Groundbreaking Ceremony for the rehabilitation of Mufti Hassan Khaled Garden in Beirut, Lebanon

The Hassan Khaled Garden is one of eight public green spaces that will see a significant transformation, with 75,000 square meters of green spaces being rehabilitated and  upgraded in Beirut and Bourj Hammoud. These revitalized areas will provide accessible, inclusive and safe public areas while promoting social interaction and physical well-being for residents. The design of the Hassan Khaled Garden was concluded taking into consideration insights from the local community to cater for people of all ages and abilities.

This initiative is part of the Sustainable Integrated Municipal Actions (SIMA) project which is financed by the Government of Germany through KfW Development Bank and implemented by UNOPS. 

“The rehabilitated garden will be a public space for ordinary people from all walks of life. As with other activities of the SIMA project, we are enabling tangible improvements for residents of greater Beirut who have been affected by multiple crises in recent years,” said Uta Simon, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy. “We hope that local authorities, together with community initiatives, will ensure that people can enjoy this public space for many years to come.”

“We extend our sincere thanks to the German government for its generous support and funding of the rehabilitation of the Hassan Khaled Garden,” said the Governor of Beirut, H.E. Judge Marwan Abboud. “This initiative holds particular importance for Beirut and its residents, especially in light of the challenges the city has endured in recent years. We look forward to the completion of this intervention and all other remaining interventions under this project and the positive impact they will bring to our city.”

”I am honored to join our partners to mark this major milestone. The SIMA integrated approach has started to pay off. Thanks to our robust partnership with the German government, the KfW Development Bank and the national partners, the local communities will be able to have better and enjoyable social interaction in the garden in addition to having improved access to other public spaces and municipal services upgraded under the project.” said Muhammed Usman Akram, Director of UNOPS Operational Hub in Amman.

SiMA is a multi-year project improving and restoring access to critical municipal services and increasing the resilience of the local community in Beirut and Bourj Hammoud through an integrated and sustainable approach.

One of the cornerstone interventions of the SIMA project is the planned rehabilitation of 47 kilometers of roads which will greatly enhance urban mobility and safety on the roads. In terms of water infrastructure, the project will replace and rehabilitate 13 kilometers of water pipes and will rehabilitate two water pumps thereby ensuring a more reliable water supply for around 350,000 people. 

The installation of 14 photovoltaic systems across public spaces, streets, gardens, and public service buildings, including two large centralized solar systems in Bourj Hammoud, will contribute to enhancing safety as well as environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint and promoting the use of renewable energy. Finally, the provision of 13 grants to Non-Governmental Organizations will support the municipalities of Beirut and Bourj Hammoud in the maintenance and operational management of the public spaces and organizing social activities. 

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About UNOPS: 

UNOPS offers practical solutions to the UN and other partners, across peace and security, humanitarian and development operations. UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org

UNOPS Operational Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and implements work in partnership with bilateral and multilateral donors, national governments and other UN agencies.