Since 1930 NEF has provided technical and financial assistance for agricultural development and education in health and literacy in Lebanon. Lebanon was among the first places of significant programming by the newly-named and defined Near East Foundation (successor to the Near East Relief). Later programs developed vocational training for young people and persons with disabilities. In 1995, NEF teamed up with a Lebanese non-governmental organization.

In remote rural areas, NEF and a partner organization help communities restore and expand irrigation channels and pipes to deliver clean drinking water from distant springs. These water projects enhance the lives and livelihoods of 45,000 residents. NEF assists 3,000 beekeepers to improve the processing and packaging of their products, comply with quality regulations, and expand sales. The training of village women in first aid and community health education increases access to basic health services for more than 60,000 people in 350 villages.

NEF works with local NGOs to give low income families access to training and small loans for establishing small businesses and household-based, income-generating projects.

In Tripoli, NEF promotes collaborative action to tackle the many problems of one decaying, war-damaged neighborhood. NEF's participatory assessment identified several priorities: health services, waste disposal, and jobs. Coalitions of NGOs now cooperate to address these and other issues.

Throughout Lebanon, NEF reaches out to a growing numbers of NGOs, strengthening their ability to help others. In the south, for example, NEF provides financial and technical support to a nonpolitical, nonsectarian NGO that assists children and adults injured by war and landmines to care for one another and become self-supporting.