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October 2023
From Response to Recovery in Eastern Libya
USAID Country Representative John Cardenas meets with Special Envoy Ambassador Norland and AFRICOM Commander General Langley in Tripoli.
USAID provided relief supplies to the Libyan Red Crescent whose volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the supplies reached communities in need.
Following the devastating floods last month that were a result of Storm Daniel, more than 42,000 people remain displaced across Benghazi, Al Butnan, Darnah, Al Jabal al Akhdar, and Al Marj districts, according to the International Organization for Migration. To address the ongoing humanitarian needs, the U.S. government has committed $12 million and sent 13 tons of relief supplies. USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) disaster relief experts are ensuring coordination with Libyan government entities and humanitarian partners.
USAID Country Representative John Cardenas arrived in Tripoli on September 21 for a multi-day trip to meet with Libyan government officials. As life-saving humanitarian assistance in the worst-affected areas concludes, USAID is also focused on the needs of displaced people who are unable to return home. Working in coordination with the UN, USAID is assessing how it can best support the shift from the disaster response phase to early recovery and reconstruction. The road to recovery will be challenging, but USAID continues to stand with the people of Libya and remains committed to assisting them during this difficult time.
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Information is as Important as Food and Water After a Disaster
 El Kul “Lifeline” production team develops vital, lifesaving information for Libyans impacted by the floods.
For victims of natural disasters, information is a lifeline. In a crisis, people need information they can trust about how to get help and what to do next. It is as critical as food, water, and shelter. Communication builds trust while also managing community expectations. It allows people to make informed decisions for themselves and their family.
However, in Libya, where the information landscape has been influenced by a complex and volatile political environment and disinformation from malign actors, victims of the devastating floods in the east were unsure of where to turn for accurate information. USAID’s implementing partner, El Kul, is Libya’s largest public interest media outlet, producing accurate and impartial content for 1.3 million followers – nearly one fifth of all Libyans. As Storm Daniel approached Libya, El Kul, which normally focuses on topics related to social cohesion, pivoted its coverage to provide lifesaving information. El Kul quickly created ‘Lifeline’ content about how to stay safe in a hurricane, water use after flooding, and where to find aid.
As the affected communities begin transitioning to recovery efforts, El Kul is sharing lifesaving information from trusted organizations such as the Libyan Red Crescent, ICRC, and Libyan Center for Disease Control. It is also helping to stop the spread of disinformation. El Kul’s efforts are filling a vital communication gap with posts that have reached more than 3.7 million people on Facebook and 461,000 on Instagram. El Kul’s courageous team of local reporters continue to ensure flood affected Libyans have information vital to their safety and recovery as the region starts to rebuild.
Partnering with Sebha Municipality to Create Economic Opportunities
 MOU signing ceremony in Sebha.
Poverty, unemployment, and inequality in economic opportunities within vulnerable communities played a role in southern Libya's conflict and fragility. USAID’s Libya Economic Acceleration Program (LEAP) is working to address these disparities by providing a variety of tools to help local entrepreneurs succeed. Recently, USAID signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sebha Municipal government to co-fund a civic entrepreneurship initiative under its recently established Municipal Entrepreneurship and Incubation Office. Municipal priorities include introducing e-government functionality to allow constituents to access services online, fostering entrepreneurship, seeking opportunities to empower local talent, and creating economic opportunities for youth.
Through the “Civic Innovators: Entrepreneurship for Public Solutions” initiative, LEAP and the Sebha Municipality will work with 15 entrepreneurs on business incubation and upskilling that would help their businesses potentially qualify for future government contracts. LEAP’s training, coaching, and mentorship enables young Libyans to take viable business ideas and turn them into profitable enterprises. The municipality’s commitment to co-funding this initiative highlights its trust in USAID as a strong partner to increase economic resiliency in the region. USAID will be able to nurture the socio-economic landscape in Sebha and foster local talent through this pilot initiative, while supporting the local municipality as it pursues its commitment to local development and economic growth.
