United Nations in Lebanon

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Lebanon:

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28 September 2022

UN Lebanon Greening Restaurants: A Business with an Impact

"Generating profit might be easy, but it's hard to reach a point where you're proud of your work," says Aline Kamakian, 53, owner of Mayrig Restaurant in Beirut, Lebanon. Over the past nine years, Aline has been working on reducing the environmental footprint of her business, and today she is transforming Mayrig into a zero-waste project with passion, perseverance, and hard work. Instead of throwing away leftovers, plastics, and glass bottles together in landfills, Aline transforms food waste into compost that nourishes plants and plastics and glass into new useful items despite the challenges. From a Father's Dream to a Mother's Recipe Aline launched Mayrig in 2003 to fulfill her father's dream of having a restaurant that serves authentic Armenian food. She has been working with Armenian mothers on creating recipes and platters and ended up calling the restaurant "Mayrig," which means mother in Armenian. "The restaurant's name salutes mothers for their efforts to preserve Armenian culture and traditions, and the business aims to support Armenian mothers by offering them job opportunities and ways to generate profit," Aline explains. With wit and kindness, Aline convinced her employees about the importance of working towards greening her restaurant: "When we first started sorting, my employees thought that the extra tasks were inefficient and exhausting. But, with time, they started realizing the importance of sorting for Lebanon's environment. So today, they're keen on sorting and treating waste like we do." Aline handled this process alone for nine years until the financial crisis hit Lebanon in 2019. With the devaluation of the Lebanese currency, business owners started moving towards reducing costs. As a result, the cost of sorting, composting, and recycling became an extra burden for Aline's business, and greening Mayrig was thus compromised for the sake of other priorities. "The high expense of transporting the food waste into the composting facilities threatened the sustenance of the initiative," Aline explains. UN Lebanon Supports Green Restaurants & Circular Economy Before giving up on her dream, Aline's last option was to resort to funding opportunities. Fortunately, UN Lebanon, through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia based in Beirut, was looking for restaurants in Mar Mikhael – Gemmayze area to partner with on targeting the waste problem in Lebanon. Under this project, which is part of the SwitchMed II Programme funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with local civil society organization NUSANED between July 2022 and June 2023, the UN is supporting Mayrig by collecting their food waste. "I no longer have to worry about managing the composting of food waste because someone is taking care of that," Aline explains. Under the same project, UNEP regional office is also partnering with seven other restaurants in the same area by providing, through NUSANED, advisory services, and technical support around plastic waste management, food waste management, greening restaurants, and ways for allowing circular businesses to flourish. In addition to restaurants, the UN is also working with households to raise their awareness on the importance of plastic prevention, reuse and recycle and incentivize them to contribute to circular economy. “For each kilogram of plastics that households put in our bins, they receive points that eventually become shopping vouchers at local businesses in the area, and this is one of the incentive mechanisms we will be using for the purpose of encouraging waste prevention under this project. This way, we are supporting families by increasing their purchasing power and local businesses by promoting their sales”, says Rasha Sukkarieh, the programme manager at NUSANED. She adds: “By doing this, we are creating a circular and more sustainable economy in the area.” Today, Mayrig alone produces around 20Kgs of food waste and 4 to 7 Kg of plastic per day. In a country struggling with waste management, Aline hopes this initiative would reduce the negative impact of restaurants on the environment. "Multiply these numbers by 3000, which is the estimated number of restaurants in Lebanon. Imagine what all this plastic and waste are doing to our environment and health when dumped in the sea and on land?" Aline says. Greening Restaurants is Colorful In addition to reducing Mayrig's environmental footprint, Aline also relies on recycling to decorate her restaurant. She is turning wine bottles into colorful decorative chandeliers hung on the ceiling that cannot be missed when you enter the place. She also decorates her terrace with a green wall made from recycled plastic. For Aline, protecting the environment is vital for sustaining her business: "When you protect the environment, encourage tourism, attract new businesses, and sustain your business, it's a cycle!" Aline says.

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23 August 2022

Maha and Mazen introduce UN Lebanon’s Sustainable Development Framework to the people of Lebanon

Maha replies with a direct confirmation “Absolutely!” Maha and Mazen (M & M) are two animated characters created for UN Lebanon’s four-week social media campaign to promote the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) signed earlier this year (April 2022) between Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Najat Rochdi. The Cooperation Framework is a fundamental tool for planning and implementing joint UN development activities in line with national development priorities. It also aims to improve people’s lives and achieve a better future for Lebanon and its people where no one is left behind, while reaching a more comprehensive partnership between the United Nations and all concerned parties. The short video is a casual conversation between the two young animated characters M & M, walking in some busy streets of Lebanon and exploring the promising path to the country’s recovery through the UNSDCF and its related projects and programs. In addition to the video and the teaser, the campaign, which is part of UN Lebanon’s integrated communication campaign #TakeAStep to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also included a series of social media animated posts that introduced the public to the UN Cooperation Framework and its four core priorities revolving around the people, prosperity, peace, and environment of Lebanon. The campaign also highlighted the participatory and inclusive process that shaped the UNSDCF formulation, building on a series of extensive consultations with a wide range of national and international stakeholders, including civil society organizations, the private sector, the Lebanese government, donors, and religious leaders. Check out some digital products produced upon the UNSDCF sign-off: What is the UNSDCF in Lebanon? And What are the Four Strategic Priorities that shape the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework?

