un lebanon annual report 2018 un lebanon report 2018 english-123819.pdfintegrated waste management...

UN LEBANONANNUAL REPORT 2018WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SECURE,STABLE AND PROSPEROUS LEBANON

Cover photo: © UNDP - Rana Sweidan

TABLEOFCONTENTS

I. KEY DEVELOPMENT TRENDS...................................................................................... 6A. POLITICAL SITUATION ................................................................................................................................................................7B. ECONOMIC SITUATION .............................................................................................................................................................7C. PEACE AND SECURITY ................................................................................................................................................................8D. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION .....................................................................................................................................................8

II. PROGRESS REVIEW AGAINST PLANNED OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS ................. 10A. PRIORITY1:PEACEANDSECURITY ...........................................................................................................................................11

1.1 Strengthening territorial integrity and security .............................................................................................................111.2. Maintaining internal security and law and order in accordance with human rights principles ............................121.3.SupportINGtolocalpeacebuildingandconflictpreventioninitiatives .....................................................................13

B. PRIORITY2:DOMESTICSTABILITYANDEFFECTIVEGOVERNANCE ....................................................................................152.1.IncreasingtheGovernment’sabilitytoimprovetheperformanceofinstitutions

and promote participation and accountability .............................................................................................................152.2.Enhancingprotectionofhumanrights,ruleoflawandaccessto

justiceforallpeopleinLebanon ....................................................................................................................................172.3.Improvingthelegalstatusofwomenandgirls,eliminatinggender-basedviolence

and promoting gender equality ......................................................................................................................................19C. PRIORITY3:CRISISRESPONSEANDSOCIOECONOMICDEVELOPMENT ...........................................................................20

3.1.Strengtheningtheproductivesectortopromoteinclusivegrowthandlocaldevelopment, especiallyinthemostdisadvantagedareas..................................................................................................................20

3.2.Improvingequitableaccesstoanddeliveryofqualitysocialservices,socialprotection and direct assistance .........................................................................................................................................................22

3.3.Improvingenvironmentalgovernance ...........................................................................................................................27

III. IMPLEMENTING THE UNITED NATIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ................... 30A. PLANNING,PROGRAMMINGANDREPORTINGTOGETHER ...............................................................................................30B. COOPERATINGFORINCREASEDACCESSTODATA ...............................................................................................................31C. IMPROVINGUNITEDNATIONSMANAGEMENTOFRISKS ...................................................................................................31D. REDUCING TRANSACTIONAL COSTS IN OPERATIONS .........................................................................................................31E. STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS .....................................................................................................................31

IV. 2030 AGENDA ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ................................................ 32V. COMMUNICATING AS ONE ..................................................................................... 33VI. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW .......................................................................................... 34A. OVERALLSUPPORTTOLEBANON ..........................................................................................................................................35B. FUNDINGUNDERTHEUNITEDNATIONSSTRATEGICFRAMEWORK ..................................................................................35

2018 HIGHLIGHTS

2 UN LEBANONANNUALREPORT2018

One million of the most vulnerable received direct assistance in the form of cash transfers .

Over 210,000 patients received chronic disease medication and 140,000 received medication for acute diseases.

Over 1,500 farmers received support and training to prevent transboundary diseases of plants and animals and to improve agriculture and water conservation practices.

Around 430,000 children were enrolled in basic education and 22,000 public school teachers and education personnel were offered training.

Over 400,000 people benefited from improved access to safe water through investment in water infrastructure and water system management.

Over 26,000 persons were em-ployed short term in Lebanese host communities, resulting in improved roads, water networks, sidewalks, market places and irrigation channels.

Solar street lights were installed in 21 villages and solar home-kits were dis-tributed in 35 of the most vulnerable Lebanese host communities.

Creativity and innovation were strengthened in 56 enterprises and 18 cooperatives through business management training, equipment, financial services and technology transfer.

Almost 63,000 people benefited from sexual gender-based violence pre-vention and response services in safe spaces.

2018HIGHLIGHTS 3

The police shifted from State-security focused work to more people-oriented policing, including rolling out stan-dard operating procedures and train-ing municipal police to address the security needs of vulnerable groups.

The Lebanese Government received support to secure 90 million euros in financial commitments to develop infrastructure for new sustainable industrial zones across Lebanon.

Data access and evidence-based decision making was promoted through a survey on labour force and household living conditions and a capacity assessment of the Central Administration of Statistics.

Climate resilience of vulnerable Lebanese forest ecosystems was strengthened by planting seedlings and forest restoration in over 500 hectares of land.

Four Lebanese industries phased out the use of ozone depleting chemicals, totalling 155 metric tons.

Cleaner production practices and technologies were adopted by 11 enterprises, including the installation of wastewater treatment systems and filter systems.

The Government increased capacity to protect marine and coastal ecosys-tems by improving data collection and training to strengthen monitoring of the fishing fleet and develop an eco-system approach to sardine fisheries.

Integrated waste management in the north of Lebanon reduced the cost of municipal solid waste collection by 50 per cent.

The share of Syrian-refugee house-holds living in poverty decreased from 76 per cent in 2017 to 69 per cent in 2018 through cash-based assistance.

FOREWORD

© UNDP

2018 was an important year for Lebanon. Forthefirsttimeinnearlyadecade,theLebanesepeoplewenttothepollstoelectanewparliament-akeysteptowardsastronger democracy and State institutions. The election re-sultsandformationofthenewGovernmentwereasmallwinforwomen,withsixwomenparliamentarianselectedandfourwomenministersappointedtothenewcabinet.

Lebanon also remained high on the international support agenda.In2018,threelarge-scaleinternationalconfer-encesheldinRome,ParisandBrusselsmobilizedimportantinternational assistance to support security and economic developmentinLebanon,andfulfilhumanitarianandstabi-lizationneedscausedbytheprotractedSyriancrisis.

ThepresentreportmarksacollectiveeffortbytheUnitedNations,theLebaneseGovernment,partnersand,mostimportantly,thepeopleandcommunitiesinLebanonwhoweworkwithand,moreimportantly,weworkfor.Inanefforttostrengthendomesticsecurityandlawandorder,theUnitedNationscontinuedtoworkwiththeLebaneseauthoritiestoimprovebordermanagementandcontrol,strengthenthecapacityofmunicipalpolice,andclearlargeareascontainingexplosiveremnantsofwar,includ-inggrenades,mortarsandbombs.TheUnitedNationsalsoassistedmunicipalitiesinmitigatingtension,manag-ingconflictandalleviatingresourcepressurethroughtheimplementationofmunicipalorlocalserviceprojects.

Anotherfocusareain2018wasprovidingsupporttotheGovernmentinconductingthefirstparliamentaryelectionsinnineyears,withparticularattentiongiventoadvocating

forincreasedwomen’sparticipationandrepresentation.Lastly,inadditiontothecontinuedsupportprovidedtotheGovernmentinmitigatingtheimpactoftheSyriancrisis–boththroughdirectassistancetorefugeesandthroughstabilizationsupporttoLebanesehostcommunities-theUnitedNationsassistedtheGovernmentinaddressingdevelopmentchallengespredatingthecrisisbypromotingproductivityandeconomicopportunitiesintheindustrialsectors,aswellasincreasingaccesstosustainableenergy,scalingupenergyefficienciesandpromotingsustainablemanagementofforestsandmarineecosystems.

In2019,wewillcontinuetobuildonongoinginitiativeswhile supporting Lebanon in accelerating its progress towardsthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.AkeyfirststepwillbethedevelopmentofanationalvisionarticulatingwhattheLebanesepeoplehopetoachieveby2030,toguidepoliciesandnationalactionplansforthesocioeconomicdevelopmentofthecountry,whileleavingno one behind.

IthankyouforyourengagementandpartnershipwiththeUnitedNationssystem,andIlookforwardtodeliveringtogetherforLebanonin2019.

FOREWORD 5

Mr.PhillipeLazzarini,UnitedNationsResidentCoordinator,duringavisittothesouthofLebanontomeetpartnersandbeneficiariesandreviewcom-pletedprojectsinLebanesehostcommunities.©UNDP-RanaSweidan

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Lebanon

Phillipe Lazzarini

CHAPTER 5

I.KEYDEVELOPMENTTRENDS

© UNDP

A. POLITICAL SITUATION

On6May2018,Lebanonhelditsfirstparliamentaryelectionssince2009.TheLebanesepeopletooktothepollsinwhattheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations,Mr.AntónioGuterres,describedasavitalstepinstrengtheningtheStateinstitutionsofLebanonandconsolidating its democratic tradition. The polls were heldunderarevisedelectorallawthatreplacedthemajoritarian system with proportional representation andintroducedotherimportantchanges,includingthepreferentialvote,apre-printedballotandvotingfornationals abroad.

Overall,internationalobserversreportedapeacefulelectionprocess,withvotersenjoyingfreedomofspeech,assemblyandmovement.Theelectionsresultswerelargelyacceptedbythepopulation.However,ob-serversalsohighlightedseveraldeficiencies,includingisolatedincidentsofviolence,adistortedplayingfield(owing to high campaign spending ceilings and media costs),allegationsofvote-buying,andalowvoterturn-outof49.68percent.Nonetheless,theelectionssawasignificantincreaseinwomencandidatesrunningforoffice(upfrom12in2009to113in2018,ofwhom86wereonlists);womencomprised14.4percentofthetotalnumberofcandidates(597).1Nevertheless,onlysixwomensecuredseatsinthe128-memberparlia-ment,comparedwithfourin2009.Consequently,wom-enconstituteonly4.7percentofthetotalmembers ofparliament.

On24May2018,Mr.SaadHaririwasappointedPrimeMinister-designateofLebanon,taskedwithforminganationalunityGovernment.However,bytheendof2018,thepoliticalleadershiphadyettoagreeonanewcabinet,signallingaslowdownininstitutionalrevital-ization.Thedelayingovernmentformationnegativelyaffectedexecutivedecision-makingatatimewhenthecountrywasfacingserioussecurity,economicandhu-manitarianchallenges.Italsojeopardizedthepositivemomentumgeneratedduringaseriesofhigh-levelinternationalconferences,heldinspring2018inRome,ParisandBrussels,tosupporttheLebanesesecuritysector,economyandrefugeeresponse,respectively.However,attheendofJanuary2019,Lebanesepoliticalfactionsfinallyagreedontheformationofanewgov-ernment,breakinganine-monthpoliticaldeadlock.

Thenewparliamentadoptedseveralimportantbillsin2018,includinglawsrelatedtoCEDRE(Conférenceéconomiquepourledéveloppement,parlesréformesetaveclesentreprises),forceddisappearances,andprotectingwhistle-blowers.ItalsomadeprogresstowardstheratificationoftheArmsTradeTreaty.ThenormalizationofrelationswiththeSyrianArabRe-publicandthepolicyofdisassociationfromregionalconflictsremainedcontentiousissuesamongLeba-nesecitizens.

1 S/2018/703,para.51.

B. ECONOMIC SITUATION

In2018,concernsgrewregardingtheLebaneseecon-omy.MarkedbytheimpactoftheSyriancrisisandthechallengingeconomicconditionsofthepastyears,thedifficultenvironmentcontinuedtoaffectthesectorsthattraditionallyhadbeendriversoftheeconomy–tourism,construction,realestateandtrade–andleftthepro-ductivesectors(agricultureandindustry)strugglingforsurvival.Grossdomesticproduct(GDP)grewataslowpacein2018,estimatedat1percent.2Thecountry’sgrowthoutlookbeyond2018isexpectedtocontinuetobesluggishandthemedium-termeconomicpros-pectsremainbleak.Difficulteconomicconditionsinthemediumtermarealsolikelytoadverselyimpactvulner-abilityandpovertyrates.Unemploymentremainedhigh,especiallyamongwomenandyoungpeople.Jobcreationfellshortoftheannualcohortjoiningthelabourmarket,therebyfeedingcontinuedlarge-scaleout-migrationofgraduatesandskilledlabour.Meanwhile,inflationwasonanupwardtrend,fromalmostzeroin2016to4.5percentin2017,andto6percentin2018.3

Furthermore,in2018,poorgrowthwasaccompaniedbylargeandincreasingfiscaldeficits,estimatedataround10percentaspublicfinancesseriouslydeteriorated.4 High andrisingfiscaldeficitsovertheyears,coupledwithpoorgrowthresultedinadebt-to-GDPof152percentbytheendof2018,5 the third highest in the world.

Poorinfrastructurehasalsolimitedthepotentialgrowthoftherealeconomy.Lackofinvestmentininfrastruc-ture,particularlyinyearsofhighgrowth,hascausedweakeconomicperformance.Inviewofthefiscalanddebtsituation,theGovernmenthasameagrebudgetforcapitalspending.

Toreversethesituationandboostinvestment,employ-mentandgrowth,theGovernmentpresentedtheambi-tiousCapitalInvestmentPlan(CIP),6withphasesIandIIofCIPrequiring$17.23billion.TheGovernmentalsointro-ducedafiscal,sectoralandstructuralreformprogrammesattheCEDREconferenceinApril2018.Theinternationalcommunityfullysupportedtheircombinedimplemen-tation,andpledged$11.06billionattheconferenceinconcessionalloansandgrantsforphaseI.7

TheinternationalcommunityhasprovidedconsiderablesupporttoLebanonsincethestartoftheSyriancrisis.Since2011,over$7billioninhumanitarianassistance

2 https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/publication/economic-outlook-october-2018.

