Social Finance Brief: Ibdaa Microfinance's journey in serving refugees and host communities in Lebanon

In this brief, focusing on “Making Finance Work for Refugees”, the Social Finance Programme documents the experience of Ibda’a in Lebanon. Since its inception, Ibda’a has served Lebanese nationals and Palestine Refugees in Lebanon, guided by a strong social mission. This brief examines Ibda’a’s expansion to forcibly displaced borrowers, including Syrians and other nationalities, highlighting portfolio performance, evolving risk management practices and the legal and reputational constraints affecting financial inclusion in a context of restrictive government policies.