Human rights international non-governmental organizations contributions to the sustainable development goals in Lebanon

Abstract

International Non-Governmental Organizations' (INGOs) contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a subject that has gained great attention within the academic and practical fields. The human rights INGOs have a leading role in contributing to the SDGs as recognized by the 2030 agenda with a particular focus on developing countries. Lebanon as a developing country has committed to the achievement of the 17 SDGs in 2015 and is considered on its average performance. The main role of INGOs in developing countries is to ensure that the 17 global SDGs can be translated from the international framework to the national context. Hence, the main objective of this study is to explore and evaluate human rights INGOs' contributions to the SDGs in Lebanon. Secondary and primary research methods were applied with a sequential mixed methods exploratory design following three phases of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods under the Theory of Change (TOC). This process allowed the author to explore and validate a total of 33 SDGs outcomes applicable to the case of human rights INGOs in Lebanon. Two semi-structured interviews with two program directors were conducted and a questionnaire with 227 INGOs employees was administered online to address their perceptions towards SDGs interventions. The findings obtained from the interviews were analyzed using a causal pathway analysis method and revealed 19 SDGs interventions as well as, areas of success and failure of the INGOs interviewed in contributing to the SDGs. The Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) technique was used to analyze the results of the questionnaire. Results provided insights on how to reallocate INGOs resources and prioritize INGOs interventions. The new insights gained as well as, the theoretical, practical, and methodological contributions of this thesis are numerous and of great added value for future studies.