3 http://cas.gov.lb/images/PDFs/CPI/2018/Annual%20Average%20Inflation.pdf (in Arabic).

4 https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/cedre_statement-en-_final_ang_cle8179fb.pdf.

5 http://finance.gov.lb/en-us/Finance/PublicDebt/PDTS/Documents/General%20Debt%20Overview%20Updated%20as%2031%20December%202018.pdf.

6 http://www.pcm.gov.lb/Admin/DynamicFile.aspx?PHName=Document&PageID=11231&published=1.

7 https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/cedre_statement-en-_final_ang_cle8179fb.pdf.

KEYDEVELOPMENTTRENDS 7

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/publication/economic-outlook-october-2018

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/publication/economic-outlook-october-2018

http://cas.gov.lb/images/PDFs/CPI/2018/Annual%20Average%20Inflation.pdf

http://cas.gov.lb/images/PDFs/CPI/2018/Annual%20Average%20Inflation.pdf

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/02/12/ms021218-lebanon-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2018-article-iv-mission

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/02/12/ms021218-lebanon-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2018-article-iv-mission

http://finance.gov.lb/en-us/Finance/PublicDebt/PDTS/Documents/General%20Debt%20Overview%20Updated%20as%2031%20December%202018.pdf



http://www.pcm.gov.lb/Admin/DynamicFile.aspx?PHName=Document&PageID=11231&published=1

http://www.pcm.gov.lb/Admin/DynamicFile.aspx?PHName=Document&PageID=11231&published=1

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/cedre_statement-en-_final_ang_cle8179fb.pdf

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/cedre_statement-en-_final_ang_cle8179fb.pdf

hasbeenofferedtosupportLebanonincopingwiththeimpactofthecrisisandinhelpingthemostvulner-ablepopulationswhileincreasinglybenefitingthelocaleconomy,inadditionto$232millioninjectedintotheeconomyeveryyearthroughcashassistance.8

C. PEACE AND SECURITY

Onthesecurityside,followingsuccessfuloperationsbytheLebaneseArmedForces(LAF)thatdefeatedmilitantsinthenorthernandeasternborderareas,cross-borderfireincidentssignificantlydecreasedin2018.Theim-provementinthesecuritysituationalongtheborderhasresultedinagradualreturntonormalcy,allowingthelocal population to resume economic and agricultural activitiesinthearea.However,peoplesmugglingintoLebanonhasincreasedsinceJune2018.

AnimportantmilestoneforthesecurityapparatuswastheRomeIIConferenceheldon15March2018,atwhichLAFandtheInternalSecurityForces(ISF)present-edtheirfive-yearstrategicplansandreiteratedtheircommitmenttotheimplementationofSecurityCoun-cil resolutions 1701 (2006) and 2373 (2017). Lebanon

8 https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-crisis-response-plan-2017-2020-2019-update.

subsequentlyreceivedcommitmentsofinternationalsupport along those lines.

However,keyprovisionsofSecurityCouncilResolution1701remainunimplementedandapermanentceasefirebetweenIsraelandLebanonremainselusive.Tensionsbrieflyflaredinthefirstpartof2018whenIsraelresumedengineeringworksouthoftheBlueLinenearLebanese‘reservationareas’.InDecember2018,tensionsincreasedagainwhentheUnitedNationsInterimForceinLebanon(UNIFIL)confirmedtheexistenceoffourtunnelsclosetotheBlueLine,ofwhichtwocrossedtheBlueLineinviola-tionofSecurityCouncilresolution1701.Israelioverflightsalsocontinuedinviolationoftheresolution.Nonetheless,theUnitedNations-facilitatedtripartitemechanismcon-tinued to ensure coordination and liaison between the LebaneseandIsraeliarmedforcesandpreservedcalmand stability along the Blue Line.

TheongoingconflictintheSyrianArabRepubliccontin-uedtoaffectLebanon.Spill-overfire,includingmissiledebrisfallinginsideLebanon,andtheallegeduseofLeb-anese airspace by Israel to conduct military operations in the Syrian Arab Republic continued in 2018.

EvenasthesituationinPalestinianrefugeecampsinLebanongenerallyremainedstablethroughouttheyear,asignificantoutbreakofviolencetookplaceinsidetheMiehcampinOctober2018.Theclashes,whichinvolvedtheuseofheavyweapons,leftatleastthreepeopledeadandover20injured;andcausedextensivedamagetoproperty,thetemporarydisplacementofthecamp’sresidentsandthetemporarysuspensionofoperationsoftheUnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugeesintheNearEast(UNRWA).9

Followingcounter-terrorismoperationsin2017andthedepartureofmilitantsfromthecountry,thenumberofcross-borderincidentssignificantlydecreasedin2018.Noshellingorcross-borderfirewerereportedin2018,indicatingthatthesecuritysituationhadimprovedsig-nificantlyalongtheeasternborder.Thisledtoagradualreturn to normalcy and allowed the local population to resumeeconomicactivitiesandtendtotheirfields.

D. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

EightyearsintotheSyrianconflict,LebanonremainsattheforefrontofoneoftheworsthumanitariancrisessincetheSecondWorldWar.AsatDecember2018,theLebaneseGovernmentestimatedthatthecountrywashosting1.5millionSyrianswhohadfledtheconflictintheSyrianArabRepublic(including950,334registeredasrefugeeswiththeOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR),alongwith28,000PalestinianrefugeesfromtheSyrianArabRepublicandapre-existingpopula-tionof180,000PalestinianrefugeesinLebanon.10

9 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Oct-26/467565-mieh-mieh-back-in-deadlock-after-renewed-clashes-left-3-dead-6-injured.ashx.


DemininginLebanonbecamemoreeffectiveandlargeareaswereclearedofexplosiveremnantsofwar,likegrenades,mortarsandbombs.©UNDP


https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-crisis-response-plan-2017-2020-2019-update


http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Oct-26/467565-mieh-mieh-back-in-deadlock-after-renewed-clashes-left-3-dead-6-injured.ashx

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Oct-26/467565-mieh-mieh-back-in-deadlock-after-renewed-clashes-left-3-dead-6-injured.ashx



TheVulnerabilityAssessmentofSyrianRefugeesinLebanon201811 shows that the crisis response has had a measur-ableimpactontheground,althoughoverallvulnerabilityremainshigh:69percentofSyrianrefugeesnowliveunderthepovertylinecomparedwith76percentin2017.Theper-centageofhouseholdsunderthesurvivalminimumexpen-diturebasketof$2.9perpersonperdayalsosignificantlydecreased,from58percentin2017to51percentin2018.Thisimprovementcanbepartlyattributedtotheinterna-tionalaidreceivedinthepastyearandthemultipurposecashassistanceprovidedto15,000additionalhouseholdsin2018,aswellasothertypesofassistance.Thepercentageofseverelyandmoderatelyfood-insecurerefugeesde-clinedfrom38percentin2017to33percentin2018.Birthregistrationshavegoneupfrom17percentto21percent,whichmaybeexplainedbythenewpoliciesputinplacebytheGovernmenttofacilitatethebirthregistrationprocessforSyrianrefugees.Schoolenrolmentforchildrenagedbetween6and14hasremainedstablesince2017,with69percentenrolledinschoolin2018partlyasaresultofcon-sistent donor support and targeted outreach campaigns. Moreover,ofthe54percentofSyrianrefugeeswhoneededprimaryhealthcarein2018,87percentreceivedit.

However,extensivehumanitarianneedspersist.Theestimated1.5milliondisplacedSyrians(morethanhalf

11 https://www.unhcr.org/lb/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2018/12/VASyR-2018.pdf.

ofwhomarewomenandchildren)addtothe1.5millionLebanesewhosevulnerabilitieshavebeenexacerbatedbythecrisis.Eightyearsintotheconflict,povertylevelsarehighandthelong-termresilienceofthecountry’svulnera-blecommunitiesiserodingastheyrunoutofsavingsandstruggletoaccessincome.Atpresent,anestimated28.5percentofLebaneselivebelowthepovertyline,ofwhich470,000arechildren.Over68percentofdisplacedSyriansarelivingbelowthepovertyline,alongwith65percentofPalestinianrefugeesfromLebanonand89percentofPalestinianrefugeesfromtheSyrianArabRepublic,whoareamongthemostvulnerablegroupsintheregion.12

AsmallnumberofSyrianrefugeesreturnedhomein2018,somewithassistancefromtheLebaneseGeneralSecurityincoordinationwiththeSyrianGovernment.Intotal,14,700refugeesreturnedtotheSyrianArabRepublicin2018,including9,700organizedreturnsand5,000individualre-turns.13TheUnitedNationsisnotinvolvedinorganizingthereturnofSyrianrefugeesfromLebanon,butrespectsthechoicesofindividualrefugees.Currently,theUnitedNationsiscommunicatingwithrelevantauthoritiesinsidetheSyrianArabRepublic,regionallyandgloballytoaddresstheobsta-cleshamperingthereturnofthemajorityofrefugees.


13 https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/68209.

LebanonremainsattheforefrontofoneoftheworsthumanitariancrisessincetheSecondWorldWar.Thecountryhosts1.5millionSyrianswhohavefledtheconflictintheSyrianArabRepublic.©WFP-EdwardJohnson

KEYDEVELOPMENTTRENDS 9



https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/68209

II.PROGRESSREVIEW AGAINST PLANNED OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS

© UNDP

A. PRIORITY 1: PEACE AND SECURITYTo support peace and security objectives, the United Nations intends to help mitigate external threats to Lebanon, strengthen domestic security and law and order, and defuse local inter-communal tensions.

Priority areas of engagement in 2018 includ-ed the following:

1.1 STRENGTHENING TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SECURITY

Mobilizing international support for the security of Lebanon: UndertheauspicesoftheInternationalSupportGroup,theUnitedNationsandtheGovernmentofItalyco-chairedaministerial-levelmeetinginRomeon15March2018(theRomeIIconference)toendorsetherespectivestrategicplansof,andbolsterinternationalsupportfor,theLebaneseArmedForcesandInternalSecurityForces.Inajointstatement,the41meetingparticipantsendorsedtheLebaneseGovernment’svisionoftheLebaneseArmedForcesasthesoledefenderoftheLebaneseStateandprotectorofitsborders.ParticipantsalsopledgedfinancialandmaterialassistanceinlinewiththeupdatedcapabilitydevelopmentplanoftheLeba-neseArmedForcesandthestrategicplanoftheInternalSecurityForces.

Developing effective border management: Through-out2018,theUnitedNationscontinuedtoworkwithLebaneseauthoritiestoimprovebordermanagementandcontrol.ThisincludedsupportfortheIntegratedBorder Management Strategy14anditsactionplan,soastoestablishanefficientandeffectivesystemofinte-gratedbordermanagement,promotesecurityinsideLebanon,andfacilitatethefreeandsecuremovementofpeopleandcommercialgoods.TheUnitedNationssupportedthisprocessasamemberoftheresponsiblecoordination body – the Border Control Committee – andthroughadvocacywithpoliticalleaderstoendorseand implement the strategy to enhance cooperation amongsecurityservicesinlinewithinternationaloper-ating standards.

Moreover,throughtheprovisionofequipmentandtraining,theUnitedNationssupportedtheLAFLandBorderRegimentstostrengthentheirabilitytoeffectivelymonitor,observeandprotectthemountainousfrontierat the eastern and northern borders with the Syrian Arab Republic.

14 ThestrategyisanimportantsteptowardstheimplementationofSecurityCouncilresolution1701tosupporttheLebaneseGovernmentinsecuringitsborders.Atthetimeofwriting,theIntegratedBorderManagement Strategy had not been endorsed by the Council ofMinisters.

Thoseeffortswerewascomplementedwithtrainingsupport to Lebanese authorities on security documents and fraud detection. Thetrainingfocusedonstrength-ening technicalexpertiseinintercepting,examining,identifyingandanalysingfraudulentdocuments,andincreasing capacity toeffectivelyaddressirregularmi-gration,crossbordercriminalityandhumantrafficking.

Othereffortsin2018focusedonthefollowing:

l Supportinglawenforcementorganizationsoperat-ingatRafikHaririInternationalAirportinBeirutintheearlyidentificationofhighrisk/suspiciouspas-sengers,inclosecooperationwiththeInternationalCriminalPoliceOrganization(INTERPOL)andtheWorldCustomsOrganization.Materialassistancewasalsoprovidedtoincreasesecurity,includingahandheldexplosiveandnarcoticsdetectiondevice;

l Strengtheninghealthsecurityattwopointsofentry:BeirutAirportandTripoliPort.Forexample,a medical team was trained to manage patients exposedtohazardousmaterial(chemicalandbacteriological);andtheairportwasprovidedwithpersonalprotectiveequipment,suchasspeciallatexgloves,facemasks,waterandchemicalproofsuits,specialboots,todecreaseandmanagehealthandsafetyhazards;

l Combatingillicittraffickingofgoodsbyprovidingtrainingforcustomsofficialsattheairportonpro-filingandselectionofhigh-riskcargoinpreparationfortheestablishmentofportcontrolunitsatportsundertakingprofiling,selectionandinspectionofhigh-riskcontainers.

