Under the leadership of Dr. Celine Merheb Ghanem, CIVIS_LB is a social innovation laboratory dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary collaboration across the socio-economic, developmental, and policy sciences.
Our mission is to produce impactful and evidence-based research, foster scientific exchange between emerging and established scholars, and strengthen engagement with civil society leaders, institutions, and communities. Through these efforts, CIVIS_LB contributes to inclusive social transformation, sustainable development, human dignity, and cultural dynamism at both local and global levels.
Aligned with the principles and priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CIVIS_LB promotes knowledge, innovation, and participatory approaches that support peace, justice, equality, quality education, reduced inequalities, and resilient societies.
We envision CIVIS_LB as a regional and international hub for innovative, ethical, and responsible research, fostering active citizenship, social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.
Through collaborative action and evidence-driven initiatives, CIVIS_LB seeks to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by empowering communities, informing public policy, and promoting inclusive and equitable societies.
1. Knowledge Dissemination and Policy Development
Our research unit is committed to the dissemination of knowledge and the development of policy papers addressing key societal challenges, including civic engagement, governance, human rights, citizenship, transitional justice, the rule of law, gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
By bridging research and policy, CIVIS_LB supports informed decision-making processes and contributes to the advancement of transparent, accountable, and participatory institutions.
2. Data Documentation and International Collaboration
CIVIS_LB plays a strategic role in documenting, archiving, analyzing, and disseminating data while contributing to international research partnerships and forecasting programs.
The laboratory promotes evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary methodologies that connect theoretical and empirical research, ensuring that scientific findings remain accessible, actionable, and beneficial for policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and local communities.
Through international collaboration, CIVIS_LB supports global knowledge exchange and contributes to sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven solutions.
3. Workshops and Change-Making Programs
Aligned with the broader mission of The Grace, CIVIS_LB operates as a Think Tank and innovation platform dedicated to designing workshops, awareness campaigns, capacity-building initiatives, and short-term action programs that address urgent social and developmental challenges.
We are committed to developing practical strategies, fostering community resilience, encouraging civic participation, and implementing transformative programs that promote social justice, inclusion, sustainable peace, and long-term societal impact.
Through participatory engagement and strategic partnerships, CIVIS_LB seeks to empower individuals and communities to become active contributors to positive social change and sustainable development.
CIVIS_LB adopts strategic frameworks aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby enhancing its relevance and applicability to international development discourse, academic research initiatives, and institutional cooperation frameworks.
Positioning strengthens the suitability of CIVIS_LB for:
1. United Nations and NGO grant proposals
2. International and interdisciplinary partnerships
3. Institutional and academic presentations
4. Research funding and policy-oriented applications
5. Advocacy and governance programs
6. Engagement with donor agencies, embassies, and international organizations
The framework emphasizes key thematic priorities, including:
1. Sustainable development and social innovation
2. Inclusion, equity, and social justice
3. Human rights, governance, and civic engagement
4. Evidence-based policymaking and interdisciplinary research
5. Community resilience and participatory approaches
6. International collaboration and knowledge exchange
This strategic alignment further positions CIVIS_LB within the broader objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
SDG 4 — Quality Education
SDG 5 — Gender Equality
SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16 — Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
August 2022 Rate and Correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the Beirut Blast and the Economic Crisis among Lebanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362389578_Rate_and_Correlates_of_Post-Traumatic_Stress_Disorder_PTSD_following_the_Beirut_Blast_and_the_Economic_Crisis_among_Lebanese_University_Students_A_Cross-Sectional_Study.
November 2022 Dissociative experiences among Lebanese university students: Association with mental health issues, the economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut port explosion. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365182919_Dissociative_experiences_among_Lebanese_university_students_Association_with_mental_health_issues_the_economic_crisis_the_COVID-19_pandemic_and_the_Beirut_port_explosion.
December 2022 Clinical and laboratory factors associated with mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection in Lebanon: A multicenter study. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365438787_Clinical_and_laboratory_factors_associated_with_mortality_among_hospitalized_patients_with_COVID-19_infection_in_Lebanon_A_multicenter_study
May 2023 Psychometric Properties of an Arabic Translation of the briefest version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI-15) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370214646_Psychometric_Properties_of_an_Arabic_Translation_of_the_briefest_version_of_the_Zimbardo_Time_Perspective_Inventory_ZTPI-15.
November 2023 Psychometric Properties of an Arabic Translation of the shortest version of the Central Religiosity Scale (CRS-5) in a Sample of Young Adults. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375407744_Psychometric_Properties_of_an_Arabic_Translation_of_the_shortest_version_of_the_Central_Religiosity_Scale_CRS-5_in_a_Sample_of_Young_Adults.
December 2023 - Association between Time Perspective and Metacognition among Lebanese Adults: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375421205_Association_between_Time_Perspective_and_Metacognition_among_Lebanese_Adults_The_Mediating_Role_of_Mindfulness.
February 2024 - Validation of the Arabic-language version of the Eating-Related Eco Concern (EREC) scale. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378883310_Validation_of_the_Arabic-language_version_of_the_Eating-Related_Eco_Concern_EREC_scale.
May 2024 - Relationship between a history of child abuse and feelings of entrapment in Lebanese adults: the co-moderating effect of social support and religiosity. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380465319_Relationship_between_a_history_of_child_abuse_and_feelings_of_entrapment_in_Lebanese_adults_the_co-moderating_effect_of_social_support_and_religiosity.
June 2024 - Psychometric Properties of an Arabic Translation of the Child and Adolescents Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) in adolescents. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381620896_Psychometric_Properties_of_an_Arabic_Translation_of_the_Child_and_Adolescents_Mindfulness_Measure_CAMM_in_adolescents.
October 2024 - An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Influencing Hospital Preferences Among the Lebanese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385275622_An_Exploratory_Analysis_of_Factors_Influencing_Hospital_Preferences_Among_the_Lebanese_Population_A_Cross-Sectional_Study.
January 2025 - Arabic validation of the InCharge Financial Distress/Well-being Scale (IFDFW) and the new Single-Item Financial Stress scale (SIFiS). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388516566_Arabic_validation_of_the_InCharge_Financial_DistressWell-being_Scale_IFDFW_and_the_new_Single-Item_Financial_Stress_scale_SIFiS.
May 2025 - Arabic validation of the InCharge Financial Distress/Well-being Scale (IFDFW) and the new Single-Item Financial Stress scale (SIFiS). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392123543_Arabic_validation_of_the_InCharge_Financial_DistressWell-being_Scale_IFDFW_and_the_new_Single-Item_Financial_Stress_scale_SIFiS.