the development process for greater specialization and influence in their work, and youth to enable them as a leading partner in all stations of the decision-making process at the local and national levels.
Quindecennial
As a direct response to the needs of the war-afflicted population, the Foundation managed to secure the future of 34,000 Lebanese youth by extending scholarships at 1,766 universities and colleges worldwide.
The rescue mission represented a confirmation of its belief that investing in people is synonymous with investing in Lebanon’s future. Such interventions have turned the page of conflicts in Lebanon and Martyr PM Rafic Hariri’s rescue mission during the Lebanese civil war constituted the exit of the country from a dark chapter in its history. He ceased the impact of the civil war through his legacy of reconstruction, education, and social inclusion.
In its capacity as an NGO, the Foundation has worked on promoting social cohesion and safeguarding civil accord in post-war period. Individual and institutional capacity building was at the heart of its operations.
This decade was marked by the return of the international development community to Lebanon. The foundation has led the reconstruction process upon international standards and in tandem with human development. This has regained people’s trust in the state and generated job opportunities and investments in Lebanon.
Based on the foundation’s leading role as a partner with the private and public sectors in the sustainable development process, a thorough review of the Foundation’s achievements was conducted taking into consideration the development pillars and the need to act in prospect rather than retrospect and to establish balanced partnerships.
The Foundation has invested in its achievements as a leading partner and donor in sustainable development projects to expand its partnerships and communication at the regional and international levels.
The Foundation focused on building the capacities of local authorities through strategic approaches and partnerships, civil society organizations to enhance their role in the development process for greater specialization and influence in their work, and youth to enable them as a leading partner in all stations of the decision-making process at the local and national levels.