Helping Lebanon counter terrorism: Throughout the year,theUnitedNationscontinuedtoassistLebanoninstrengthening its criminal justice response to terror-ism.TheUnitedNationsprovidedinternationalexper-tise,contributedtodevelopinganactionplantoassistthe country in addressing urgent counterterrorism prioritiesandprovidedsupporttoitsimplementation.Focalpointswereappointedateachofthefoursecu-rityagenciesandintheministriesofjustice,defenceandinterior.TheUnitedNationsprovidedtrainingtoaround100officialsfromthejudiciaryandsecurityentitiestohelptheLebaneseauthoritieseffectivelyinvestigate,prosecuteandadjudicateterrorismcases,and to strengthen regional and international coopera-tiononcriminalmatters.Asaresult,theLebaneseau-thoritiesreportedthatmoreinvestigationsinterrorismcaseswerebeingconductedinfullrespectofhumanrights,andwererelyingmoreonfactualevidencerath-erthanconfessions.

The United Nations also supported Lebanon in strengthening regional and international cooperation interrorismcases,includinginmanagingmutuallegalassistancerequests,extraditions,andinformalcon-tactstoaccelerateofficialrequestsorproactiveinter-ventionsinterrorismcases.Amulti-agencytaskforcewasestablishedforthispurposebytheUnitedNationsattheregionallevel,comprisingfocalpointsfromAlge-ria,Iraq,Jordan,Lebanon,Libya,MoroccoandTunisia.

PROGRESSREVIEWAGAINSTPLANNEDOUTCOMESANDOUTPUTS 11

1.2. MAINTAINING INTERNAL SECURITY AND LAW AND ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES

Strengthening the rule of law:In2018,theUnitedNationscontinuedtoworkcloselywithpoliceandothersecurityorganizations,andcontributedtodevelopingmethodsandsystemsforeffectivelawenforcement.Forexample,theUnitedNationsassistedindevelopingstandardoperatingproceduresforthemissions,roleandresponsibilitiesoftheMunicipalPolice,whichwereapprovedbytheShuraCouncilinFebruary2018andissued to all municipalities in the country.

Thisnewframeworkwasfurtherstrengthenedbyacompulsoryprotectiontrainingcourseformunici-palpolice,developedwiththeUnitedNationsandintroducedbytheGovernmenttosensitizeandtrainmunicipal police agents to better understand and handleinteractionswithvulnerablegroups,suchasrefugees,childrenandsurvivorsofsexualandgen-der-basedviolence.Furthermore,withthesupportoftheUnitedNations,theInternalSecurityForceslaunchedtheirhotline(1745)thathelpssurvivorsofsexualandgender-basedviolencetoseekassistanceandreporttotheauthorities,thusleadingtobetterlawenforcement.

Othertrainingprovidedin2018focusedonthefollowing:

l Developingthecompetenciesofmunicipalpoliceagentsinactivelistening,andhelpingthemtointeractbetterwithindividualsandmanageconflictsituations;

l Ensuringthatlawenforcementofficials,suchaspo-liceofficersandjudges,arebetterequippedtodeal,manageandrefercasesofdomesticviolence;

l Increasingawarenesswithinsecurityinstitutionsofrefugeelawandinternationalprotection;

l StrengtheningthecapacityandexpertiseofsecurityforcesintheSouthincrowdriotcontrol,VIParmedescort,observationcontrolsearches,check-pointmanagementandperson/vehiclesearches,self-de-fenceforfemalepersonnel,basicclimbingandmountainwarfare.

Inaddition,theUnitedNationsprovidedmaterialandequipment(suchascomputers,printers,cabling,net-worksandfurniture)tosupportsecurityinstitutionsinmanagingtherefugeepopulation,includingresidencyrenewal processes.

Othertrainingactivitiesandmaterialsupporttosecurityagencieswerealsoprovidedtoincreaseaccountabilityandmainstreamahumanrights-basedapproach.Forexample,theISFleadershipreceiveddetailedknowledge

In2018,theUnitedNationsworkedcloselywithpoliceandothersecurityorganizations,andcontributedtodevelopingmethodsandsystemsforeffec-tivelawenforcement.StandardOperatingProceduresweredevelopedandtrainingprovidedtothemunicipalpolicetoshiftfromState-securityfocusedworktomorepeople-orientedpolicing.©UNDP-RanaSweidan


ofmeasurestoimproveinternalpoliceoversightandaccountabilityofpoliceinstitutionsthroughaUnitedNa-tions-supportedworkshop,whichcomprisedparticipantsfromChile,FranceandTunisia.TheworkshopenabledtheISFleadershiptoidentifyprocesses,mechanismsandtoolstoachievethegoalandsub-goalsofthenew2018–2022ISFstrategyonaccountability.

Clearing Lebanon of mines and unexploded weapons: The United Nations helped Lebanon to clear large areas containingexplosiveremnantsofwar,includinggre-nades,mortarsandbombs.TheLebanonMineActionCentrewassupportedthroughtechnicalandadvisoryassistanceintheareasofinformationmanagement,mine-riskeducation,communityengagement,andmineactionstandardsdevelopment.

WiththesupportoftheUnitedNations,theGovernmentofLebanonadoptedtheNationalMineActionStandards15 in2018,inlinewithinternationalrecommendations,whichhelpedimprovetheefficiencyandcosteffective-nessofdeminingwork.Forexample,therevisedstan-dardsreducedtherequiredclearancedepthfrom20cm

15 NationalMineActionStandards(NMAS)isaregulatoryframework,whichguidestheimplementationandmanagementofmineactioninaparticularcountry.Forexample,NationalMineActionStandardsdefinethestepstobefollowedinreleasinglandclearedfromminestopeople.

to15cm,whichacceleratedclearancetherebysubstan-tiallyreducingcosts.Overall,UnitedNations-supporteddeminingalongtheBlueLineprogressedin2018,andLebanonisnowrankedamongthetopcountriesintermsofminesclearedperareaspecificallybecauseofthehigh clearance rate along the Blue Line. Lebanon is now 74.7percentclearedofclusterbombunitsand63.69percentclearedofminefields.Intermsofarea,ofthe162,056,277squaremetersofaffectedland,atotalof112,202,435squaremetershavebeencleared.

1.3. SUPPORTING TO LOCAL PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION INITIATIVES Managing social tensions and security incidents: Throughout2018,theUnitedNationscontinuedtodevel-opmechanismstopromotepeaceandprevent,mitigateandmanageconflictinLebanonatthemunicipalandlocallevels.Forexample,collaborationwiththeLebaneseauthoritiesatthecentralandlocallevelshelpedtracksecurity incidents and monitor and analyse tensions be-tweenhostcommunitiesandSyrianrefugees.TheUnitedNationssupportedtheMinistryofInteriorandMunicipal-ities in reaching out to more municipalities to participate intheexercise.Aseriesoftrainingswerearrangedandequipmentwasprovidedtothatend,includingradios,vehicles,andfirstaidkits.

Overall,UnitedNations-supporteddeminingalongtheBlueLineprogressedin2018,andLebanonisnowrankedamongthetopcountriesintermsofminesclearedperarea,specificallybecauseofthehighclearanceratealongtheBlueLine.©UNDP


Asaresultofthoseactivities,partnerscouldcollectdatafromover90percentofmunicipalitiesonasix-monthlybasis.DatafromsecuritycellsbecameakeysourceofinformationontheimpactoftheSyriancrisisatthelocallevel,thusassistingtheauthorities,theUnitedNationsanddevelopmentpartnerstobetteridentifyandaddresstension hot spots.

Improving social stability and conflict management: The United Nations continued its support to municipal-itiestomitigatetension,manageconflictandalleviateresourcepressurethroughtheimplementationofmunic-ipalorlocalserviceprojectsbasedonparticipatorypro-cessesandtraining.Since2015,118communitydialogueforumsonsocialstabilityandconflictpreventionandresolutionhavebeenestablishedbytheUnitedNations.In2018,newforumsweredevelopedin38municipali-ties,regularlybringingtogethercommunitymembersandrefugeesfromdifferentsocialgroupstodiscussandmanageemergingconflicts.Researchhasdemonstratedthatthesemechanismswereeffectiveindecreasingcer-taintypesoftensionbyimprovingperceptionsoffairnessofinternationalassistance.16

16 ArkandUNDP,RegularPerceptionsSurveyonSocialTensionsinLebanon:WaveIII,( January2018).Linktoalldataandreportsavail-ablefromhttp://tiny.cc/nvh9vy.

The United Nations has also produced and used neigh-bourhoodprofilestoidentifythemulti-sectoralcharacter-isticsandchallengesofvulnerableurbancommunities,especiallyinneighbourhoodswithtensionrisksandwherehostandnon-hostresidentsliveside-by-side.In2018,mu-nicipality-endorsedprofileswerefinalizedforthreevulner-ableurbanneighbourhoodsinTripoli(Tabbaneh,El-Qob-behandJabalMohsen).WithUnitedNationssupport,theprofileswereusedtoupgradethoseneighbourhoodsbyinvestinginimprovingstreets,markets,watermanage-ment,andprovidingsocialservicestovulnerablepeople.

Inaddition,over110otherinitiatives were supported across Lebanon to strengthen socialstability,manageconflictandreducetensionsandrisks–ofteninvolvingparticipantsfrombothhost-communitiesandrefugeegroups.Forexample,11communitystabilizationinitia-tiveswereimplementedinpartnershipwithlocalorga-nizations,throughfacilitatedmeetingswithcommunitystakeholdersandtheestablishmentofinformaloversightcommitteescomposedofLebanese,Syriansandmu-nicipalityrepresentatives,includingwomenandyoungpeople. The committees discussed needs and proposed projectsthatencouragedpeopletointeract,thuseasingtensions,decreasingriskofconflictescalation,anden-hancingstability.Thecommitteesalsoreceivedtrainingonconflictresolution,peace-building,projectdevelop-mentandmonitoring,andcommunication.Througha

ForUnitedNationsDay,theUnitedNationsinLebanonheldapubliceventthatfocusedonUnitedNationsactivitiesinLebanonandontheSDGs.Theeventhostedkeystakeholdersandthepublic.©UNDP


http://tiny.cc/nvh9vy

selectionprocess,communityprojectswereimplementedincollaborationwithlocalorganizations,andsupervisedby the committees.

Preventing violent extremism in places of detention: The United Nations supported Lebanon in addressing andpreventingviolentextremisminplacesofdetention.Morethan50prisonstaffandsocialworkers,asfirst-linepractitioners,weretrainedonthemanagementofviolentextremistoffendersandoninitiatingdisengagementinterventions.Coursesondatamanagementwerealsoprovidedto20detentionstafffromtheInternalSecurityForcesandGeneralSecurity.

Sevenadditionalactivitieswereimplementedforaround450personschargedwithoffencesrelatedtoviolentextremism,includingterrorism.Theactivitiesfocusedondisengagementfromviolenceandpreventionofrecidi-vism.Beneficiarieswereprovidedwithpsycho-socialsup-port,vocationaltrainingandincomegeneratingactivities.

Improvementstodetentionfacilities,includingthemilitarycourtdetentioncentre,theRoumiehsectionforjuvenilesandmen,andBarbarelKhazenforwomen,contributedtobettertreatmentofprisonersandthusreducedrisksoffurtherradicalizationinprisons.

B. PRIORITY 2: DOMESTIC STABILITY AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCEWith regard to domestic stability and effec-tive governance, the United Nations intends to support mechanisms that promote accountability and inclusive participation, including through elections and civil society engagement.

Priority areas of engagement in 2018 included the following:

2.1. INCREASING THE GOVERNMENT’S ABILITY TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF INSTITUTIONS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Supporting democratic elections: On6May2018,Lebanonhelditsfirstparliamentaryelectionssince2009.Intheleaduptotheelections,UnitedNationssupportfocusedonthefollowing:

l Strengtheningthecapacityofelectionofficialsthroughtrainingprovidedtoover17,000pollingoffi-cialsand500results-managementofficialsandtabu-lationofficers,inclosecooperationwiththeMinistryofInteriorandMunicipalities;

l Improvingsupervisionandmonitoring ofthe2018parliamentary elections by supporting the establish-mentoftheSupervisoryCommissionforElections(SCE),includingsupporttoitsfacilitiesandhumanresources.Moreover,theUnitedNationsassistedSCEinaccreditingover1,500internationalandnation-alobserversand4,128mediarepresentatives,andsupportedtheCommissionindraftingthefinalmediamonitoring report;

l StrengtheningtheefficiencyoftheElectoralDisputeResolution (EDR) process through a thematic aware-nesstoolkitonelectoraldisputeresolutionandcom-plaints and challenges related to elections. Awareness videoswerealsoproducedbytheUnitedNationstofurtherenhancevoterknowledgeoftheEDRprocess;

l Supporting a national awareness media campaign in collaboration with the electoral management body to educatevotersonelection-relatedtopics.TheUnit-ed Nations also led a national awareness campaign entitled“Getoutthevote”,encouragingyoungpeopleandfirst-timevoterstovoteandparticipateinthedemocratic process;

l Advocatinggreaterfocusonwomen’sparticipationandrepresentation. The United Nations collaborated with theOfficeoftheMinisterofStateforWomen’sAffairsandtheEuropeanUniontoprepare,launch,andim-plementacampaignon“Fosteringtheroleofpoliticalpartiestopromotewomen’srepresentationintheup-comingparliamentaryelections2018”aimedatincreas-ingwomen’sparticipationintheelectoralprocessesatalllevels:ascandidates,votersandelections/pollingofficials.Inaddition,the United Nations supported thedisseminationofinformation on registering as a candidate,eligibilitycriteriaandusefulinformationontheelectoralprocess.Overall,theconcertedeffortsoftheUnitedNations,theGovernment,donorsandcivilsocietyorganizationscontributedtoarecord113wom-enregisteringforthe2018parliamentaryelections,ofwhom86wereincludedinthefinalelectorallists.

