The impact of a women-led community center on social cohesion in Tripoli, North Lebanon: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: Social cohesion is essential to sustainable peace. Despite the global rise of armed conflict, evidence on effective approaches to building social cohesion in conflict-affected contexts is limited. This study evaluates the activities of a women-led community center on social cohesion among Lebanese and Syrian women in Lebanon, a country characterized by multiple displacement crises and deep sectarian divides. Methods: Following an extensive recruitment drive in neighborhoods surrounding the community center, 206 women were randomized into an intervention and control group. The intervention group was invited to participate in seven sessions of training and structured dialogue facilitated by women volunteers at the center. A total of 177 women across the two groups completed both a baseline and endline survey capturing dimensions of social cohesion including trust, belonging and friendship networks, as well as civic engagement, wellbeing and self-efficacy. We present descriptive analysis of participants’ baseline characteristics, intervention take-up and social cohesion measures. We then conduct an intent-to-treat analysis of the intervention’s impact using regression models. Results: Among women assigned to the intervention group, 70 (76.1%) attended any of the sessions. The intervention had a positive effect on participants’ sense of belonging, measured by the social relationship scale, and civic engagement attitudes and behaviors. We did not find effects on generalized trust or the other outcome measures. Conclusions: This pilot randomized trial demonstrates the potential of community centers to foster aspects of social cohesion in fragile settings as well as the limitations of short, low-intensity contact interventions. The results emphasize the need for further investment in and evaluation of sustained, contextually adapted approaches. The study also shows that randomized evaluations of community-based initiatives are feasible in conflict-affected contexts and can generate valuable evidence to inform peacebuilding efforts.