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18 July 2022

UN Lebanon Supports Women-Led Cooperatives: Sustaining Productivity Amid Consecutive Crises

"I enjoy teaching other women food processing techniques and helping my neighbors find income generating opportunities. A lot of women across Lebanon are doing the same thing," says Samira Zoughaib Akiki, 58, the chair of Al Atayeb cooperative located in Kfardebian town, north of Beirut, Lebanon. In 2004, Samira and some other women established Al Atayeb (The Delicacies) cooperative to support their local community. Samira’s Early Days in Food Processing Samira began her career as a French language teacher at a local school in Kfardebian before she decided to follow her passion for cooking. One year later, in 2003, Samira resigned from teaching to enroll in a training for sewing and embroidery that Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) non-governmental organization (NGO) was organizing. As she interacted with more women, Samira realized that women villagers have very good food processing skills and that they are willing to share their knowledge. She worked with YMCA on introducing food processing workshops and eventually became a trainer in food processing. “Teaching other women food processing skills was my way of women empowerment. It also empowered me given that I was surrounded by generous women with a vision,” Samira says with a nostalgic tone. The Cooperative Model Although Samira enjoyed her work as a trainer, she was not fully satisfied; she wanted to do something more impactful for her community. "Knowing that locals obtain valuable agricultural and food processing skills and expertise, my colleagues and I decided to form a cooperative specialized in food processing. We believed that it would be the best business model because it helps create job opportunities for locals and divides profits equally among shareholders," Samira says. Al Atayeb is a women-led cooperative specialized in producing Lebanese local and traditional food, such as citrus marmalade, fruit jam, fruit paste, and the famous Lebanese Makdous (Pickled eggplants in oil), and it follows the FDA criteria of food safety. Today, the cooperative involves 13 women from various age groups who work in food processing. These women are also shareholders so they receive a share of the cooperative's profits, in addition to the salary they earn from working in food preparation and processing. “A cooperative serves the maximum benefit of the largest number of people possible, and it is a participatory form of group work that is rich with perspectives and ideas," she says. The cooperative also supports farmers through buying their local crops and provides job opportunities to local workers who can perform necessary logistic and technical tasks that food processing requires. UN Lebanon Supports Cooperatives Similar to many cooperatives across Lebanon, Al Atayeb faced challenges that threatened its sustainability during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Lebanon was also reeling under the economic crisis. Not knowing how to counter the challenges, Samira and her partners learned that UN Lebanon was providing support to cooperatives across Lebanon and reached out for support. UN Lebanon, with funds from the German Development Bank KfW, and through the UN Development Programme, mobilized 4.4 million USD to reduce the downturn impact of COVID-19 on cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs), and farmers. Under this project, UN Lebanon supported 94 cooperatives from different villages in Lebanon such as Deir Al Ahmar, Fneidek, Qana, Harissa, and Lehfed, with a focus on women, by providing cash for work and in-kind support such as raw materials, equipment, and tools. At least 6,000 individuals in Lebanon benefitted from this project, which helped them cope with the consecutive crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial crisis, and the notorious August 4 Beirut Port Explosion. For Al Atayeb, "the UN provided monthly salaries for women to sustain their income, in addition to oil and sugar we use to produce our food, as well as the jars necessary for preserving produce," Samira says. "The type of assistance that the UN provided was very efficient because it addressed our financial needs; thus, replenishing our capital and compensating our losses. We were able to resume our activities at a time when many businesses were shutting down.” By creating direct and indirect job opportunities, Al Atayeb cooperative has been a key factor in helping many families in Kfardebian survive the crises, making women proud of themselves and their community. "Our cooperative represents the values we believe in. We work with passion. We help our community and serve the public good," Samira says with a pride in her voice.

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11 August 2022

UN Lebanon Celebrates Youth: Say No to Hate

Dima El-Awar, 21, stands in front of the camera with confidence and ease. In addition to being a good speaker, a skill that every journalist would yearn to master, Dima is keen on promoting positive speech and accurate information. Coming from Falougha, a small yet breathtaking village in Mount Lebanon, Dima was hesitant to pursue her dream career in journalism because she thought she was not good enough for this job. “As a young girl, I always received hateful comments about my personality and clothing style. Some people told me I was too loud; others said that I did not match the beauty standards of TVs and public figures because I did not dress up like girls. Although I used to feel bitter for receiving such comments in the past, today I smile and respond with positivity in an attempt to change other people’s attitudes,” Dima says. Before reconciling with these negative comments, Dima studied Chinese translation instead of journalism. With time, she recognized that she should not have given up on the dream of her life because of other people’s opinions, so she transferred to studying journalism. “I didn’t want to regret not pursuing my passion when I’m old, so I decided to get over other people’s opinions and to listen to my inner voice,” Dima says with a smile. UN Lebanon Helps Youth in Lebanon Counter Hate In a training that UN Lebanon, through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), organized to help youth combat hate speech and misinformation under the “Youth Countering Hate Speech and Misinformation” project, Dima listened to other people’s experiences with hate speech and realized that everyone is susceptible to hate. Dima learned about the various forms of hate speech, its impact on people, and ways for combating it so she eventually became more resilient and skillful in dealing with it. “When I understood that hate speech expresses the other person’s problems not mine, I started accepting myself. I also started accepting others for who they are and seeing the beauty in everyone,” Dima says. The training helped Dima realize that she had taken the right decision by transferring to journalism because “journalism plays a positive role in the community as it can counter hate speech and misinformation through positive speech and accuracy,” Dima says. It also helped raise her awareness on the importance of combating hate speech and putting an end to “bullying, destructive criticism, and marginalization of anyone based on their identity.” With funds from the Government of the Netherlands within its support to UNESCO's flagship initiative Li Beirut, and in collaboration with May Chidiac Foundation- Media Institute, UN Lebanon trained 15 youth from different regions and universities in Lebanon on media and information literacy, access to information, combatting hate speech, and countering misinformation. Under this project, the young participants produced 12 social media episodes about hate speech and misinformation after they were trained on the technical strategies for producing social media segments. Youth: Positive Actors at Heart Dima has always been keen on positively impacting her community and this has been manifested in her volunteering with the Lebanese Red Cross in Falougha as a paramedic and emergency medical services volunteer for the past 7 years. “Volunteering allows me to be close to people. Through volunteering, I can show solidarity to people of all ages, gender, and socioeconomic classes,” Dima says with pride. As a believer in the importance of giving back to the community, Dima is eager to counter hate speech from her role as a young person and a future journalist. “Young people can play a major role in countering hate speech because they are the future generation. They also have the power to change perspectives, are resilient, and accept diversity,” she says. After she overcame the influence of hate speech, Dima is today more confident to stand in front of the camera and to highlight the beauty of Lebanon.