Assisting the Government’s reform agenda: In2018,the Prime Minister endorsed and announced the national anti-corruptionstrategyandadetailedimplementationplan,producedwithsupportfromtheUnitedNations.Throughouttheyear,effortswerefocusedonfine-tuningthe strategy and the plan and ensuring national owner-shipthroughabroadconsultativeprocessledbytheMin-isterialAnti-CorruptionCommitteeheadedbythePrimeMinister,andthesupportingtechnicalcommitteeheadedbytheMinisterofStateforAdministrativeReform.

Inthefieldoflegislation,theUnitedNationshelpedpreparelegislationforadministrative,fiscaljudicialandhumanrightsreforms.Advisoryteamsinministriesandkeyinstitutionsweresupportedindrafting,amendingandsubmittinglegislation,includingadoptinga30percentwomen’squotainmunicipalities,amendingarticles505and518ofthePenalCoderegardingrapeandchildmarriage,enactingthesmallandmediumenterprisesdefinitionlaw,thebankruptcydraftlawandthecompe-titionlaw,securedtransactionande-transactions,andjudicial mediation.


AnotherUnitedNations-supportedbreakthroughwasthepassingofanewlawagainstforceddisappearance.Thelawestablishedacommissiontoinvestigateforceddisap-pearances,withthepowertoaccessandcollectinforma-tion,carryoutexhumationsandidentifyburialsites,andhandovertorelativestheremainsoftheirlovedones.Italsoenshrinesthe‘righttoknow’forallfamilieswithoutdiscrimination.TheUnitedNationsprovidedadvisorysupportindevelopingthelaw,withtheinvolvementofmembersofparliamentandcivilsocietyorganizations.

Helping Lebanon produce data and statistics for development: The United Nations partnered with the CentralAdministrationofStatistics(CAS)toconductasurveyonlabourforceandhouseholdlivingconditions,toprovidesocioeconomicindicatorsandstatisticaldataontheemploymentandlivingconditionsofresidentsinthe26districtsinLebanon,includingSyrianrefugees.Theresultsofthesurveyareofcriticalimportancetothedesignandimplementationoflabourmarketpoliciesandprogrammes.Reliablesurveyresultsarealsovitalforpro-vidingbaselinedatatomonitoractionsincludedunderthestabilizationframeworkforLebanon.

AcomprehensivecapacityassessmentofCASwascar-riedouttoidentifyneedsandprioritiestoenhancethenationalstatisticalsystem,inordertobetterrespondtodata needs and the current 2030 Agenda.

CASandothergovernmentinstitutionsweresupportedbythe United Nations in data collection and analysis with a viewtoinformingpolicymakingandenactinglegislation.AsalientdevelopmentwasthedecisionbytheUnitedNa-tionsandCAStomergethefollowingtwomajorsurveys:

l The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS): An in-ternationalhouseholdsurveyinitiativethroughwhichthe United Nations assists countries in collecting and analysingdatatofilldatagapsformonitoringthesituationofchildrenandwomen;

l The Pan Arab Survey for Family Health (PAPFAM): A baseline study that assesses the health conditions ofhouseholds,providingdataandsocialindicatorsonreproductivehealth(suchasmaternalcare,repro-ductivemorbidity,fertilityandfamilyplanning),childhealth,disability,andthehealthandwelfareoftheelderly,bothnationallyandregionally.

Bymergingthesesurveys,costsandworkloadswillbere-ducedfornationalstakeholdersandtheUnitedNations,andmoreeffectiveandefficientsupportwillbeprovidedtodataproduction,coordinationandmanagementinLebanon.Preparationsforthemergedsurveywereiniti-ated in 2018 by CAS with United Nations support.

Promoting youth participation: Promoting youth partic-ipationcontinuedtobeafocusareathroughout2018.Ac-tivitieswereimplementedincooperationwithcivilsociety

ThroughUnitedNationsactivities,over50,000youngpeoplewereengagedinpro-social,meaningfulandcommunity-enhancingactivities,manyofwhichtheyoungpeoplethemselvesdefinedandcontrolled.Thishelpedinbuildingvitalskills,responsibilitiesandconfidence.©UNICEF


andGovernmententitiestopromoteactiveengagementandstrengthenthecapacityofyoungpeople.ExamplesofUnitedNationssupportincludethefollowing:

l Trainingover50,000youngpeopleinleadershipanddecision-making,conflictresolution,communication,peereducation,socialmedia,intercultural/religiousdialogueandself-awareness;

l Supporting250youthinitiatives,includingsummerandweekendcampsonhumanrights;projectstoengageyoungpeopleinachievingtheSDGs;initiativesforinter-culturaldialogue;activitiestodevelopandrefurbishsports grounds and public spaces; public debates on youthrightsandearlymarriage;socialmediacampaigns,artexhibitions,interactivetheatre;andflash-mobs;

l Establishing a network of 160 youth organizations to pro-mote media and information literacy and empower young people in their daily lives;

l Developing a Palestinian youth strategy17 highlighting critical needs and key opportunities to guide measures to further empower Palestinian youth;

l Supporting25keyeducationpartners(bothgovern-mentalandnon-governmental)toengageyoungpeo-pleinpreventingviolentextremismthrougheducation.

2.2. ENHANCING PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, RULE OF LAW AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE IN LEBANON

Establishing human rights structures: The United Nations advocatedtheestablishmentofanationalhumanrightsinstitutioninLebanon.InNovember2016,theLebaneseparliament passed law No. 62 on establishing a national humanrightsinstitution(NHRI),whichprovidesaneffectiveindependentoversightmechanismtopromoteandprotecthumanrightsandtopreventtortureandill-treatmentofpersonsinvulnerablesituations.TheNHRIcommissionerswereofficiallyappointedinJuly2018.However,theinstitu-tionwasnotyetoperationalbytheendof2018owingtochallengesinallocatingnecessaryfinancialresourcesforitsoperations.

Inaddition,theUnitedNationsprovidedtechnicalsupporttothedevelopmentofNHRIandNPMbylawsbasedonbestpracticesfromtheregion.CommissionersalsoreceivedspecializedtrainingcoursesbytheUnitedNationsoninter-nationalbestpracticesandonvariousNHRImodelsintheMiddleEastandNorthAfricaregion.

FollowingadvocacyeffortsandtechnicalsupportbytheUnitedNations,anotherimportantresultwasachievedinJune2018whenaNationalMechanismsforReport-ingandFollow-up(NMRF)wasofficiallyestablishedbyaprimeministerialdecree.Twenty-sevenhumanrightsfocalpointswereassignedfromvariousministriestocoordinatesubmissionsbyLebanontotheUniversalPeriodicReviewand international treaty bodies. This national mechanism is

17 YouthStrategyforPalestinianRefugeesinLebanon2019-2025,devel-oped by the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee.

mandatedtocoordinateandpreparereports,engagewithinternationalhumanrightsmechanisms,andtracknationalfollow-upandimplementationofLebanon’sobligationstointernational human rights mechanisms.

TheUnitedNationsprovidedacapacity-buildingpro-grammeforNRMFmembersontreatybodies’reportingrequirements.WiththeNMRFestablishedandoperational,Lebanon’stimelysubmissionstotreatybodieshasgreatlyimproved.Forinstance,NMRFproducedthreereportsandsubmitted to treaty bodies in 2018 one report on the Inter-nationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),andtwofollow-upreportsfortheConventionAgainstTortureandtheCommitteeontheEliminationofRacialDiscrimina-tion (CERD).

The United Nations assisted security institutions in Leba-non,includingtheLebaneseArmedForces,theInternalSecurityForcesandGeneralSecurity,inmainstreaminghumanrightsintheirlawenforcementmandatesanddevel-opedcodesofconductforthethreeentities.On29January2019,theLebaneseArmedForcesCommanderinChieflaunchedthecodeofconductforArmyofficersinlawen-forcementatanationalceremonyheldinBeirut.Thecodeofconductenshrinesthefundamentalprinciplesrelevanttolawenforcementandhumanrightstoprotectandpromotefreedomsandrights,andhighlightstheimportanceandnecessityofprotectingwomen,children,olderpersons,refugeesandvictimsofhumantraffickinginalllawenforce-ment-relatedtasksassignedtotheLebaneseArmedForces.Toensureaccountability,theLebaneseArmedForcesrecruitedlegaladviserstoalldepartments,withtherespon-sibilityofmonitoringandsupportingtheimplementationofthecodeofconduct.

The United Nations also engaged with newly elected parlia-mentarians on international human rights mechanisms. As aresult,thoseparliamentarianshaveincreasedawarenessoftheirlegislativeroleandresponsibilitiesinaligningna-tional laws to international human rights standards.

AhumanrightscurriculumforthejudiciaryacademywasalsoproducedwithUnitedNationsassistance,toguidetrainings and help graduated judges mainstream human rights in their court rulings.

Improving conditions in prisons: In2018,theUNcon-tributedtoimprovedprisonconditions,rehabilitationofprisoners,andtheprovisionofalternativestodetentioninLebanon.Fourprisonsordetentionfacilitieswereren-ovated,refurbishedandequipped,andstaffweretrainedtoensureadecentenvironmentandbettertreatmentofprisoners.Withregardtoenhancingbasicneeds,espe-ciallyforinterindividualnotreceivingfamilyvisits,over7,500healthkitsweredistributedin2018toaround5,000persons in prisons and detention centres.

Inaddition,specialrehabilitationprogrammesreached450prisonersandincludedpsycho-socialsupport,voca-tionaltrainingandincomegeneratingactivities.Reha-bilitationsupportwasalsoprovidedto300boys/youngadults,31girlsand10women.


Tofurtherreducethevulnerabilityofrefugeesandstate-lessindividuals,protecttheirbasicrights,andpreventrefoulement,18 the United Nations and its partners had a regular presence at the General Security retention centre inBeirutandinthe22prisonstoprovidetechnicalsup-port,monitorthesituationofdetainees,andprovidelegalaidandcomplementaryservices(suchasmedical,psycho-logicalandmaterialsupport)tothemostvulnerable.

Providing legal assistance: Throughouttheyear,over80,000refugees19ofdifferentnationalitiesreceivedlegalcounsellingandtrialsupport,inadditiontoassistanceandrepresentationonissuessuchaslegalresidency,civilregistration,familylaw,andhousing,landandproperty.Thissupportprovidedrefugeeswithcruciallegaladviceonhowtonavigateresidencyprocedures,obtaincivildocumentation,ensuresecurityoftenure,anddealwithviolence.Refugeeswerealsorepresentedbeforeadmin-istrativebodiesorreligiousauthoritiesonvariousmat-ters,includingfamilylawandcivildocumentation.About

18 Refoulementistheforciblereturnofrefugeesorasylumseekerstoacountry where they are liable to be subjected to persecution based on race,religion,nationality,ormembershipofaparticularsocialgrouporpoliticalopinion.Non-refoulementisafundamentalprincipleof international law.

19 Including70,000Syrianrefugees(thisnumberdoesnotincludethosewhoreceivedlegalawarenesstraining)and8,842Palestinianrefugees.

360statelessindividuals,mostofthemofLebaneseori-gin,receivedlegalaidtoconfirmorobtainanationality.Furthermore,almost30,000refugeesweretargetedwithawarenesssessionsonlegaltopics,includingresidencyandcivildocumentation,toempowerthemasindividualswith regard to legal issues.

Protecting the rights of children: Supporting children toprotecttheirrightsanddecreasetheirvulnerability remainedakeyfocusareafortheUnitedNationsin2018. Forexample,theUnitedNationsprovidedtechnicalandfinancialsupporttomajorstakeholders,includingtheMin-istryofJustice,theBeirutBarAssociation,andtheUnionfortheProtectionofJuvenilesinLebanon(UPEL),20 to supportchildreninvolvedinjudicialproceedings,includingpreliminaryinvestigations,courthearings,andfollowingup on their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Child-friendlyjusticewaspromotedthroughcapacity-build-ingofjusticeprofessionals,suchasjudges,lawyers,judicialsocialworkers,andlawenforcementpersonnel.Child-friendlyhearingroomswereestablishedinthePal-acesofJusticetofacilitatetheseparationofchildrenfromadultsduringjudicialproceedings,andtodecreasevulnera-bility,increasesafetyandstrengthenconfidentiality.

20 UPELisanorganizationmandatedbytheMinistryofJusticetoprovidesupporttochildreninvolvedinjudicialproceedings.

DramawasusedbyUnitedNationspartnerstopromotehealthandimprovetheenvironment.Forexample,LebanesechildreninthevillageofKhreibetel-Jindi,Akkar,listenedtostoriesabouttheimportanceofcleanwaterintheirdailylivesandoflookingaftertheenvironmentandreducinglittering. ©UNICEF-StephenGerardKelly


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law

Moreover,theUnitedNationsprovidedtrainingwork-shopsonendingtheworstformsofchildlabour21 to 150 stakeholders,includingfarmersandagriculturalunions,GeneralSecurity,municipalities,non-governmentalorga-nizations,andrepresentativesofemployers.ThetrainingworkshopswereheldinChtoura(Beqaa),Akkar(NorthLebanon),andNabbatiyeh(SouthLebanon).

