The United Nations Humanitarian Coordination Body (OCHA) aims to strengthen the international response in complex emergencies. In Lebanon, OCHA focuses on: 1) strengthening the coordination mechanisms at the strategic level in order to improve the planning and follow-up of overall efforts across all sectors, 2) the mobilization of flexible, predictable humanitarian funding through the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, 3) strengthen contextual awareness and assessment of humanitarian needs, gaps and responses; and 4) advocate for better protection of refugees, vulnerable Lebanese and humanitarian access for humanitarian actors.
Example of project
Denmark supports the OCHA-led “Lebanon Humanitarian Fund”, which aims to provide support to the most vulnerable people in Lebanon, especially the elderly and people with special needs. The fund provides support to international and local NGOs that assist all vulnerable communities in Lebanon, regardless of legal status, nationality, gender or age. The fund must enable implementation partners to respond appropriately to unforeseen emergencies with the flexible funding from OCHA. In addition, the fund aims to address the challenges facing underfunded sectors, as well as to ensure a continuous approach of services to the most vulnerable. The fund also works to strengthen NGOs to increase their reach and ensure that there is a reserve fund in case of unforeseen emergencies.
Read more about OCHA's work in Lebanon on its website here:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a crucial role in promoting protection and lasting solutions for refugees worldwide. UNHCR Lebanon provides protection and assistance to both refugees and Lebanese communities affected by the refugee crisis. This is done through a wide range of initiatives such as: life-saving emergency aid, education, protection, strengthening public health systems, strengthened access to shelter and to water, sanitation and hygiene. During the COVID pandemic, UNHCR has also supported Lebanon by donating medical equipment and medicines to selected hospitals, including in order to strengthen intensive care units, etc.
Example of project
The political and socio-economic situation has deteriorated significantly in Lebanon since 2019, which has had a negative impact on the already vulnerable refugee population as well as Lebanese host communities. In the face of an inadequate national social safety net in Lebanon, it has therefore become increasingly important to strengthen the social protection system at local level. With support from Denmark, UNHCR is expanding its efforts through local community development centers in order to prevent and address protection needs, reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities and strengthen the capacity for self-sufficiency among refugees and vulnerable Lebanese. The community development centers provide a comprehensive range of social services with a focus on specific needs among the target group, including victims of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly vulnerable children, people with disabilities and the elderly. The centers offer counseling, psychosocial support, information activities, business-related training, leisure and sports activities. In addition, the centers are central meeting places for Lebanese and refugees and therefore also serve as important places for promoting peaceful coexistence and social stability. In the period 2022-2024, Denmark will finance six centers in the Mount Lebanon region, which is led by the local implementation partner, Caritas Lebanon.
With support from Denmark, UNHCR will also strengthen efforts for victims of gender-based violence, e.g. by ensuring access to shelters. In addition, Denmark will support prevention efforts, e.g. by conducting awareness-raising campaigns aimed at changing social behavior. Among other things, it will happen through the local partner ABAAD, which works in the Mount Lebanon region and the Bekaa Valley.
Read more about UNHCR's work in Lebanon on its website here:
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the United Nations' largest development organization. UNDP is present in 170 countries and territories, where the organization works with national and local government authorities, civil society, the private sector and other international development actors to promote long-term and sustainable development. UNDP works to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and for a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.
The organization supports governments in developing policies, strengthening national and local leadership, and building partnerships and institutional capacities that together contribute to more resilient and sustainable communities that can withstand crises and ensure a decent standard of living for all.
Example of projects
In 2021, Denmark has made a contribution to UNDP's anti-corruption project "anti-corruption in return for trust" in Lebanon, which aims to strengthen the government's capacity to implement anti-corruption strategies.
In addition, Denmark supports a "Tensions Monitoring System", which has been set up by UNDP in collaboration with UNHCR. The program collects data on social tensions between the Lebanese host population and Syrian refugees, as well as between Lebanese. The latter has been rising sharply since the economic crisis in Lebanon started in 2019. The project analyzes the data collected and offers feedback and recommendations to government partners and other actors. The Tensions Monitoring System thus serves as an early warning system, to increase conflict prevention, and to implement more conflict-sensitive programs and policies.