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21 September 2022

Women in Lebanon at the forefront of non-violent conflict resolution through UN Support

Women are essential actors of peacebuilding. Although the efforts of women in building peace often go unnoticed, women across conflict-affected countries in the Arab region have been instrumental in diffusing tensions and mediating conflicts in their own communities (UN Women, 2022).[1] In Lebanon, women contribute to fulfilling peace in different ways. While Ruba seeks peace through leading a calm and happy life at home, Nada focuses on raising peaceful children who are supportive of women empowerment, and Raneen prioritizes hindering the spread of fake news to sustain a peaceful community. Ruba, Nada, and Raneen developed their peacebuilding skills through participating in several programmes and projects that UN Lebanon through UN Women and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) implemented in various regions across Lebanon, and today they are prominent peacebuilders in their communities. Ruba, 51, Baalbek, Lebanon "Ultimate peace is inner peace," says Ruba, a Lebanese social activist and mother of four from Baalbek, Lebanon. Ruba does her best to lead a calm and stable life at home today despite having had an unstable childhood following her parents’ divorce and living in an area notorious for recurring armed conflicts. She is convinced that as a woman leader in her community, she can promote a culture of peace and non-violent conflict resolution in her community. To support this work, Ruba is participating in, "Creating Space for Women Peacebuilders", a project that promotes peaceful dialogue in local communities with women from the North and the Bekaa. Through this project, which is implemented by the UN in Lebanon through UN Women and International Alert, she has worked with her peers to develop a detailed plan to engage young people and community groups in promoting civil peace in Baalbek. As part of this plan, she has been visiting decision-makers in the area to bring them on board with her plans, and advocate for peaceful conflict resolution. Ruba has always been determined to fulfill her ambitions, despite being raised in a conservative environment where she was often told women did not belong outside of the home. She was able to pursue an education in programming and systems analysis, and became the first woman in Baalbek to earn a degree in this field. “I encourage all women to be able to fulfill their ambitions and get rid of fear. I call all women to express themselves and to play an active role in their communities, similar to the important role they play at home.” Nada, 26, Baalbek, Lebanon "I feel at peace when I play with my children," Nada (who prefers not to use her real name) says. Nada fled war-torn Syria with her son and husband in 2017 to seek refuge in Baalbek, Lebanon. She experienced terrible things in Syria and had to drop out of university, where she was studying Arabic literature, because of the war. Despite the sadness she witnessed at a young age, Nada has not given up on life, love, and a willingness to contribute to her community. She is determined to continue her education, to develop her skills and build her knowledge, and has been enrolling in trainings and workshops on different topics and skills. Along with Ruba, Nada enrolled in the UN Women funded work, "Creating Space for Women Peacebuilders,” funded by UN Women, which aims to promote non-violence and peace. She believes this, “is the only way for building a better life for my children." Through her work on dialogue and active listening with other Lebanese and Syrian women, Nada believes she has become more self-confident to express her opinion among a diverse group. For Nada, bridging the gap between different people and communities is essential for building a peaceful society: “When I listened to the stories of Lebanese women, I realized that their problems and concerns are very similar to mine and that we have a lot of common ground to build a more positive relationship.” Nada is committed to bringing up her children peacefully. She doesn’t use violence in disciplining them, and teaches them not to use violence to solve their own problems. “I wish for my children to live the peaceful life that I have dreamt of, but never lived,” she says with a smile. Raneen, 26, Akkar, North Lebanon As an advocate of peacebuilding, Raneen always yearned to become a source of trustful information in her community. “Since I am a young woman with a physical disability, people did not listen to me, needless to stay trust my competence; but my hard work on fact checking and my determination to study and earn a degree in media built my reputation as a credible source,” she says with pride. Raneen lives with paralysis in her left arm, but her disability did not hinder her ambition to become a leader in her community through practicing “peace journalism.” As a journalism student, she believes that “it is my duty to produce accurate content that defies the widely spread fake news- responsible for fueling daily conflicts in Lebanon.” Raneen learned about “peace journalism” when participating in a training by UN Lebanon through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that aimed at raising awareness on the impact of fake news and hate speech on social stability. The training was part of the “Youth to combat fake news and hate speech” process undertaken by UNDP and implemented in partnership with Dawaer NGO with funds from Germany through KFW Development Bank. In addition to the trainings and coaching sessions, Raneen also participated in discussions and interactive theatrical shows in villages and universities across Lebanon. As a young woman, Raneen feels that she has an additional obligation to lead peaceful conflict resolution in her community and support peaceful initiatives. “Peace cannot be fully established if women are not empowered enough to speak up and lead the process of conflict-resolution.” [1] For more information, review the “Women's Participation in Local Mediation: Lessons from Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen”: https://arabstates.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2022/06/womens-participation-in-local-mediation-lessons-from-iraq-libya-syria-and-yemen#view.