2.3. IMPROVING THE LEGAL STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, ELIMINATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY

Promoting action against child marriage and gender-based violence: The United Nations assisted theMinistryofSocialAffairsinfinalizingaseven-yearstrategicplanonchildprotectionandgender-basedviolence.ThestrategyfocusesontheMinistry’sroleinpreventionandprovidingresponseservicestowom-enandchildrenthroughsocialdevelopmentcentres.Furthermore,astrategytoprevent/respondtoviolenceagainstwomenwasdevelopedwithUnitedNationssupportandinpartnershipwiththeStateMinistryof

21 IncompliancewiththeMinistryofLabourDecree8987andaGeneralSecurity memo.

Women’sAffairs.Thisstrategyaddressesdifferentlay-ers,recommendationsandactionstoaddressviolenceagainstwomen.ItcomplementstheMinistryofSocialAffair’sstrategicplan,andaddresseschallengesattheservicedeliverylevel,adjustmentsinlegislationandin-ter-ministerialactionsrequiredtopreventandrespondtoviolenceagainstwomen.

TheUnitedNationsalsoworkedwiththeMinistryofSocialAffairstoestablishalegalframeworktoopera-tionalizeaspecialfundtosupportsurvivorsofdomesticviolenceunderlaw293/2014.TheUnitedNationsprovid-edsupportindevelopingthebylawsandconstitutionofthespecialfund,withaviewtoestablishingandrollingit out in 2019.22 The United Nations also supported the followinginitiatives:

l Increasing access to gender data and analysis: TheUnitedNationssupportedgovernmentbodiesin strengthening access to data and data analysis onwomen’sempowerment,genderequalityandgender-basedviolenceinLebanon,throughvariousinitiatives;

l A national baseline and situational review ofSDG5wascompletedwithafocusonachievinggenderequality and empowering all women and girls. The report,preparedincooperationwiththeLebaneseUniversity,willbeusedtomonitorprogresstowardsachievinggenderequalityunderthe2030Agenda;

l A situation analysis of sexual/reproductive health and rightstopromotetherighttoinformation andservices;

l A gender justice report was produced highlighting strengthsandweaknessesofthelegalframeworkrelatedtosexualandgender-basedviolenceinLebanon.Thereportincludesadetailedanalysisoflaws,policiesandpracticesandrecommendationson required measures. The report was prepared in cooperationwith,andlaunchedunderthepatronageof,theMinisterofStateforWomenAffairs.

Strengthening the capacity of partners to pro-mote gender equality: The United Nations continued toworkcloselywithnationalactorstoimprovethelegalstatusofwomen,promotegenderequality,andaddresssexualandgender-basedviolence,includingthroughthefollowing:

l Providingtrainingonprojectmanagement,financialmanagement,evidence-basedprogramming,andadvocacytocivilsocietyorganizationsworkingongenderequalityandwomen’srights;

l Supportingsocialdevelopmentcentresinprovid-ingservicestowomenandgirls,includingsupportagainstgender-basedviolence,awarenesssessionsonrights,andempowermentactivities;

l Raisingawarenessofministries,Stateentitiesandprofessionalassociationsforlawyersongender-relat-ed discrimination in legislation;

22 Underarticle21oflaw293ontheprotectionofwomenandfamilymembersfromdomesticviolence.

TheUnitedNationscontinuedtoworkcloselywithnationalactorstoimprovethelegalstatusofwomen. ©UNICEF


l Training journalists on issues related to gender equali-tyatwork,withaspecialfocusonfairrecruitmentanddecentworkfordomesticworkers;

l Trainingmunicipalpolice,theInternalSecurityForcesandGeneralSecurityonissuesrelatedtogender-basedviolenceandsextraffickingtoensuresensitiveandadequatemanagementofsuchcases.

Lastly,theUnitedNationscooperatedwiththeNationalCommissionforLebaneseWomentoproduceanationalactionplanandmonitoringframeworkofwomen,peaceandsecurity(awaitingvalidationbythenewCabinet).Theplan will help Lebanon implement Security Council reso-lution1325byidentifyingprioritiesandresources,deter-miningresponsibilities,andcommittingtheGovernmenttoactionaimedatstrengtheningwomen’sinvolvementinpeaceandsecurityissuestoachievelonglastingstability.

Putting rights and equality on the agenda: In addition totheregularrights-focusedadvocacybyseniorUnitedNationsrepresentativesinLebanon,23 United Nations orga-nizationswereinvolvedinandsupportedseveraladvocacycampaigns,incollaborationwithLebanesepartners,toraiseawarenessandpromoteactiontoaddresskeydevelopmentissues.Theseactivitiesreachedhundredsofthousandsofpeoplethroughthemedia,socialmediaandcommunica-tioninpublicspaces.Examplesincludethefollowing:

l A campaign against child marriage conducted in collaborationwiththeNationalCommissionforLeb-aneseWomenandcivilsocietyorganizations,suchastheLebaneseDemocraticWomen'sGathering(RDFL)andKAFA;

l Nationwideactivitiestoadvocateagainstgen-der-basedviolenceandpromotegenderequality,inclose cooperation with Lebanese partners;

l 'Mynationality,arightformeandmyfamily’isacam-paigninconductedincollaborationwiththeCollectiveforResearchandTrainingonDevelopmentontherightofLebanesewomentogranttheirnationalitytotheir children and husbands;

l 'BecauseIamaMan'isacampaignwithcommunica-tionactivitiesonpositivemasculinityandchallengingsocial norms related to gender.

C. PRIORITY 3: CRISIS RESPONSE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTo support socioeconomic stabilization and sustainable development efforts, the United Nations is pursuing a ‘dual-track’ approach that focuses both on mitigating the impact

23 TheUnitedNationsmade420protectioninterventionsin2018,includingadvocacyvisitsandbriefingswithkeystakeholderssuchasgovernmentbodies,embassies,donorsandacademia(averaging1-2interventionsperworkingday)toensureenhancedprotectionofrefugees.

of the Syrian conflict and addressing pre-ex-isting development constraints.

3.1. STRENGTHENING THE PRODUCTIVE SECTOR TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOST DISADVANTAGED AREAS

Enhancing farming and food security: In collaboration withtheMinistryofAgricultureandtheMinistryofSocialAffairs,theUnitedNationssupportedLebanesesmall-scaleandfamilyfarmingproducerstopromotesustain-ableagriculturalandlivestockproduction,mainlythroughtheprovisionoftrainingandofqualityagriculturalinputs.Over1,700farmersbenefitedfrommaterialsupportandtrainingonimprovedagriculturalandwaterconservationpractices.Inaddition,farmersincreasedtheirknowledgeoffoodprocessingandpreservation,beganproducingabroaderrangeofvegetables,andimprovedaccesstolocalmarkets,thusresultinginbetterfoodsecurity.

Furthermore,farmersassociations,agriculturalcoopera-tivesandwomen’sassociationsbecamemoreknowledge-ableandbetterequipped,andtherebybetterplacedtoimproveagriculturallivelihoods.Forinstance,fivemixedcooperatives(oneofwhichwasawomen’sassociation)

TheUnitedNationsworkedwithlocalpartnersinLebanontopromotepositivemasculinityandtochallengesocialnormsrelatedtogender. ©UNICEF


producinglocalspecialitieshavebecomemoreprofessional,productiveandbetterpositionedtomeetinternationalac-creditationstandardsfortheirproducts.Assistanceincludedsupportinformallyregisteringestablishments,trainingonmarketingproductsatexhibitions,andvariedtechnicalsup-portonthedesignandimplementationofqualitymanage-mentsystems,pricingstrategiesandmarketassessments.

Investing in jobs and local development: Through United Nationssupportforinvestmentinlabour-intensiveprojects,suchasinfrastructuredevelopmentintheagricultureandindustrysector,temporaryjobswerecreatedforthemostdisadvantagedin2018.Over26,000peoplewereemployedshorttermthroughinvestmentsinpublicinfrastructureandenvironmentalassetsinnumerousLebanesehostcom-munities,asignificantincreasecomparedto8,000peoplein2017.BenefitingbothLebaneseandSyrians,thosejobopportunities were mainly in constructing and rehabilitating 66agriculturalandotherpublicproductivesectorprojects,suchasroads,waternetworks,sidewalks,marketplacesandirrigationchannels.Intheagriculturalsector,supporttosmall-scalevulnerablefarmersinmakingnewlandthroughlandreclamationalsocreatednewlivelihoodopportunitiesandemploymentintheconstructionofwaterreservoirs,landrehabilitationandseasonalagriculturalwork.Forexample,over2,000farmersweresupportedthroughcasuallabour,and145farmersbenefitedfromseasonallabour.Thework-ersengagedthroughthesejobsenhancedtheirskillsand,asanindirecteffect,theproductivityoflandincreased.

Moreover,incollaborationwiththeMinistryofSocialAffairs,theMapsofRisksandResources(MRR)wereup-datedtobetteridentifyneedsinthe251mostvulnerablecommunities. The mapping enabled better community planningforlocaldevelopmentandinvestments.Atotalof1,193membersofsixcooperatives,whichhadnotreceivedpriorsupport,gainedaccesstotrainingintech-nicalskills,marketingandsupplyofequipment,therebyincreasing their production and income generation.

Improving job skills and employability: In partnership withtheLebaneseGovernment,theUnitedNationscon-tributedtostrengtheningjobskillstoincreaseopportuni-tiesforincomegenerationandimprovestandardsoflivingforthemostvulnerable.Examplesincludethefollowing:

l Over19,700youngpeopleaccessedUnitedNa-tions-supportedtechnicalvocationalandeducationtraining(TVET)schoolsandcentrestostrengthentheirinnovativeskillsandprofessionalreadiness;

l Around6,900peopleparticipatedintrainingstoenhancetheirskillsinproductpositioning,financialanalysis,communicationandadministration;

l Morethan6,180peoplebenefitedfrominternships,ap-prenticeshipsandon-the-jobtraininginproductivesectors;

Lebanesesmall-scaleandfamilyfarmingproducersweresupportedtopromotesustainableagriculturalandlivestockproduction,mainlythroughtheprovisionoftrainingandofqualityagriculturalinputs.Over1,700farmersbenefitedfrommaterialsupportandtrainingonimprovedagriculturalandwaterconservationpractices.©UNDP

National Strategic Framework on Technical and Vocational Education and Training

TheUnitedNations,incollaborationwiththeGovernment,keynon-governmentalorganizationsandtheprivatesector,supportedthedevelopmentoftheNationalStrategicFrameworkonTechnicalandVocationalEducationandTraining(TVET).TheframeworkprovidesaholisticplanforthereformoftheTVETeducationalsystem,con-tentanddeliverytoequipyoungpeoplewiththerightskillstomeetlabourmarketneeds.

Complementingthepolicylevel,14TVETschoolsandcentresbenefitedfromdevelopment,upgradingandreha-bilitation.Tobetterrespondtolabourmarketneeds,newcoursesweredesignedinthefieldsofbusinessinno-vationandentrepreneurship.Moreover,thecurriculumwasmodernized,andschoolsbecamebetterequippedthroughnewmachineryandteachingmaterials.Finally,newtrainingcentreswereestablishedtoprovidespe-cializedvocationaltrainingincombinationwithpsychologicalandsocialsupportprogrammestosupportsocialstabilityinthemostvulnerablecommunities.


l Over2,000peopleaccessedadditionalservices,suchas career guidance and coaching;

l Morethan800youngpeople,including520girls,strengthenedtheirskillsinagriculture,byenrollinginagriculturalschoolsorparticipatinginmedium-andshort-termcourses.

Strengthening local businesses and cooperatives: To helppromoteinclusiveandsustainableindustrialdevelop-ment(ISID),supporttomicro,smallandmediumenterpris-esandcooperativesfocusedonincreasingproductivityandenhancing economic opportunities in the industrial sectors. SeveralenterprisesinLebanonbenefitedfrombusinessmanagementtraining,equipment,financialservicesandtechnologytransfer,therebydevelopingtheircreativityandinnovation.ThissupportwasprovidedincollaborationwiththeMinistryofIndustryandbenefited56enterprisesinthecarpentry,dairy,textile,cutlery,olivewoodandsoapsec-tors.Forinstance,innovationandtrainingonproductdevel-opmentcontributedtothedesignofprototypesinthesoapandcutlerysectors.Productsweregraduallyindustrializedandmarketedthroughexhibitionsandfairs,suchasBeirutDesignWeek,BeirutArtFairandBeirutCookingFestival.

TheUnitedNationsalsoaimedtostrengthentheroleofwomenandpromotewomen’seconomicempowermentintheindustrialsectors.Threeassociationsinthefabricsector,withahighconcentrationofwomeninthework-force,wereprovidedwithtrainingonproductdevelop-mentandinnovation,ondevelopingmanagerialskills,andonincreasingmarketaccess.

Supporting Lebanese institutions to strengthen the pro-ductive sectors: Lebanese national and local institutions improvedtheirresponsetoproductivesectorneeds,thussupportingISIDandpromotinglong-termstabilityandeco-nomic growth in Lebanon. In close collaboration with the Government,supportfortheestablishmentofsustainableindustrialzonesinLebanoncontinued.WithUnitedNationscontributions,financialcommitmentsweresecuredforkeyinfrastructureprojects,suchasroadsandelectricity,fourmasterplansfornewsustainableindustrialzoneswerefi-nalized,andanationalindustrialzonesstrategywasdraftedtoguidetheMinistryofIndustry’sefforts.Thiswascoupledwithsignificanttrainingandadvisorysupportonsustain-ableindustrialzonesmanagementfortheGovernment.

