Help families in Tripoli to fill their food basket

This is the 9th progress report submitted to GLOBAL GIVING Donors for The Social Grocery in Tripoli in regard to the provision of a new SG non-profit grocery store branch that sells basic households' food and non-food goods for a reduced price (Feb 2023 to Jun 2023).

The SOCIAL GROCERY is a financially sustainable social enterprise model that aims at achieving public good by allowing poor families to purchase their basic items for affordable prices.

This report covers the project activities undertaken during the period of Feb 2023 to Jun 2023.

Due to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, there is an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line in Lebanon. The Ministry of Social Affairs estimates that 20 per cent of the people who suffer from extreme poverty currently live below 4 dollars a day, compared to 8 per cent in 2019. Some researchers are indicating that the rate of people living in poverty has increased to 40 per cent and might even reach 50 or 70 per cent. In addition to the ongoing challenges in the country, the covid-19 health crisis and the lockdown influenced significantly the economy of Lebanon and led to a significant negative impact on vulnerable groups. Now almost half of Lebanon has fallen below that line. One of the most significant difficulties poor families are facing is the price rocketing of essential food and non-food items. With the currency losing more than half its value, food prices have soared. Some staples like rice have nearly tripled in price over the year. Long-term residents of Tripoli, including journalists who covered the civil war and subsequent conflict on their home turf, say they have never seen the city so depressed or tense. This increase in prices is sometimes justified due to the inflation in the national currency, but it is exaggerated in many cases. Poor families in Tripoli need cheaper options since commercial supermarkets are becoming extremely expensive.

• The Social Grocery donor's report 9 (PDF)
  

This is the 8th progress report submitted to GLOBAL GIVING Donors for The Social Grocery in Tripoli in regard to provision of a new SG non-profit grocery store branch that sells basic households’ food and non-food goods for a reduced price (October 2022 to January 2023). The SOCIAL GROCERY is a financially sustainable social enterprise model that aims at achieving public good by allowing poor families to purchase their basic items for affordable prices. This report covers the project activities undertaken during the period of October 2022 to January 2023. Due to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, there is an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line in Lebanon. The Ministry of Social Affairs estimates that 20 percent of the people who suffer from extreme poverty currently live below 4 dollars a day, compared to 8 percent in 2019. Some researchers are indicating that the rate of people living in poverty has increased to 40 percent and might even reach 50 or 70 percent. In addition to the ongoing challenges in the country, the covid-19 health crisis and the lockdown influenced significantly the economy of Lebanon and led to significant negative impact on vulnerable groups. Now almost half of Lebanon has fallen below that line. One of the most significant difficulties poor families are facing is the price rocketing of essential food and non-food items. With the currency losing more than half its value, food prices have soared. Some staples like rice have nearly tripled in price over the year. Long-term residents of Tripoli, including journalists who covered the civil war and subsequent conflict on their home turf, say they have never seen the city so depressed or tense. This increase in prices is sometimes justified due to the inflation in the national currency, but it is exaggerated in many cases. Poor families in Tripoli need cheaper options since commercial supermarkets are becoming extremely expensive.  
 

• The Social Grocery donor's report 8 (PDF)
  

This is the seventh progress report submitted to GLOBAL GIVING Donors for The Social Grocery in Tripoli in regard to the provision of a new SG non-profit grocery store branch that sells basic households’ food and non-food goods for a reduced price (June 2022 to September 2022). SOCIAL GROCERY is a financially sustainable social enterprise model that aims at achieving public good by allowing poor families to purchase their basic items for affordable prices. This report covers the project activities undertaken during the period of June to September 2022. Due to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, there is an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line in Lebanon. The Ministry of Social Affairs estimates that 20 per cent of the people who suffer from extreme poverty currently live below 4 dollars a day, compared to 8 percent in 2019. Some researchers are indicating that the rate of people living in poverty has increased to 40 percent and might even reach 50 or 70 percent. In addition to the ongoing challenges in the country, the covid-19 health crisis and the lockdown significantly influenced the economy of Lebanon and led to a significant negative impact on vulnerable groups. Now almost half of Lebanon has fallen below that line. One of the most significant difficulties poor families are facing is the price rocketing of essential food and non-food items. With the currency losing more than half its value, food prices have soared. Some staples like rice have nearly tripled in price over the year. Long-term residents of Tripoli, including journalists who covered the civil war and subsequent conflict on their home turf, say they have never seen the city so depressed or tense. This increase in prices is sometimes justified due to the inflation in the national currency, but it is exaggerated in many cases. Poor families in Tripoli need cheaper options since commercial supermarkets are becoming extremely expensive.  
 

• The Social Grocery donor's report 7 (PDF)
  

This is the Sixth progress report submitted to GLOBAL GIVING Donors for The Social Grocery in Tripoli in regard to provision of a new SG non-profit grocery store branch that sells basic households’ food and non-food goods for a reduced price (March 2022 to May 2022). The SOCIAL GROCERY is a financially sustainable social enterprise model that aims at achieving public good by allowing poor families to purchase their basic items for affordable prices. This report covers the project activities undertaken during the period of May to September 2020. Due to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, there is an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line in Lebanon. The Ministry of Social Affairs estimates that 20 percent of the people who suffer from extreme poverty currently live below 4 dollars a day, compared to 8 percent in 2019. Some researchers are indicating that the rate of people living in poverty has increased to 40 percent and might even reach 50 or 70 percent. In addition to the ongoing challenges in the country, the covid-19 health crisis and the lockdown influenced significantly the economy of Lebanon and led to significant negative impact on vulnerable groups. Now almost half of Lebanon has fallen below that line. One of the most significant difficulties poor families are facing is the price rocketing of essential food and non-food items. With the currency losing more than half its value, food prices have soared. Some staples like rice have nearly tripled in price over the year. Long-term residents of Tripoli, including journalists who covered the civil war and subsequent conflict on their home turf, say they have never seen the city so depressed or tense. This increase in prices is sometimes justified due to the inflation in the national currency, but it is exaggerated in many cases. Poor families in Tripoli need cheaper options since commercial supermarkets are becoming extremely expensive.

• The Social Grocery donor's report 6 (PDF)
  

With the support of our donors, The SOCIAL GROCERY in Tripoli opened its second branch in El Maloule and has a plan to scale up its model by opening more branches in other areas. The store is the first non-profit grocery in Lebanon and is meeting the need of poor families in Tripoli, to whom buying from commercial supermarkets is becoming extremely expensive. Due to the economic, financial and political crisis, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, almost half of the population in Lebanon has fallen below the poverty line while prices of food have been sky-rocketing.

The following results were achieved through a number of activities:
The SOCIAL GROCERY has currently two branches in Tripoli (Mina and Mallouleh) and has a plan to scale up its model by opening more branches in other areas. Consequently, the financial operations of the enterprise became relatively significant and complex and require a dedicated Finance and Accounting Officer to ensure transparency and division of labour. As for the first SG branch in Tripoli Mina, the SOCIAL GROCERY served more than 3000 walk-in clients as well as provided 130 very vulnerable clients with a card membership that allows them to buy products for almost wholesale price. In addition, 40 persons have signed up as members who buy products for an increased markup as a form of contribution and social solidarity.

• Donor's report 5 (DOCX)