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02 December 2022

UN and University Students in Lebanon Team Up in a Vigorous Debate on SDGs, triggering Young Voices of Change

“The Way We Shop: Is it Sustainable?” A probing question that spurred a flurry of arguments and opposing views from around 100 young students on Thursday 24 November. The debate took place at the heart of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) in a green environment made up of recycled materials and environmentally friendly furniture. Two groups of young students, composed of 10 young men and women each, played the role of opponents and proponents of sustainable lifestyles and shopping habits that help curb climate change. “Each one of us has a responsibility vis-à-vis our mother nature and can take simple actions that help save our planet,” said a third-year USEK student who volunteers in the university’s Green Committee that was established to advance USEK’s environmental management and engage students in sustainable initiatives. “Personally, I’m leading an upcycling initiative of chips and chocolate wrappers that can’t be recycled, and turning them into aprons, pouches, and bags that I eventually sell to help people in need with whatever income I get,” she explained. Other similar initiatives were enthusiastically shared by other young students as part of preserving Lebanon’s environment and supporting sustainability efforts. “It’s time to become more conscious about our habits in food and fashion, and to stop being intellectually lazy!” asserted another proponent student favoring sustainable lifestyles over unsustainable harmful consumption habits. The session started with an interactive informative presentation delivered by UNIC Beirut on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a dialogue with the youth on their perceptions of the SDGs and the resulting actions they were taking to implement the Global Goals in Lebanon, such as reducing the use of plastics, shopping consciously, carpooling and others. The learning session featured a video on the UN, an animated video on the SDGs, and a PR stunt on recycling produced under the UN Communication Group #TakeAStep media campaign on the SDGs. The students’ debate was followed by an engaging discussion and presentation by experts from the UN Environment Program Regional Office for West Asia focusing on climate action, resource efficiency, and sustainable consumption and production. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session that helped expand students’ knowledge of the global goals and explore effective ways to reduce plastic, food, and fashion waste, including through reducing, reusing, repairing, and recycling, as well as taking action on impactful environmental issues. The session ended with pop quizzes administered by both UNIC and UNEP representatives to test the level of acquired knowledge among the attending students. UN-branded promotional items were awarded to those who provided correct answers. “We really enjoyed it! It was fun and informative at the same time”, said a few young attendees, expressing their appreciation and interest to have more interactive specialized sessions on the SDGs and to collaborate on advocacy projects with the UN in the future.

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28 November 2022

Through “Play” UNCG Lebanon Reinforces Team Building and Creativity

“We’re here to build our team and trigger our creativity through serious play,” says the Director of United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut) Margo El-Helou at a retreat organized for the UN Communications Group in Lebanon (UNCG Lebanon) in her capacity as chair of this team. The purpose of the retreat was to enhance team spirit among the communication experts of various UN agencies who are members of the UNCG, in addition to providing them a space to express themselves freely and know each other away from job formalities, and most importantly, to identify the UNCG priorities and objectives for 2023 under a shared vision. “UNIC is playing an important role today because it is bringing UN communication specialists in Lebanon together to consolidate our joint communications and strengthen our voice,” says El Helou. Playing Hard to Build a Team In its bid to integrate play in strategic thinking, UNIC Beirut hired L3b company to organize a full day of play-based activities aimed at unlocking human and organizational potential for creativity and innovation. UNCG members engaged in interactive play that allowed them to get to know each other away from job formalities; thus, fostering team building. “It is very important for us as colleagues to meet in person, communicate and share-knowledge to benefit from each other’s experiences and to bond because it would definitely improve the work we present to the audiences of UN in Lebanon,” says Senior Communications and Media Officer at UNDP in Lebanon Rana Moughabghab. “When we discover that the challenges we face are common among communication specialists at various UN agencies, it becomes easier for us to face these challenges because at the end of the day, our concerns are mutual,” says Bechara Maroun, Media and Communication Officer at UNESCO Regional Bureau. Developing a Shared Vision Through Drama The retreat was also an excellent opportunity for UNCG to develop a shared vision and identify the priorities for next year. Using narrative and dramatic play, the team was able to reflect on current realities, identify challenges, explore possibilities, and chart a path of collaboration moving forward as a group. “The importance of this retreat is that it brought us together to discuss our vision and think more strategically about our role in order to strengthen our joint communication as one UN in Lebanon,” says the Communications and Advocacy Specialist at UN Women in Lebanon, Roula Rached. Putting Faces to the Names The event represented an opportunity for the members to finally reconnect in person after working remotely for around three years due to COVID-19 and other crises that exacerbated the challenges faced by the UN in Lebanon. “The added value of this activity lies in the fact that after all of these years and what’s happening with COVID-19 and Cholera, we’re here together to improve internal communication among UNCG members,” says Communication and Visibility Coordinator at UNODC in Lebanon, Mira Kobeissi. For her part, the Communication and Digital Media Assistant at UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Melissa Greck adds: “We missed human interaction over the past years, and I wish that such activities are replicated more frequently.” Watch this wrap-up Video of the retreat.