Moreover,severalministriesandnationalofficesincreasedtheircapacityinpolicydraftingandinimplementingmea-surestoensurethesustainabilityofproductivesectors.TheCentralAdministrationofStatisticsbecamebetterpositionedtoinformpolicymakingthroughstrongerdatacollectionandanalysissystemsofthelabourmarketthroughtheLabourForceandHouseholdsLivingCondi-tionsSurvey,amongothers.Moreover,nationalinstitu-tionsinvolvedinfoodsecurityweretrainedonhazardouschildlabourinagriculturetodevelopinnovativesolutionsforruralchildrenandyoungpeople.

Atthelocallevel,institutionalsupporttosocialdevelop-mentcentres(SDCs)oftheMinistryofSocialAffairscon-tributedtobetterservicedelivery,includingtrainingand

employmentservicestohostcommunities.Forexample,sixnewSDCunitswereestablishedandprovidedser-vices,suchasvocationaltraining,to772women(hand-crafts)andfoodprocessingtrainingto693womenandgirls.Otherlocaldevelopmentinitiativesincludedtechni-calsupportforimprovedplanninginmunicipalities.

Furthermore,theUnitedNationscontributedtostrength-eningthedeliveryoftheGreenPlanoftheMinistryofAgricultureanditseightregionaloffices,leadingtomoreproductiveagriculturallandandincreasedincomegen-eratingopportunitiesforLebanesefarmersandcasual/seasonalSyrianworkers.

3.2. IMPROVING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AND DELIVERY OF QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE

The results reported in the present section represent a subsetoftheresultsreportedintheLebanonCrisisRe-sponsePlan(resultsaccountedforbytheUnitedNationsbutnototherimplementingpartners).In2018,publicserviceswerestrengthenedbyinvestingapproximately$224million,a29percentincreasecomparedwith2017.

Over200,000childrenreceivedvaccinationsagainstseriousbutprevent-ablediseases,suchaspolioandmeasles.©UNICEF


Thishelpedprovideeducation,healthandsocialservicestohundredsofthousandspoorLebaneseandrefugeeswhorelyonpublicinstitutionsforbasicservices.

Enhancing the quality of the health-care system: In partnershipwiththeMinistryofPublicHealth,nationalinstitutionsintheLebanesehealth-caresystemhavebeenstrengthened.Basedonevidencegenerationandanalysis,healthsectorpoliciesweredevelopedwithUnit-edNationssupportoninfantandyoungchildfeedingand on children with disabilities. Support in implement-ingelectronicinformationsystemsinall27healthcentresinPalestiniancampscontinued,aimedatimprovingefficiencyofcare,reducingmedicalerrors,andenablingtimelierandneeds-baseddecision-making.

Arobusthealth-caresystemdependsonhighlyskilledemployees.Consequently,over3,000health-carestaffweretrainedtodeliverhigherqualityhealth-careservicesforall.Doctors,physicians,nurses,midwives,pharmacistsandfieldworkersemployedatprimaryandsecondaryhealth-careinstitutionsacrossLebanonbecamemoreknowledgeableonissuessuchasAIDSandHIV,familyplanning,immunization,youngchildfeeding,anddiseaseprevention.Furthermore,170publicandprivatehospitalsbecamemorechildfriendly,and increased their competence on maternal health and diseases such as measles.

Supporttostaffdevelopmentwascomplementedbyequipmentprocurementtoprovidehealthcaretopeopleinneed.Around750health-carecentresanddispensarieswereprovidedwithmedicationandmed-icalandlaboratoryequipmenttostrengthenservicedeliveryinpoorlydevelopedareas,includingPales-tiniancamps.Moreover,thetimelinessandqualityofmonitoringandthepreventionofdiseaseoutbreaksimprovedthroughcontinuedUnitedNationssupporttothenationalearlywarningalertandresponsesystem,resultinginbetterreportingandsurveillancein500health centres and hospitals.

Supporting equal access to health-care services: In additiontoimprovingthequalityofthehealth-caresystem,accesstoprimary,secondaryandtertiaryhealthcarewasprovidedtothemostvulnerableLebaneseandnon-Lebanese.Forinstance,over1,090,000consulta-tionsforprimaryhealthcareweresubsidizedbytheUnited Nations.

Furthermore,around100,000peoplereceivedfinancialsupporttocoverhospitaladmissionsforlife-threateningconditionsanddeliveries,anincreaseofalmost20percent compared with 2017.

Accesswascomplementedbytheprovisionofessentialmedicationsandvaccines,thuscontributingtosavinglives.Over210,000patients(Lebanese,SyriansandPalestinians)receivedchronicdiseasemedication,anin-creaseof30,000peoplecomparedwith2017.Moreover,140,000patientsreceivedmedicationforacutediseases,includingreproductivehealthcommoditiessuchascon-

traceptives,antiviraldrugsandantibiotics,upby10,000peoplefrom2017.Lastly,coordinatedeffortsbetweentheGovernmentandtheUnitedNationsincreasedvac-cinationcoverage.Morathan435,000childrenunder15wereidentifiedasnotfullyvaccinatedandwerereferredtopublichealth-carecentreswhereover200,000childrenreceivedvaccinationagainstseriousbutpreventablediseases,suchaspolioandmeasles.

Strengthening access to water and sanitation: In partnershipwiththeGovernment,over 400,700 people benefitedfromimprovedaccesstosafewaterfordrink-inganddomesticusethroughinvestmentsinwaterinfrastructureandbetterwatersystemmanagement.Toenhancemanagement,waterestablishmentsstrength-enedcapacityforsustainableservicedeliverythroughsubscriptioncampaignsandtheinstallationofwatermetersinhouseholds,resultinginimprovedcostrecov-ery.Finally,closercoordinationandcooperationbetweentheGovernment,municipalitiesandlocalpopulationscontributedtoincreasedefficiencyinservicedelivery.

Inaddition,around216,000peoplelivingininformalsettlementsandcollectivesheltersacrossLebanonweresupportedwithtemporaryaccesstodrinkingwaterthroughimprovedwaterstoragesystemsandwatertrucking,downfrom300,000peoplereachedin2017.

Throughinvestmentsinwaterinfrastructureandbetterwatersys-temmanagement,over400,700peopleinLebanonbenefitedfromimprovedaccesstosafewaterfordrinkinganddomesticuse. © UNDP


Intotal,over320,000peoplegainedaccesstoimprovedandsafersanitation.Thiswaspossiblebecauseofin-vestmentsinseptictanks,cleaningofblockeddrainsandsewagenetworks,constructionofwastewaterlinesandtheestablishmentofstormwaterchannelstomitigateflooding.Moreover,around195,000peopleresidingininformalsettlementsgainedimprovedaccesstosafesanitationthroughdesludgingandtheconstructionoflatrines,upfrom175,000peoplein2017.Lastly,around120,000peopleincreasedtheirknowledgeonwater,san-itationandhygienerelatedmatters,aimingtoinfluencecollectivebehaviourandpractices.

Ensuring access to education for all: The United Nations andeducationsectorpartnersundertheleadershipoftheMinistryofEducationcontinuedeffortsonReachingallChildren with Education in Lebanon (RACE II). Systematic effortsweremadetoreachchildrenandfamiliesinthemostvulnerablecadastresofLebanon,includingthroughtheBack-To-Schoolcampaignandbyofferingfinancialsupporttocoverthecostofeducationandmakeschoolingmoreattractive.Forexample,48,500disadvantagedSyrianandLebanesechildrenagedbetween5and15benefitedfromcashtransfersfortheschoolyear2017/2018,com-plementedbyhouseholdvisitsandreferralstorelevantservices.Furthermore,around20,000refugeechildrenalsoreceivedatop-upamounttomakeeducationattrac-tiveforthemostdisadvantagedfamilies.

Asaresult,about210,000non-Lebaneseand220,000Leb-anese enrolled in basic education in public schools in the school-year2018/2019.Moreover,atotalof36,960Pales-tinianchildrenenrolledforfreein65UnitedNations-runschools,andbenefitedfromschooltransportation,uni-formsandstationary.Almost4,000youngrefugeesandover1,000Lebaneseyoungpeopleaccessedformalsecond-aryeducationthroughsubsidizedschoolfees.Supportwasprovidedforchildrenunabletoenrolinformaleducation,ensuringthat38,500childrenagedbetween3and18bene-fitedfromaccreditednon-formallearning,suchascom-munitybasedearlychildhoodeducation,basicliteracyandnumeracyskills,andacceleratedlearningprogrammes.

ToincreaseaccessforLebaneseandnon-Lebanesevulner-ableyoungpeopletolearningopportunities,theUnitedNations supported enrolment in higher education and non-formaleducationprogrammes.Around770studentsreceivedscholarshipsenablingthemtopursueacademiccareersatLebaneseuniversities.Over14,100youngpeopleandadolescentsbenefitedfromTVETandothernon-formaleducationcourses.Assistanceincludedpartialorfullysubsi-dizedschoolfeesandothereducation-relatedcosts,suchastransportation.Moreover,thequalityoftrainingimproved,new courses on business and entrepreneurship were intro-duced,andcomplementaryserviceswestablishedtoassistyoungpeopleenteringthejobmarket.

Inadditiontoenrollingchildreninschool,effortstokeeptheminschoolarejustasimportant.Everydayatschool,around24,000Lebaneseandnon-Lebanesechildrenreceivedhealthysnackstopreventshort-termhunger,improvedietarydiversity,andcreateapositive

schoolenvironment.Community-basedprogrammesofferedretentionsupporttochildren,educatedpar-ents,andbuiltrelationshipsbetweenschoolsandlocalcommunitiestohelpchildrencatchupandpreventthemfromdroppingout.Forexample,around21,000childrenbenefitedfromhomeworksupport,foreignlanguagetrainingandremedialclassestoimprovetheirlearning.Moreover,systemstoidentifyandad-dressstudentswithlearningdifficultieswerestrength-ened,throughstudentsupportteamsandmoreeffectivestudentassessments,thushelpingthemostdisadvantagedchildrenremaininschool.

Strengthening quality of education: At the national level,collaborationwiththeMinistryofEducationandothergovernmentstakeholdersincludedtechnicalsupportforthedevelopmentofaHigherEducationStrategyinLebanonandaNationalQualificationsFrameworktostrengthentherecruitmentofteachingpersonnel.Furthermore,aSchoolInformationManage-mentSystemisnowinplaceandoperationalin1,288publicschools,contributingtoimprovedmonitoringandplanningforresults.Lastly,anationalpolicyonnon-formaleducationwasdevelopedandendorsedbytheMinistryofEducation,enablingvulnerableyoungpeopletobenefitfromcertifiedclassesinArabiclitera-cyandnumeracy,lifeskillsandEnglish,amongothers.

Trainingofaround22,000publicschoolteachersandeducationpersonnelacrossallgovernoratesenhancedthequalityofteaching.Subjectareasincludedteachingwithtechnology,healthandnutrition,andteachingforchildrenwithdifferentneeds.Personnelalsobuiltcompetenciesandskillsoneducatingchildreninemer-gencies.Over200teachersandschoolprincipalsweretrainedtoimprovethelearningconditionsofchildrenandadolescentsexposedtowarandconflict,byinte-gratingcopingandrecoverytechniquesindailyteach-ing.Moreover,morethan120schoolprincipalshonedtheiremergencymanagementskills,includingthesafeevacuationofchildren.Thecompetenceandcapacityofnon-formaleducationpartnerswasalsoincreased,resultinginmoreinclusiveeducationandbetterservicesforchildrenwithspecialneeds.

Toincreaselearningoutcomesforchildren,effortsweremadetodevelopapositiveandinclusiveschoolenviron-ment.Teachersandeducatorsstrengthenedtheirskillsinusingpositivedisciplineandeffectiveclassroomman-agementtechniques.Violencepreventionandresponsesystemswereimproved,schoolcounsellorsbecamebet-terequipped,andclosercollaborationbetweenschoolsandparentswasestablished,allcontributingtomakingschoolssafeandpositivespacesforlearning.Thirtyinclu-sivepublicschoolswereopened,and237childrenwithspecialneeds,suchashearingimpairment,immobilityandautism,benefitedfromspecializedlearningmaterialandteaching.Therapysessionsandawarenessactivitieswerealsoheldforparentstopromotetheimportanceofkeepingtheirdisabledchildreninschoolandreducestig-ma.Lastly,105schoolsacrossLebanonbenefitedfromrehabilitationandrenovation.


Improving the safety of children:WithUnitedNa-tions-support,qualitypreventionandresponseservicesforchildrenatriskandsurvivorsofviolenceimproved.Atthenationallevel,theGovernmentstrengtheneditsknowledgeon legislation and tools to protect children through training and technical support. Results included increased aware-nessoftheNationalChildProtectionStandardOperatingProceduresforchildprotectionservicesandthedevelop-mentofCaseManagementTools,contributingtomoreeffectiveandhigh-qualityresponses.Moreover,theChildProtectionInformationManagementSystemwasrolledout,strengtheningdataprotectionandsystematicaction.Toreduceviolentdisciplineagainstchildren,anationalcampaignonEndingViolentDisciplinewasconducted.

