Lebanon

Projects Database / LIVE LEBANON

Project ID
00072567

Background
Currently, no nationwide, formal, objective, neutral and apolitical structure/channel exists through which Lebanese living abroad can be involved in supporting local communities in the most deprived areas of the country.Remittances are mainly given as private donations to individuals, and no online system to channel remittances collectively for developmental purposes exists in Lebanon.

The aim of the Live Lebanon project is to mobilize a critical mass of the more than 10 million Lebanese living abroad in support of local development in the most deprived areas of Lebanon, and hereby to contribute to the elimination of poverty and regional disparities in Lebanon.

This will be achieved through strengthening the connection between local communities in Lebanon and the Lebanese expatriate organizations and individuals worldwide.

An online platform, Live Lebanon (www.livelebanon.net), has been created for the purpose of engaging Lebanese expatriates and providing them with an opportunity to donate money online to support and follow local community and development projects in the following four regions of the country: North, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon & Beirut, and the South.

Existing UNDP sub offices in the regions together with the local Working Groups, consisting of municipalities, NGOs, community organizations etc., function as local project committees and ensure local ownership and empowerment of the local community. UNDP’s experience in project management guarantees the quality of the project implementation.


Achievements & Expected Results
The contribution of the Live Lebanon project to the overall development of Lebanon and to the eradication of regional disparities is based on the following threefold strategy:

1. Engage the private sector in development and strengthen the link between Lebanese abroad on one hand and the Lebanese government and local communities in the poorest areas on the other hand.

2.Set up a mechanism for channelling financial support from expatriates to local development and community projects and hereby support the elimination of regional disparities.

3.Strengthen the local capacities and decision-making structures through the engagement of local UNDP working groups in the project development and management.

Activities include:
* Establishment of partnerships (contact with Lebanese associations abroad, external mobilization, workshops)
* Creation of a website www.livelebanon.net
* Project identification and implementation in the four beneficiary areas
* Set-up of a financial system and reporting mechanisms
* Communication campaign

Downloads Project Document (1,382 KB) LIVE LEBANON leaflet (460 KB)

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