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28 November 2022

UNIC Beirut Delves Into 2022 World Cup through a PODCAST

In the run-up to Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 and as part of the global “Football for the Goals” initiative, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Beirut produced a special episode of #TheUrbanAthletePodcast dedicated to this mega sporting event featuring football experts who gave insights about the tournament, shared professional experiences, and highlighted the role of SDGs in this game. The episode was divided into two parts. The first part featured Former FIFA Elite Referee Andre El-Haddad and President of the Lebanese Wushu Kungfu Federation/University Professor Dr. Georges Nseir who, together with the host Coach Ryan Merheb, discussed the performances of the countries that qualified to the Cup, looking ahead to what is expected after this year’s Cup kickoff. They focused on the process of becoming a referee and the status of female referees in Lebanon. In the second part Ali and Youssef El-Hajj, two brothers who are football players in two major football clubs in Lebanon, shared their professional experiences, success stories, as well as insights about the global tournament. Throughout the episode, guests tackled the FIFA Sustainability Strategy and stressed the importance of organizing eco-friendly tournaments. Each one of them chose one SDG and pledged to work on achieving it until 2030. The podcast, originally released in April on the International Day of Sport for Development, aims to influence behaviors and galvanize action within sports, and to inspire people to consider sport as a valuable tool to overcome obstacles or crises. You can watch our episodes on basketball, mental health, athletes with disabilities, e-sports, self-defense and strike force on UNIC Beirut’s Youtube Channel. Also under “Football for the Goals,” the Centre developed a social media package consisting of Twitter polls and Instagram quizzes related to the participation of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait in the World Cup (countries served by UNIC Beirut) and the UN’s strategic alliance with FIFA, in addition to WHO and FIFA’s “Healthy 2022 World Cup” campaign, the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, Qatar’s MoU with UN Women, and many other topics.

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01 November 2022

UN Improves Quality of Life through Urban Interventions: Reviving Neighbourhoods in Greater Beirut

In response to the multiple crises Lebanon has been reeling under over the past few years, namely the 4 August 2020 Beirut Port explosion and the unprecedented financial and economic crisis, UN-Habitat in Lebanon has implemented multi-sectoral interventions to alleviate the impacts of crises, which have been threatening people’s safety, livelihoods, and connection to their urban surroundings. This year, UN-Habitat collaborated with United Nations Information Centre (UNIC Beirut) to mark “Urban October,” an opportunity to promote sustainable urbanization as one of the key priorities for Lebanon’s development and to highlight SDG11 on sustainable cities and communities. Urban October is celebrated every year in October beginning with World Habitat Day celebrated on the first Monday of October and ending with World Cities Day marked on 31 October. George, Nour, and Teghrid will tell us how UN-Habitat’s interventions in Lebanon on three integrated levels: public spaces, participatory governance, and infrastructural rehabilitation, which have improved the quality of their lives in their urban context. “Laziza Park”: a green “landfill for worries” Today, Georges Nehme, 65, finds comfort in running errands in the Rmeil neighbourhood he has been living in for the past 50 years. He is now able to roam freely in the alleyways and staircases, even after sunset, due to the recent installation of lights along the neighbourhood’s corridors. Every day he visits the recently rehabilitated and reactivated Laziza Park where he socializes with his neighbours under the trees and watch as their grandchildren play. Sitting on a coloured bench made from repurposed material, Georges remembers how this park changed with time as it witnessed developments unfold in Beirut. “I have witnessed the evolution of this space over time; it started off as a brewery, to later become a wasteland. Today, it is one of the very few green and public spaces in the city,” Georges says. Originally founded in 1931, the Middle East’s oldest brewery Laziza Brewery – also known as Grande Brasserie du Levant – was exposed to shelling in 1990 leading to its temporary shutdown. It reopened briefly in 1999 before being demolished in 2017 to fulfill a real-estate development project for building luxurious flats. The project faced popular opposition, and the planned project was never executed, transforming the historic facility into a wasteland that drew pollution, waste, and insects to the area. “The land eventually became a landfill that caused unpleasant odors and attracted insects; when left alone, people don’t have the capacity to change such a drastic situation,” says Georges. In March 2021, through a US$ 2.16 million grant from the Government of Japan, UN-Habitat initiated a project to address Beirut’s urgent urban recovery and reconstruction needs in the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion. This project included several interventions focusing on reviving public spaces, rehabilitating residential buildings of heritage value, and supporting municipal services. As part of this project, UN-Habitat rehabilitated two public spaces in the area: William Hawi Garden and Laziza Park in collaboration with Rashet Kheir NGO. UN-Habitat and Rashet Kheir contributed to cleaning the park, repurposing material into benches, shading areas, and agricultural pots, and transforming the space into a communal area. Together they also organized several activities and events to revive the area including yoga, Zumba, arts and crafts, and local markets. UN-Habitat also installed solar panels on the building adjacent to Laziza Park and streetlights that are powered by these panels – making the park safer to access at night. “Finally, the space has become a landmark in the neighbourhood where people agreed to meet and spend time with their friends and families, especially when the city witnesses long hours of power cuts,” Georges says. Regional Technical Offices: a bridge between local authorities and communities “Working in the field where I’m in direct contact with people is very rewarding. Seeing vulnerable people’s lives improve motivates me to keep going, every day,” says Nour Makki, 28, Community Mobilizer at the Regional Technical Office (RTO) in Bourj Hammoud. Three years ago, little did Nour know about life in Bourj Hammoud and the needs of its people. Things changed quickly when she started working as a community mobilizer, a job that requires frequent field visits and meetings with people in the area. “My role is to guarantee that municipal projects are being implemented in a participatory manner by listening to vulnerable people’s concerns and demands and responding to their needs accordingly.” With time, Nour became more familiar with the urban issues that people in Bourj Hammoud face on daily basis. “Things change fast though! Today, I am very much acquainted with the neighbourhood, and I am fascinated by how diverse and culturally rich it is which intrigues me to want to know more.” Since 2007, UN-Habitat Lebanon has been working to empower municipalities or Unions of Municipalities (UoMs) through the establishment of Regional Technical Offices (RTOs). RTOs are comprised of motivated local technical and social experts to support and enhance the planning and provision of municipal services, and their role is to act as a bridge between local authorities and their respective communities. Today, 13 RTOs are established in different regions in Lebanon. Most recently, one of two regional technical offices supported by the "Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP)" was inaugurated in Bourj Hammoud. The MERP project is a joint initiative between UN-Habitat and UNDP funded by the European Union. “I believe that the RTO’s main contribution is introducing and promoting two-way communication between the municipality and its people,” says Nour. “This is essential because a true understanding of people’s needs leads to an effective and sustainable response.” Like Nour who studied Architecture, many Lebanese people find working with RTOs a unique opportunity to gain work experience in urban development, which helps them advance their careers. “By doing this job, I’m not only giving to the local community but also learning a lot and developing my skills,” says Nour. Transformation of 5 alleyways in Maraach, Bourj Hammoud “Passing through our neighbourhood’s alleyways felt cold and frightening,” says Teghrid Khantrashian, mother of three, who has been living in Maraach neighbourhood in Bourj Hammoud area for the past 10 years. The deterioration of the overall infrastructure systems in the area, and particularly the absence of proper lighting and rainwater drainage systems, limited Teghrid’s capability and other dwellers as well to wander the alleyways next to their homes in the vicinity. “Although I have lived in the same place for several years, I could not connect to this neighbourhood because I did not feel safe to walk in my surrounding,” says Teghrid. With funding from Polish Aid and the Government of Japan, UN-Habitat adopted a multi-sectoral approach to improve living conditions in Maraach, one of the, one of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods of Bourj Hammoud and across Greater Beirut. In collaboration with the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) and in close coordination with the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud and local stakeholders, the project worked towards alleviating poverty and improving the urban conditions of the neighbourhood through rehabilitating building facades and communal spaces in an eco-friendly way, improving road safety and soft mobility, mitigating electrical and fire hazards, improving waste management and collection systems and rehabilitating the waste and storm water networks and more. “The installation of solar-powered LED lights that light the alleyways all night reassured me, and I now allow my children to play in front of the house,” Teghrid says. In addition, Teghrid’s children are finding it easier to walk to school without getting their shoes wet after the new drainage system was installed as it prevents rainwater from flooding the streets. Teghrid believes that small changes lead to positive impact. For her, the infrastructural rehabilitation that Maraach area underwent changed not only her experience in the neighbourhood, but also her feelings: “I feel more connected, safe, and heard.”