Atthecommunitylevel,staffingovernoratesandsocialdevelopmentcentresweretrainedandincreasedtheirabilitytoidentifyandreferchildrenandadolescentsinneedofpsychosocialsupport.Socialandbehaviourchangeaspartofchildprotectionwaspromotedthrough engagement with community members and advocacywithhigh-levelinfluencers.Atotalof86socialdevelopmentcentresimplementedcommunity-basedpreventionactivitieswithchildrenandparents.More-over,70communitychildprotectionoutreachvolun-teerswererecruited,improvingreportingandfol-low-uponrisksofgender-basedviolence,suchasearlymarriage,violentdisciplineandchildlabour.

Systemimprovementswerecomplementedbysupporttoservicedelivery.Over20,200girlsandboysacrossLeba-nonreceivedpsychosocialsupportservices.Around6,200children,includingthoseinvolvedintheworstformsofchildlabourandthoseassociatedwitharmedgroups,benefitedfromhigherqualitycasemanagementandrehabilitation/reintegrationservicesincommunities.

Theagriculturesectorisparticularlyrelevantasitem-ploysmanychildren.Government,childprotectionandfoodsecurityactorsincreasedtheircapacityonopera-tionalsafetyandhealth,includingpreventionandrisksrelatedtochildlabour.Forexample,200staffintheMinistryofAgriculture,farmersandcivilsocietypart-nersimprovedtheirunderstandingonchildprotectionin the agriculture sector.

Helping victims of sexual and gender-based violence: Toreducetheriskandimpactofsexualandgen-der-basedviolence,arangeofinterventionswereprovid-edinclosecollaborationwiththeGovernmentandlocalpartners. The assistance helped 463actorsincrease their understandingofsexualandgender-basedviolencecoreconceptsandsafereferrals.Governmentstaff,frontlineworkers,socialworkersandcaseworkerswere trained to providehigherqualityservices.Moreover,guidancenoteson best practices regarding psychosocial support and emotional support curriculums were updated.

Everychildhastherighttogrowupinasafeandinclusiveenvironment.TheUnitedNationsworkswithpartnersinLebanontopromotepoliciesandexpandaccesstoservicesthatprotectallchildren.©WFP-YasmineKara


Intermsofservicedelivery, almost63,000women,girls,menandboysatriskandsurvivorsbenefitedfromsexualgender-basedviolencepreventionandresponseservicesinsafespaces.Theactivitiesincludedcounselling,skillsbuilding,outreachcampaigns,recreationalactivities,psychosocial support and case management.

Strengthening social protection for vulnerable Leb-anese:TheWorldBankandtheUnitedNationspro-videdtechnicalsupporttotheGovernmentonsocialprotectiontosupportanagreedminimumstandardofliving.Capacitydevelopmentandjointconsultationsresultedinadraftroadmapoutliningcriticalmea-suresrequiredtoestablishthenecessaryevidence,dialogueandinstitutionalset-uptomovethecountryforwardstowardsanationalframework.Furthermore,theNationalPovertyTargetingProgramme,providingsocialassistancetoextremelypoorLebanese,wasenhanced.TheUnitedNationsandtheWorldBankassistedtheGovernmentwitharecertificationexercisetoensureassistancewasreachingthemostvulnerablehouseholds,andwithdraftingtheJointAccountabilityFrameworktoimprovemonitoringandreportingoncash-basedtransfers.Moreover,theUnitedNationssupportedtheGovernmentinappraisingtwoproposedpensionschemes,thusstrengtheninggovernmentunderstandingandabilitytomakeinformedpolicydecisions.Advocacyandtechnicalsupportwasalso

providedtopromoteuniversalhealthcoverage,includ-ingareviewofkeylegislationsubmittedtoparliamentforapproval.

Providing shelter:TheUnitedNationsprovidedshelterassistancetothemostdisadvantagedrefugeesandvul-nerableLebanesefamilies.

Temporaryshelterswereweatherproofedandrepairedforanadditional158,962refugees,therebymakingthembetterpreparedforthewinterseason.Householdsreceivingrehabilitationassistancealsobenefitedfromtechnicalsupportontenuresecuritybyformalizingrental agreements and registering agreements with municipalities. This resulted in increased protection fromunlawfulevictionsandenhancedunderstandingofhousing,landandpropertyrights.

Inaddition,1,890peoplelivinginpoorandlessdevel-opedmunicipalitiesreceivedupgradedsubstandardshelters and common building areas.

Providing direct assistance for survival: Direct as-sistanceintheformofcashtransferswasprovidedtoaround1millionofthemostvulnerableLebanese,SyriansandPalestinians.ThemainplatformusedwastheLebanonOneUnifiedInteragencySystemforE-cards(LOUISE),developedin2016asaUnitedNationspro-

Manyrefugeeswerebadlyhitbyfloodingin2018.TheUnitedNationssuppliedpipestodrainfreezingfloodwatersfromfamilyhomesandhelpedrepairdamagetovitalinfrastructure,suchaswatersupplypipesandlatrines.Throughouttheyear,temporaryshelterswereweatherproofedandrepairedforanadditional158,962refugees.©UNHCR-DiegoIbarraSanchez


grammetoharmonizeandincreasetheefficiencyofcash-basedinterventions.Thee-cardcanbeusedeithertowithdrawcashfromanyATM,ortopurchasefoodfromanyofthe495UnitedNations-contractedshopslocatedthroughoutthecountry.TheLOUISEplatformwas strengthened through better communication with beneficiariesviaajointcallcentre,andmoreeffectiveidentificationofbeneficiariesandpartners.Cash-basedassistancehelpedreducetheshareofSyrian-refugeehouseholdslivinginpovertyfrom76percentin2017to69 per cent 2018.

Keyachievementsincludethefollowing:

l Over95,000socioeconomicallyvulnerablehouseholdsreceivedmulti-purposecashassistancetosupporttheirnon-foodessentialneeds,includingshelter,health and education;

l Morethan420,000SyriansandPalestinianrefugeesbenefitedfromcashforfoodsupport,apercapitaunrestrictedcashtransfertosupportfoodneeds;

l Around550,000Syrianrefugeesreceivedfoode-cards,apercapitarestrictedvoucherredeemableforfoodatUN-contractedshops;

l IncollaborationwiththeMinistryofSocialAffairs,around98,000vulnerableLebanesepeopleweresup-portedthroughe-cardswithintheframeworkoftheNationalPovertyTargetingProgramme;

l Over45,000Palestinianrefugeesbenefitedfromcashforfoodandmultipurposecashsupport.

Moreover,UnitedNationssupportfordatacollectionandanalysisresultedinastrongerevidencebasetoinformcash-basedprogramming.Monitoringandevaluationsystemsimproved,andresultsandlessonslearnedweredisseminatedtoimproveprogrammingandimpactforthemostvulnerable.

Helping vulnerable people cope with winter: The mostvulnerablehouseholdsinLebanonbenefitedfromseasonalassistancetomeettheirsurvivalneedsduringthecoldestwintermonths.Almost178,000severelyvulnerablehouseholds,andover60,000childrenacrossthecountrybenefitedfromcashassistancetocovertheirbasicneedsduringwinter.Moreover,25,000householdsreceivedshelterimprovementkitsand1,000householdsreceivedaone-offamountof$120perfamily.Lastly,20,800childrenunder15livinginthemostdisadvantagedinformalsettlementsreceivedwinter clothing.

3.3. IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

Addressing climate change: To promote access to sustainableenergy,mediumtolargesolarpower systemswereinstalledinvariousfacilities,suchasindustrialbuilding,hospitalsandschools,withthepotentialtogenerateapproximately5.3MWofre-

TheUnitedNationsisdeterminedtohelpendpovertyandhungerinalltheirformsanddimensions,andtoensurethatallhumanbeingscanfulfiltheirpotentialindignityandequalityandinahealthyenvironment. ©WFP-EdwardJohnson

Mediumtolargesolarpowersystemswereinstalledinvariousfacilities,suchasindustrialbuildings,hospitalsandschools.Thesesystemsnotonlycontributetomitigatingtheeffectsofclimatechangebyreducingemissions,butalsoprovideacleaner,cheaperandalternativepowersupply.©UNDP


newable energy. These systems not only contribute to mitigatingtheeffectsofclimatechangebyreducingemissions,butalsoprovideacleaner,cheaperandalternativepowersupply.Inaddition,solarstreetlightswereinstalledin21villagesandsmallsolarhome-kitsweredistributedin35ofthemostvulnerableLebanesehost-communities.

Moreover,incollaborationwiththeMinistryofEnviron-ment,Lebaneseindustries,suchasrefrigeratorman-ufacturers,wereprovidedwithsupporttophase-outtheiruseofozonedepletingchemicalsaspartofthecommitmentofLebanontotheMontrealProtocol.Asaresult,155metrictonsofozonedepletingsubstanceswere phased out.

Toscaleupenergyefficiencies,theUnitedNationssupportedapolicydialoguebetweentheGovernmentandtheprivatesectorthatresultedinthereviewofnationalguidelines,increasedknowledgeandcon-cretemeasuresforgreeningtheindustrialsector.Forinstance,11enterprisesadoptedcleanerproductionpracticesandtechnologies,suchastheinstallationofwastewatertreatmentsystemsforindustrialefflu-entandfiltersystemsforairemissions.Around300industrialistsfromdifferentregionsenhancedtheirknowledgeonidentifyingconcreteresourceefficien-cymeasuresforgreeningtheindustrialsectorand

enhancingitscompetitiveness,andseveralLebanesewineriesalsostartedapplyingacirculareconomy,24 in whichresourceinputandwaste,emissionsandenergyleakageswereminimized.

Lastly,arangeofnationalstakeholdersincludinggov-ernmentbodies,improvedcapacitytoimplementthecommitmentsofLebanontomultilateralenvironmen-talagreements,suchastheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC),theBarcelo-naConventionandtheMontrealProtocol.TheGovern-ment strengthened its capacity to monitor and report onclimatechangeandbiodiversity,andenhanceditsknowledgeonenvironmentalconsiderationsneces-saryforsustainableland-useplanning.Forexample,itcarried out greenhouse gas emissions reporting to the UNFCCCsecretariat(UNClimateChange)25 and pre-paredthesixthnationalreportonbiodiversity.

24 Acirculareconomyisaneconomicsystemaimedatminimizingwasteandmakingthemostofresources.Thisregenerativeapproachisincontrasttothetraditionallineareconomy,whichhasa'take,make,dispose'modelofproduction.

25 TheUNFCCCsecretariat(UNClimateChange)wasestablishedin1992whencountriesadoptedtheUNFCCC.Withthesubsequentadoptionofthe KyotoProtocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreementin2015,partiestothesethreeagreementshaveprogressivelyreaffirmedthesecretariat’sroleastheUnitedNationsentitytaskedwithsupportingtheglobalresponsetothethreatofclimatechange.

Byplantingseedlingsandforestrestoration,theclimateresilienceofvulnerableLebaneseforestecosystemswasstrengthened.Over500hectaresofland,equivalenttothesizeofaround800footballpitches,wereplanted.©FAO-KaiWiedenhoefer


https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-kyoto-protocol/what-is-the-kyoto-protocol

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-kyoto-protocol/what-is-the-kyoto-protocol

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement

Sustainable management of forests and marine ecosystems: The United Nations contributed to the sustainablemanagementofforests,includingbydevel-opinglandmanagementpolicies,increasinggreenfor-estcoverandstrengtheningintegratedmanagementtechniques.Throughtreeplantingandforestresto-ration,climateresilienceofvulnerableLebaneseforestecosystems was strengthened. More than 100 hectares ofland–equivalenttoaround160footballpitches–were planted with tree seedlings as a contribution to the40million-treesprogramme.TheUnitedNationsalsoplanted135,000nativeseedlings,supportedtheconservationofover400hectares–theareaofabout640footballpitches–andprotectedexistingforeststhroughforestmanagementactivities.

UnitedNations-supportedtrainingandtechnicalsupporttonationalstakeholders,suchastheMinistryofAgriculture,contributedtobettercoordinationandmorerobustforestinitiatives.Moreover,theupdatedNationalActionProgrammetoCombatDesertificationandthedevelopmentandadoptionofLandDegradationNeutralityvoluntarytargetsprioritizedlanddegrada-tion,droughtandtheirlinkstopovertyhigher.

Moreover,assistancewasprovidedtoincreasetheGovernment’scapacitytoprotectmarineandcoastalecosystemsthroughimproveddatacollectionsystemsonfisheriesattheMinistryofAgriculture,trainingofkeyMinistrystafftostrengthensystematicmonitoringofthefishingfleet,andastudytodevelopanecosystemapproachtosardinefisheries.

Supporting waste management: In close collabora-tionwithmunicipalities,localwastemanagementplansweredeveloped,andequipmentsuchasgarbagebins,trucksandsortingfacilitieswereprovidedalongsidetrainingandawarenesscampaigns.Around110,000peoplebenefitedfromawareness-raisingonwastereductionandsorting,orparticipatedinmobilizationcampaignstocleanneighbourhoods,riverbanksandirrigationcanals.Inaddition,integratedwasteman-agementinthreeunionsofmunicipalitiesinthenorthreducedthecostofmunicipalsolidwastecollectionforthemunicipalitiesby50percent.Theseactivitiesfosteredimprovedsocialstability,aswastewasalsocollectedfrominformalsettlementsinthearea.Lastly,Palestinian camps strengthened sustainable manage-mentofwastethroughnewequipment,betterplan-ning,andcampaignsaimedatreducingwasteproduc-tion and sorting at source.