Read more about UNDP's work in Lebanon on its website here:
UNDP in Lebanon
The United Nations Agricultural Organization (FAO) is leading the international effort to achieve food security on a global scale. In Lebanon, the FAO's priorities have been to 1) promote agricultural and rural development through support for agricultural production, increased investment in agriculture and support for small farms to reduce costs and increase the quality of their products; 2) to strengthen resilience among host communities to Syrian refugees. This includes investments in agricultural infrastructure with a view to promoting employment, as well as 3) promoting a sustainable management of natural resources through climate-friendly agricultural technologies and support for replanting.
Example of project
Denmark supports FAO's project "Promotion of Agricultural Livelihoods and Employment through Investment in Land Reclamation and Water Reservoirs". The program aims to provide grants to farmers and women to invest in land reclamation as well as the establishment of water reservoirs and other infrastructure. The aim is to transform unproductive and abandoned land into productive agricultural land, by constructing terraces and water reservoirs to grow fruit and other crops, thus contributing to a sustainable increase in farmers' incomes. At the same time, the project aims to create employment opportunities for Syrians and unskilled Lebanese in local host communities. The agricultural sector in particular is one of the sectors in which Syrians are allowed to work according to Lebanese labor law.
Read more about the FAO's work in Lebanon on its website here:
FAO in Lebanon | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The World Bank is a multilateral organization that works to reduce poverty and support growth. This is done through loans and grants as well as technical assistance to low-income countries. In connection with conflict and crises, such as the Syrian crisis, the Bank provides concessional loans and grants to middle-income countries. The World Bank finances a wide range of projects in various sectors, including typically infrastructure, water, transport, education, health, social safety nets, poverty, environment, investment, job creation and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Example of project
The Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) has been established to help middle-income countries that receive and host large numbers of refugees. The GCFF is administered by the World Bank and provides loans on favourable terms to Jordan, among others. The purpose of the loans is to develop and support the Jordanian state's ability to include the hundreds of thousands of refugees in the health and education sectors, increase water supply, and increase economic opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian refugees, especially young people. As Jordan has a relatively inclusive approach to refugees, the GCFF aims to help the Jordanian state turn the Syrian refugee burden into an opportunity that can help boost the country's economic growth. One of the loans is helping the Jordanian government move forward with three reforms that will strengthen the Jordanian economy while Jordan continues to host a large number of Syrian refugees. The reforms focus on: 1) work permits for Syrian refugees, 2) Jordan's investment opportunities, and 3) attracting investments.
Read more about the Global Concessional Financing Facility on its website here:
Global Concessional Financing Facility
AFD is a French government institution working to fight poverty and promote sustainable economic development in a number of countries around the world. AFD has been present in Lebanon since 1999. The organization's original focus areas were water and hygiene, support for the production sector, and urban development. From 2012, the AFD began developing projects targeting the social sectors and addressing the consequences of the Syria crisis in Lebanon. AFD provides support through grants, loans, guarantees, technical assistance, etc., and collaborates with public authorities (ministries, municipalities), civil society and the private sector.
Examples of projects
SHABAKE
The Shabake project supports local civil society organizations working for vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese. The project includes four components: 1) capacity building of local civil society organizations, 2) financing of mini-projects, 3) integration of partners in the overall aid architecture and 4) support of the response to the explosions in the port of Beirut. The project was launched in January 2019.
Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
The project supports disaster prevention and management among local communities and municipalities in areas that house many refugees and where there is a particularly high risk of flooding. At the same time, the establishment of various types of infrastructure is supported with a view to strengthened agricultural production, etc. The project is implemented by an NGO consortium consisting of Solidarité International (SI), the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the French Red Cross (FRC). The project period runs from 2020 to 2024.
Neighbourhood Approach
AFD's neighbourhood approach aims to support vulnerable people in crisis-stricken urban neighbourhoods in Lebanon in order to address serious needs for services and strengthen the social cohesion of the areas.
Beirut Blast Response
The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and Solidarités International (SI) have, with financial contributions from DANIDA and AFD, established the recovery project Beirut Blast Response. SI, with the support of AFD, has specifically worked in the Bourj Hammoud area, where more than 300 households have received assistance in repairing their homes, which were severely damaged after the explosion.
Read more about AFD's work in Lebanon here:
Lebanon | AFD - Agence Française de Développement