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Press Release

25 November 2022

LAUNCH OF A 16-DAY CAMPAIGN AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CELEBRATING THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN LEBANON AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVISM FOR GENERATING CHANGE

VAWG remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation worldwide affecting more than an estimated 1 in 3 women0F[1] a figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last decade1F[2] .The most recent global estimates show that, on average, a woman or girl is killed by someone in her own family every 11 minutes.2F[3] This year, the United Nations system in Lebanon, with partners are implementing a campaign that aims to serve as a call to action to mobilize partners, stakeholders, individuals, and the public at large to engage in activism to prevent violence against women and girls. Articulated around the theme, “UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls”, it invites everyone to be an activist by taking a public stand against VAWG in local communities, and through joining women’s rights movements and activists. “We call on women to live free from fear. Any assault on their dignity is punishable, even if it was committed by a close relative. The security forces protect women affected by violence and filing a complaint against the perpetrator of violence will deter further abuses. Keeping silent about violence at home, is not a virtue", said Mrs. Claudine Aoun, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women. “We all have a duty to act to end all forms of gender-based violence, particularly against women. The 16 days of activism are a reminder that we should not be silent to such a violation of women’s basic right to live in dignity, free from violence and fear”, said Ms. Joanna Wronecka, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. “Lebanon’s recovery and building a better future for the country and its citizens depends to a large extent on empowering women and giving them the space to enjoy their full rights as active partners in society. The United Nations stands ready to support Lebanon in this process”, the Special Coordinator added. The campaign, which will run for 16 days, from 25 November till 10 December, consists of a social media campaign - with the #16days and #سوا_ضد_العنفhashtags- showcasing 16 men, women and girls from all walks of life across Lebanon standing in solidarity with women’s rights activists, supporting feminist movements and calling for engagement in activism to prevent and end VAWG. It will include a video and a series of social media posts calling for everyone’s commitment to protecting women and girls. Women’s rights activism and advocacy are key to ending VAWG and have successfully generated important legislative protection gains throughout the last decade, in Lebanon, while strengthening service delivery. Activism and advocacy have contributed to putting this topic on the political agenda, to strengthening laws and policies, essential services and prevention strategies. “Ending Gender-based violence requires the commitments and actions of all”, said Imran Riza, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon. “It is fundamentally wrong that harmful gender stereotypes and norms, structural inequality, and discrimination are still affecting women and girls in Lebanon. This requires transformative actions by all of us to stamp out and prevent this violence” he added. The international campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence originates from the 1991 first Women's Global Leadership Institute and raises awareness and increases momentum toward ending violence against women and girls worldwide. In support of the civil society–led, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE), launched in 2008, calls for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge and innovations to end VAWG once and for all. _______________________________________ The United Nations system in Lebanon comprises 30 agencies, funds and programmes as well as a peacekeeping mission, a political mission and a regional commission that cover a broad spectrum of peacekeeping, political, development, human rights and humanitarian work in Lebanon. The United Nations supports Lebanon to promote the country’s long-term peace and security, development and human rights priorities. The National Commission for Lebanese women (NCLW) is an official institution established by law at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in 1998 with the aim of promoting the status of women and ensuring equal opportunities for women and men. Its General Assembly is composed of personalities who are known for their activities related to women's affairs and is chaired by the woman delegated by the President of the Republic. The Commission carries out consultative functions at the Presidency of the Government and public administrations and institutions, as well as liaison and coordination functions with various administrations, institutions, public, community and civic organizations and Arab and international organizations. The Commission also performs various executive functions, including the formulation of strategies and plans. The Gender-Based Violence Working Group (GBV WG) comprises UN agencies and national and international NGOs, women organizations dedicated to carry out GBV activities in Lebanon alongside MOSA and other relevant government authorities. It aims at supporting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to GBV, including prevention, care and support, and efforts to allow survivors to access justice. The GBV working group also prioritizes life-saving activities and gap-filling as well as enhancing predictable and effective prevention, risk mitigation and response. The group, chaired by UNFPA, UNHCR and MOSA contributes to a shared vision and integrated strategies among humanitarian stakeholders to better address GBV through a survivor-centered and rights-based approach The Gender Working Group (GWG) in Lebanon, chaired by UN Women, is a strategic forum and advocacy platform to promote gender equality and the integration of gender considerations in humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) actions of the United Nations and their partners in Lebanon. The GWG regularly convenes both international and national actors from across sectors to facilitate action on gender equality and women’s rights. The Gender Working Group is made up of 42 members (UN agencies: 19, INGOs: 6, and NGOs: 17); 15 member states collaborate with the group in an observatory status capacity. This group is complementary to the Gender Donor Working Group, chaired by the Government of Canada in Lebanon. Media Contacts: Roula Rached, Communications and Advocacy Specialist, UN Women, phone number: + 961 70351088 Micheline Elias Massaad, NCLW Executive Director, phone number: + 961 3 452 570 Pamela Di Camillo, Humanitarian/GBV Coordinator, United Nations Population Fund, Phone number: +96176482273 [1] Across their lifetime, 1 in 3 women, around 736 million, are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner or both (Violence against Women Prevalence Estimates), however, this figure would be even higher if it included the full continuum of violence that affects women and girls including sexual harassment, violence in digital contexts, harmful practices and sexual exploitation. [2] WHO (2021) Violence against Women Prevalence Estimates [3] UNODC (2021) Killings of women and girls by their intimate partner or other family members. Global estimates 2020