SupportwasprovidedtoincreasetheGovernment’scapacityto promotesustainablefisheries.©UNDP


III. IMPLEMENTING THE UNITED NATIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

The Secretary-General’s ambitious reform of the United Nations Development System will officially begin in 2019, which will bring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to the country level in an unprecedented manner. The reform is mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations in res-olution A/RES/72/279, which responds to the vision and proposals of Secretary-General to revamp the United Nations Development System to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

ThereformaimstofurnishtheUnitedNations DevelopmentSystemwithastronger,better-definedcollectiveidentityasatrusted,reliable,cohesive,accountableandeffectivepartnertocountriesinthe 2030 Agenda; a system that member States can investinandrelyonbecausetheyunderstandandsupportwhatitdoes,whatitcandeliver,andhowitfunctions.ThereformhopestoyieldaUnitedNationsDevelopmentSystemthatismoreintegratedandmorefocusedondeliveryontheground,withclearerinternalandexternalaccountabilityforcontributionstonationalneeds,andwithcapacities,skillsetsandresources better aligned to the 2030 Agenda.

In2018,theUnitedNationsmadeimportantprogresstowards a more coordinated and integrated response inLebanon.Highlightsincludethefollowing:

A. PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND REPORTING TOGETHER

In2018,UnitedNationsentitiescontinuedtoengageinjointworkplanningandreportingthroughtheagreed coordination structure under the United Na-tionsStrategicFramework(UNSF).TheUnitedNationsAnnual Report 2017 was published online in both English and Arabic.26

UnitedNationsagenciesalsocontinuedtofocusondevelopingjointprogramminginitiativesinclosecol-laborationwithgovernmentbodiesanddonorcoun-tries.In2018,twojointprogramminginitiativesweredevelopedandinitiatedwithafocusonthefollowing:

l Ruleoflaw,securityandhumanrights:buildingontheoutcomesoftheRomeII,CEDREandBrusselsIIconferencesheldinearly2018,thejointinitiativeaimstoprovideimmediateprotec-tionforthemostvulnerable,whilesupportinglonger-termreformsforruleoflawinstitutionsto enhance access to justice and security to all in Lebanon,especiallythemostdisadvantaged;

l Productivesectorsdevelopment:tostrengthenthecapacityofnationalinstitutionstopromoteexportsandsupportinnovationandproductivityofmicro,smallandmediumenterprisesinkeyvaluechains.

26 http://www.un.org.lb/english/unsf/annual-report.

B. COOPERATING FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO DATA

United Nations entities enhanced their collaboration on datagenerationandmanagementtoavoidduplicationofeffortsandreducetransactioncosts.Acapacityas-sessmentoftheCentralAdministrationofStatisticswasundertakentoinformajointplanofactiontostrength-enthenationalstatisticalsystemandprovidecoordinat-ed support in Lebanon.

C. IMPROVING UNITED NATIONS MANAGEMENT OF RISKS

TheUnitedNationsdevelopedajointriskmanagementframework,outliningthevariousrisksposedtotheUnit-edNationspresenceandactivitiesinLebanontofurthersupportjointmonitoringandmitigationofongoingandemergingrisks.

Inaddition,acomprehensivecontingencyplanwasdevel-opedwithafocusonthefollowingkeyriskscenarios:vio-lenceinandaroundPalestinianrefugeecamps;renewedarmedconflictwithIsrael;andnewrefugeeflows.

StepswerealsotakentoestablishaUnitedNationsan-ti-fraudmechanismtoshareinformationandpreventcriti-calfraud-relatedrisksassociatedtopartnersinLebanon.

D. REDUCING TRANSACTIONAL COSTS IN OPERATIONS

Inanefforttoacceleratetheharmonizationofbusinessoperations,inparticularreducingtheduplicationoffunctionsandadministrativeandtransactioncostsacrossUnitedNationsagenciesinLebanon,theUnitedNationsCountryTeamdevelopedajointBusinessOperationsStrat-egyuntil2020.Estimatesshowthatitsfullimplementationwillresultinsavingsofover$3.6millioninnetbenefitsthroughefficiencygainsintheareasoffacilitymanage-ment,administration,logistics,procurement,humanre-sources,andinformationandcommunicationtechnology.

E. STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

TheUnitedNationsandtheWorldBankintensifiedtheircooperation in 2018 by signing a partnership compact fortheperiod2018-2020,aimedatensuringthattheireffortsarecomplementaryandmutuallyreinforcinginsupportofstability,prosperityanddevelopmentinLeb-anon,whilereducingthevulnerabilitiesandpovertyofLebaneseandrefugeepopulations.

The compact builds on the increased and broadened collaborationbetweenthetwoorganizationsinLebanon

sincetheonsetoftheSyriancrisisbyputtingforwardprioritiesforengagementandcombinedefforts.

Guidedbythe2030Agenda,theUnitedNationsandtheWorldBankwillworkwithnationalandinternationalpartnerstoadvanceintegratedsolutionstohumanitari-ananddevelopmentchallengesinLebanon.

Overthenextthreeyears,thetwoorganizationswillde-velopmulti-yearjointinitiativesinLebanonwithafocusonthefollowing:

l Jointanalysis,riskandneedsassessmentstostrength-enandharmonizethedataandevidencebasetoinformpoliciesandprogrammesandpromotejointplanning;

l Jointprogrammaticinitiativestosupportprioritysec-tors,focusingonhealth,education,economicoppor-tunities,socialsafetynets,environment,governanceand gender equality;

l Aligningfundingmechanismstoleveragedonorsupport.

SincethecompactwassignedinMarch2018,acoregroup has been established comprising United Nations headsofagenciesandWorldBanksectionchiefstoover-seetheimplementationofthecompact.Thecoregroupmeetsonaquarterlybasis.Jointplanninghasalsostart-edinagreedpriorityareas,suchasthedevelopmentofajointmulti-deprivationindextomeasurethevulnerabili-tiesofLebanesecitizensandSyrianrefugees;theestab-lishmentofajointapproachtopromotesocialsafetynetstogetherwiththeGovernmentandkeydonorpartners;thedevelopmentofajointprogrammaticframeworktosupporttheNationalAnti-CorruptionStrategy;andgender mainstreaming throughout United Nations and WorldBankprogrammes.

Investmentinlabour-intensiveprojects,suchasinfrastructuredevel-opmentintheagricultureandindustrysectors,createdtemporaryjobsandincomeopportunitiesforthemostvulnerable.©UNDP

IMPLEMENTINGTHEUNITEDNATIONSSTRATEGICFRAME 31

IV. 2030 AGENDA ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

TheUnitedNationsinLebanonsupportstherolloutofthe2030AgendaandtheSDGsinLebanon.In2018,akeyfocusareawassupportingtheoperationalizationoftheinter-ministerialNationalCommitteefortheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,andassistinginpreparingthecountry’sfirstvoluntarynationalreview.©UNDESA

In 2018, the United Nations in Lebanon continued supporting the roll out of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Lebanon.

Akeyfocusareawassupportingtheoperationaliza-tionoftheinter-ministerialNationalCommitteefortheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,andassistinginpreparingthecountry’sfirstvoluntarynationalreview,whichwaspresentedtotheHigh-levelPoliti-calForumonSustainableDevelopmentinJuly2018.Effortsincludedthehiringofanexternalconsultanttohelpdraftthereviewandsupportcivilsocietyconsultations.

TheUnitedNationsalsocontinueditsadvocacyef-fortstoincreaseawarenessofandengagementinthedialogueonthe2030AgendainLebanon.Aspartofthoseefforts,theUnitedNationslaunchedayear-longpubliccommunicationscampaignonlocally-relevantSDGs,focusingonhoweachpersoncouldandshouldhelpLebanonmovetowardsachievingtheSDGs.

V. COMMUNICATING AS ONE

United Nations communication in 2018 sought to increase awareness of United Nations activities in and support to Lebanon. For example, a social media cam-paign was launched to highlight key findings of the United Nations Strategic Framework in 2017. United Nations entities also worked together to draw atten-tion to key development issues, increase engagement, and promote action towards achieving the SDGs. In this regard, the United Nations launched three major campaigns to engage the public, advocate for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and mobilize action against gender-based violence.

InFebruary2018,theUnitedNationslaunchedatwo-monthsocialmediacampaignentitled“UNListens”aimed at encouraging people to share their ideas on howtomaketheircommunitiesbetterandtoassumeresponsibilityinimprovingtheircommunities.Thecam-paignresultedin500lettersthattackledvarioustopicssuchasyouthempowerment,careerplanningandjobopportunities,goodeducation,mentalandphysicalhealth,environmentalpreservation,urbanplanning,andempathyandacceptance.LettersfromSyrianrefugeestackledjobopportunities,education,travellingabroadand,mostimportantly,requestsofacceptancebytheLebanese.Theauthorsofthebest10letterswiththemostcreativesuggestionswereinvitedtodiscusstheirideaswithUnitedNationsheadsofagenciesandreceivedcertificatesofappreciationandparticipation.

AnotherkeyachievementwasthecommemorationoftheseventiethanniversaryoftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.TheplanstretchedfromMarchuntilDecember 2018. It aimed to promote an understanding ofhowtheUniversalDeclarationempowerseveryone,andtoencouragefurtherreflectiononwaysthatper-sons can uphold human rights on a daily basis.

InNovember2018,acampaignonendingchildmar-riage was conducted jointly with the National Commis-sionforLebaneseWomenaspartoftheinternationalcampaignentitled“16DaysofActivismAgainstGen-der-BasedViolence”.TheLebanesecampaignwascalled“Bakir3laya”.Itfeaturedonsocialmediaunderthehashtag#Bakir3laya,andwasgivenairtimeonnationaltelevisionandradiochannels.

Inadditiontothosecampaigns,12UnitedNationsinternationaldaysrelevanttoLebanonwerepromoted,primarilythroughsocialmediawherejointkeymessag-esweredevelopedandpublishedbyallUnitedNationsagenciesinLebanon.ForUnitedNationsDay,theUnitedNationsinLebanonheldapubliceventthatfocusedonUnitedNationsactivitiesinLebanonandontheSDGs.Theeventhostedkeystakeholdersandthepublic.TheLebanese media and United Nations social media ac-countsreportedthemajoroutcomesofUnitedNationsworkinvarioussectors.

Keycommunicationactivitiesimplementedin2018alsoincludedtheregularteach-insessionstargetingschoolanduniversitystudents.TheUnitedNationsreachedatleast10,000studentsfromacrossLebanonandintroducedthemtotheworkoftheUnitedNationsinLebanon and the SDGs.

COMMUNICATING AS ONE 33

A. OVERALL SUPPORT TO LEBANON

SincethestartoftheSyriancrisis,theinternationalcommu-nityhascontinuedtodemonstrateahigh-levelofsupporttoLebanon.Forthelastcoupleofyears,donorshavereportedanannualaverageof$1.4billioningrantsupporttoLebanon,withtheEuropeanUnion,Germany,theUnitedKingdomandtheUnitedStatesofAmericaconsistentlyamongthetopdonors.Similarly,resourcesoftheLebanonCrisisResponsePlan2017-2020reachedanannualaverageof$1.2billion,standingataround40-45percentofthetotalappeal.Overall,thereportedassistancetoLebanonisprimarilyfocusedonshort-termemergencyresponse,whilemulti-yearcommitmentshavebeendecreasingsince2016.

B. FUNDING UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

In 2018, $724 million were invested to support Leba-non through the United Nations Strategic Framework; 93 per cent of these United Nations funds were also used in support of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan.

ThemajorityofUNSFresourcesin2018focusedonpillar3onsocioeconomicdevelopment,particularlyoutcome3.2onimprovingequitableaccesstoanddeliveryofqual-itysocialservices,socialprotectionanddirectassistance.ThishashelpedUnitedNationsagencies,fundsandprogrammestoreducevulnerabilitiesbyallowinggreateraccesstohealth,water,education,protection,shelter,andfoodandcashassistance.

Pillar 3:Socio-Economic

Development

Pillar 2:Governance

Pillar 1:Peace

& Security

$921,863,348

$30,120,284 $9,250,340

74

1417171730

50 40

9470

340

199

GERMANY

UNITED STATES

UNITED KINGDOM

EUROPEAN UNIONCANADA

NETHERLANDS

AUSTRALIAFRANCE

JAPAN

NORWAYITALY

OTHERS

2018 resources by UNSF pillar

Contributions to UNSF by donor in 2018 (inmillionsofUSD)

FINANCIALOVERVIEW 35

0.771.25.511.4 5.241.3 17.8

875

Outcome 3.2

Outcome 3.1

Outcome 2.1

Outcome 2.2

Outcome 3.3

Outcome 1.2

Outcome 1.3

Outcome 1.1

Outcome 2.3

2.7

WFPUNHCR

UNICEFUNRWA

UNDPIOM

UNESCOWHO

UNFPAUNOPS

UNODC

UN HabitatUNIDOILO FAO

1.2 1.21.52.12.93.410.518.67.4 4.5

238.8

64.248.1

278.5 276.9

UN WOMEN

0.9

Funds received by United Nations entities in 2018 under UNSF (inmillionsofUSD)

2018 UNSF resources by outcome area (inmillionsofUSD)

Indicativefiguresextractedfromthe2018AidTrackingReportforLebanon


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