Show Notes
On the fourth episode of Alternative Frequencies, Nadim El Kak is joined by Energy Policy Consultant and LCPS Fellow Jessica Obeid to discuss the factors that have led Lebanon into its ongoing blackouts, why attempts at reforming the electricity sector have failed, and what can be done to address the range of issues plaguing the sector.
في الحلقة الرابعة من بودكاست غيّر الموجة، تنضم إلى نديم القاق المستشارة في السياسات الخاصة بالطاقة وزميلة باحثة في المركز اللبناني للدراسات جيسيكا عبيد لمناقشة العوامل التي اوصلت لبنان إلى الظلام، لماذا فشلت محاولات إصلاح قطاع الكهرباء، وما الذي يمكن فعله لمعالجة القضايا التي يعاني منها القطاع.
Resources:
Lebanon’s Power Sector: Making Reforms Work
The Government Monitor No. 3: Scrutinizing Lebanon’s Electricity Plan
Electricity Subsidies: Benefiting some Regions More than Others
الإصلاح السياسي في الكهرباء: هل من خيبات أمل جديدة؟
نحو تصويب النقاش في مسألة الكهرباء في لبنان
More from Alternative Frequencies | غيّر الموجة
Bassel Akar discusses with LCPS Researcher Christelle Barakat Lebanon's public education system in times of war and crisis, focusing on the need for reforms and ways of increasing inclusion and sustainability in the schools. Bassel Akar is a Research Associate at the Center for African Studies, University of Porto, Portugal. From 2014 to 2021, he served as the Director of the Center for Applied Research in Education at NDU. Over the past 16 years, his research and development work in education has focused on lower middle-income conflict-affected countries, namely Lebanon and those in the wider Arab region. Currently, he leads a number of research studies on education in crises-affected areas for international agencies and governments.
In this podcast, Carlos Naffah speaks with LCPS researcher Rasha Akel about the dynamics between Syrian refugees and Lebanese returnees in Ghobeiry, a municipality in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Naffah discusses a study he conducted after the 2023 conflict which explores how these two communities—both impacted by displacement and economic hardship—navigate coexistence in a strained environment. Through interviews with local residents, authorities, and civil society actors, the study reveals a complex reality marked by both tension and interdependence.
Walid Marrouch discusses with LCPS Senior Economic Researcher Lina Maddah the pressing issues of poverty and income inequality in Lebanon. Drawing from recent research and data, the conversation explores the impact of Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis, the role of governance and public policy, and the urgent reforms needed to protect vulnerable populations—especially young people.
Jasmin Lilian Diab speaks with LCPS researcher Christelle Barakat about the intersecting impacts of conflict, economic collapse, and political paralysis on emigration from Lebanon. The conversation examines the structural and immediate drivers of departure, the growth of irregular migration routes, and the policy challenges these trends present.
Marc Ayoub and Ahmad Diab discuss with LCPS researcher Rasha Akel the role of Lebanon’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country’s clean energy transition. Drawing on a year-long LCPS mixed-methods study conducted between October 2023 and July 2024, the conversation explores how MSMEs have adapted to overlapping crises—from economic collapse to energy shortages—by embracing renewable energy solutions. The episode highlights key findings, challenges, and policy recommendations aimed at supporting MSMEs as drivers of sustainable change in Lebanon.