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Press Release

16 November 2022

UN Humanitarian Relief Funds Allocate US$9.5 Million to Contain the Spread of Cholera in Lebanon

“The US$9.5 million directly targets more than 1,500,000 people across Lebanon - Lebanese, Syrian refugees, Palestine refugees and migrants – at heightened risk of exposure to cholera. CERF and LHF funding will support early containment and rapid response activities critical to prevent loss of life and stop the spread of this disease in high-risk areas.” Mr. Imran Riza said. The United Nations and a wide network of local and international partners on the ground are supporting the implementation of the joint prevention, preparedness and response plan, developed under the leadership of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Fully aligned with this plan, the LHF emergency reserve allocation of US$4.5 million will support NGO-led lifesaving cholera containment and response activities through ensuring water safety in high-risk areas and providing support to cholera stabilization centers at selected primary health care centers. The CERF Rapid Response allocation of US$5 million will allow for complementary support through WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR and their NGO partners. CERF funded interventions will focus on improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in cholera high-risk areas through support to water and wastewater systems, chlorination of household water tankers, and support to cholera treatment centers units. Activities will also aim at a strengthened and equitable health response through upscaling the cholera vaccination campaign and coverage of hospitalization costs of most seriously affected individuals. “We are hopeful that the implementation, in close collaboration with the Government, of a well-coordinated set of time-critical interventions, will limit the spread of the disease and mitigate the impact on the population. We count on the donor community to continue support us in this endeavour”, Mr. Riza added. “At the same time, it is critical that the Government of Lebanon steps up its efforts to ensure the provision of basic services to the population. The responsibility to provide uninterrupted energy for running critical water supply and wastewater management facilities remains with the Government. A comprehensive solution to the ongoing energy crisis will be the only sustainable and efficient way to meaningfully fight the disease and prevent recurring outbreaks in the future.”, Mr. Riza concluded. Background This is the first outbreak of cholera in Lebanon since the last case was reported in 1993 with no local transmission documented since then. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lebanon is the latest phase of a rampaging outbreak that began in Afghanistan in June - then spread to Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Lebanon reported the first confirmed cholera case on 4 October 2022. The MoPH officially declared an outbreak of cholera on 6 October 2022. Since the first case was confirmed, over 3042 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported across the country, including 18 deaths. Children are most at risk from the deadly disease, with those under 14 making up more than 50% of cases. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) are OCHA-managed pooled fund mechanisms used complementarily to facilitate fast, effective and accountable humanitarian response. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2005, CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike. The LHF is a country-based pooled fund led by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon and managed by OCHA. Since its inception in 2014, the LHF has received over US$ 146 million from donors to support the delivery of timely and effective humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Lebanon regardless of their status. For more information, read the latest situation report: https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-cholera-outbreak-situation-report-no-3-5-november-2022 ****** For more Information, please contact: - Ms. Severine Rey, Head of Office – UNOCHA Lebanon. rey@un.org; + 96171907930 - Ms. Kawsar Fahs, Senior Communications Officer- UNOCHA Lebanon. Kawsar.fahs@un.org; + 96181107870

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Press Release

07 November 2022

UN-Habitat and the Republic of Korea in Lebanon sign a US$ 500,000 project to supply and install renewable energy solutions for public facilities in Zahle