Underrepresented Groups Across Libya Support Flood Victims
Ghat/Berket aid convoy reaches Derna .
The recent catastrophic flooding in Libya left many communities in distress, their lives upended, and their futures uncertain. In response, Libya’s Tebu, Tuareg, and Amazigh communities quickly mobilized to organize convoys of relief supplies.
After receiving distress messages from Tebu families in the East, members of the Tebu National Assembly traveled to Derna to help identify missing Tebu families, re-establish communications, and assist with relief efforts. Tebu,Tuareg, and Amazigh from multiple communities organized drives to collect medical supplies, food, emergency blankets, hygiene items, generators, cash, livestock, and other critical supplies. They organized convoys to Derna, where they delivered relief supplies to Libyan Red Crescent volunteers and to victims of the flooding.
Despite the ongoing challenges facing ethnic minorities in Libya and widespread discrimination that underrepresented groups still confront, these groups were able to quickly mobilize using skills gained through USAID’s partner the National Democratic Institute. USAID works with civil society organizations and government entities that represent the Tebu, Tuareg, and Amazigh communities on strategic planning, communications, community outreach, and volunteer engagement. These skills were pressed into service to help organize and transport supplies and participate in recovery efforts on the ground. By demonstrating solidarity with those affected, despite their differences, these communities are not only helping disaster victims but they are building a stronger, more inclusive Libya.
Celebrating International Peace Day
 Tawarega PLAY for Peace Youth Club shares messages for peace and support for Derna on International Peace Day.
In a world that often feels more prone to conflict with each passing year, the importance of the International Day of Peace, observed around the world on September 21, grows. In 1981, the UN General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace. To mark the day, members of USAID’s PLAY for Peace Youth Club in Tawergha organized an event in collaboration with the Libyan Society for National Reconciliation, a civil society organization (CSO) focused on local peace building initiatives.
Twenty young people including the Libyan Scouts, local CSO representatives, activists, and youth club members participated in a discussion about the role of women in peacebuilding and combating hate speech. The event gave youth a safe platform to share ideas on how to promote peace in their community. With ongoing political upheaval, it is essential for the youth to take a leading role in shaping a more inclusive, unified, and stable Libya. By bringing together young people from Misrata, Tawergha, Bani Walid, Zawia, and Sahl El-jfara —neighboring communities that have suffered from deep-rooted divisions and recurring violence, USAID is creating a space for positive interactions that promote peace and stability.
Fighting Financial Crimes in Libya
 The Central Bank of Libya’s Financial Intelligence Unit promotes transparency while combating criminal activity.
Financial crimes contribute to economic instability in Libya by undermining the integrity of financial systems. Illicit financial flows can distort economic indicators and deter foreign investors, ultimately hindering economic development. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) recently implemented an enhanced financial crimes tracking system for commercial banks operating in Libya. This is a significant step forward in combating financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorism financing. This system, which is a result of an intensive two year collaboration between the CBL and USAID’s Libya Public Financial Management activity, functions as an early warning mechanism for regulators.
Due to an outdated and ineffective compliance monitoring and enforcement system, the FIU struggled for years to address financial crimes. The FIU has mandated that all commercial banks operating in Libya now use the new system, ensuring more effective financial transaction tracking and comprehensive investigations. The improved reporting system allows the FIU to conduct thorough analyses that adhere to international standards and then makes appropriate determinations including collaborating with the attorney general's office in Libya to apprehend and prosecute wrongdoers.
“Ultimately, these guidelines are a crucial tool in our mission to combat financial crimes, promote transparency, and safeguard Libya's financial system from illicit activities, contributing to the stability and integrity of our nation's economy,’ said Samira Sahili, a consultant to the FIU director.
By helping the CBL improve its financial intelligence standards, USAID is preventing Libya from becoming a safe haven for criminal activity. It also ensures that the CBL is meeting international guidelines for public reporting, communications, and transparency, improving public trust in Libya’s financial systems.
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