The project entitled: “Improved access to municipal and social services through renewable energy alternatives” will enhance access to social and basic services for the residents of Zahle through the supply and installation of renewable energy solutions. Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roofs of two public facilities in Zahle: the Tel Chiha Hospital and the Water Pumping Station run by the Beqaa Water Establishment (BWE) to generate constant and reliable power supply during the day for operation and water supply. The project will also enable the installation of renewable energy lighting fixtures on streets in Zahle to ensure public safety. Ambassador Park, emphasized on the commitment of the Korean Government in collaboration with UN-Habitat to support Lebanese authorities in offsetting some of the many hardships endured by vulnerable people in Lebanon, and in this case specifically with renewable energy alternatives. He said: "Korea is always standing by the Lebanese people in their efforts for peace, stability, and prosperity and will contribute to the recovery, rehabilitation, and capacity building of Lebanon." ‘‘Energy is considered as a major factor for the development of cities. The current economic crisis in Lebanon has affected the supply of energy across communities, which is having a great impact on the provision of basic public services such as healthcare and water supply.’’ said Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme. ‘’We, as UN-Habitat are working closely with our partners in Lebanon on integrated approaches to provide sustainable urban solutions for cities for a better future.’’ This project is in line with the Lebanon Emergency Response Plan, a multi-sectoral Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to address the needs of the most vulnerable affected by the crisis. About the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a dedicated Goal on cities, SDG 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. For media enquiries: Layal Abou Antoun UN-Habitat Lebanon T: +961 1 985 398 M: +961 81 512629 E: layal.abouantoun@un.org Sooyeon Kim Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Lebanon T: +961-5-922-849 (144) M: +961-71-581-564 E: syekim22@mofa.go.kr

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Press Release

07 November 2022

WHO requires US $ 10.2 million to respond to the rapid cholera outbreak in Lebanon

“Lebanon is vulnerable to cholera, and this is being aggravated by prolonged economic conditions and scarce access to clean water and proper sanitation services across the country," says Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon. “We need to concert efforts to ensure people have just access to health services, clean water, and sanitation and educate them on how to deal with cholera if any gets infected.” The healthcare system in Lebanon is already strained to current economic and social crises, and the cholera outbreak may overwhelm the already fragile health system in the country. There are many challenges in responding to the cholera outbreak, and WHO and other partners are making extra efforts to overcome these challenges in order to prevent further spread and control the outbreak in a timely manner. WHO’s priority is to limit the spread and transmission of the cholera outbreak while minimizing the morbidity and mortality associated with cholera through good quality healthcare services The focus of WHO’s response to the cholera outbreak is to: · ensure efficient and effective multisectoral national and subnational coordination mechanisms to manage the cholera outbreak response · enhance timely epidemiological detection, confirmation, and investigation of cholera · strengthen laboratory capacity for the rapid diagnosis · increase access to treatment for suspected cholera patients and strengthen the capacity to manage cases at different levels of infection · ensure access to vaccination, especially for high-risk populations · support lifesaving WASH prevention and response measures · work on procurement, and delivery of essential supplies and equipment · strengthen risk communication and community engagement and provide key messages to vulnerable communities on prevention Since the first case was detected, WHO has been effectively working with partners and the Ministry of Public Health to reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality, to contain transmission of the disease in affected areas, and to mitigate the risk that the outbreak spreads to other areas. Related links: https://www.emro.who.int/lbn/lebanon-news/who-warns-of-deadly-cholera-outbreak-in-lebanon-as-cases-increase.html Media contacts: · Muneera Al-Mahdli, Emergency Communications Officer, WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, almahdlim@who.int · Hala Habib, Communication Officer, WHO Lebanon Office, hhabib@who.int

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Press Release

01 November 2022

WHO warns of deadly cholera outbreak in Lebanon as cases increase

Since the first case was confirmed on 5 October 2022, over 1400 suspected cases have been reported across the country, including 381 laboratory-confirmed cases and 17 deaths. While the outbreak was initially confined to northern districts, it rapidly spread, with laboratory-confirmed cases now reported from all eight governorates and 18 out of 26 districts. Serotype Vibrio Cholerae O1 El-Tor Ogawa was identified as the currently circulating cholera strain, similar to the one circulating in Syria. “Cholera is deadly, but it’s also preventable through vaccines and access to safe water and sanitation. It can be easily treated with timely oral rehydration or antibiotics for more severe cases,” said Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO representative in Lebanon. “The situation in Lebanon is fragile as the country already struggles to fight other crises – compounded by prolonged political and economic deterioration.” The World Health Organization (WHO) is joining efforts with the Ministry of Public Health and other health partners to curb the evolving cholera outbreak. WHO and humanitarian partners supported the Ministry of Public Health to develop a national cholera preparedness and response plan outlining the most urgent response interventions required while scaling up surveillance and active case-finding in hotspot areas. Given the shortage of both health staff and medical supplies in the country, WHO provided the two reference laboratories, three prisons, and 12 hospitals designated for cholera treatment with laboratory reagents, treatment kits, and rapid diagnostic tests, and deployed nurses and doctors as surge capacity to hospitals in the most affected areas. Procurement and prepositioning of additional cholera supplies are being also finalized. WHO is ensuring that proper clinical management, practices, infection prevention, and control (IPC), and cholera testing protocols are in place for adequate referral and channeling of cases to the needed level of care. Over the past few weeks, WHO has supported a series of training sessions at central and peripheral levels to improve early detection and reporting of suspected cases, and clinical management practices and to raise awareness among the public and frontline health workers on cholera prevention and control.

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