Lebanon

Projects Database / Peace Building: a Strategy for Conflict Prevention in Lebanon

Project ID
00048472

Background
A strategy for conflict prevention in Lebanon aiming to create a social structure change and empowering the institutions and the civil society in Lebanon
The project has 3 main outputs:
1- Addressing the underlying causes of conflict and initiating changes in the social structure.
2- Empowering the institutions of the civil society to rise as actors of change in the community.
3- Establishing mechanisms to detect early-warning signs and monitor specific indicators leading to the detection of impending violence
The long term objective of the project is the creation of positive peace, by addressing the core problems and the underlying root causes of conflicts in Lebanon.
The following are the general objectives:
- To change the patterns of interaction of the involved parties, moving them away from confrontation and violence towards political and economic participation, peaceful relationships, and social harmony.
- To create conflict resolution and peace-building mechanisms that enhance cooperation and dialogue among different identity groups and help them manage their conflict of interests through peaceful means.


Achievements & Expected Results
- The Food & Feast (Akl w Eid) 2008 co-organized by Souk el Tayeb & UNDP with support of national counterparts. Several activities were made in different regions in Lebanon.(Please refer to the list below)
- The "Training of Trainers for NGOs members on Peace Building & Conflict Prevention Methodologies" was launched in mid-June targeting 25 NGOs active in the social and humanitarian domain. The duration of the project is three calendar months with an objective to train & provide follow up to 50 NGOs.
- The implementation of the Collective Identity is progressing. Most of the data collection and focus groups are finalized. Data analysis is ongoing, undertaken by the team of “Market Opportunities” & backed up by the overview and input of “Professor Sultan Barakat”. The survey outcomes will shed the light on “What Does it Mean to be Lebanese”.
- Building a strategy for an Observatory: An Early Warning System. The purpose of this project is to describe & monitor indicators reflecting potential internal conflict. It will be an alarm system warning the concerned Lebanese entities on escalating dimensions of internal clashes among various groups.
- A comparative study of the history books currently taught in high schools was launched. Its objective is to tackle the underlying causes of conflicts in Lebanon & initiate dialogue forum on the Lebanese historical narrative. A draft report is now ready for internal discussion.
- The 4th summer school on Conflict Prevention & Transformation took place from 16 to 26 August 2008 in partnership with the Lebanese American University-Byblos campus. 27 young participants from different social & religious backgrounds attended the lectures and training sessions included in the summer school agenda. The program included theoretical and practical work, as well as a presentation on the UNDP interventions to promote peace. The training sessions included conflict resolution techniques & analyzing conflicts and active listening skills.
- The Workshop on Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation took place on the 8th of October 2008 by UNDP in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). It highlighted the similarities between the Northern Ireland experience & the Lebanese situation. It included discussions on negotiations, power sharing & setting up institutions to facilitate peace process based on the Irish model. 3 Irish politicians lead discussions on the dialogue & peace process. In addition, 3 representatives of the Irish civil society shared their peace building experience of NGOs and academia. Lebanese Parliamentarians were invited to exchange experiences and share their concerns about building constructive dialogue. As a follow up activity, UNDP invited its trained youths from the Summer School on Conflict Resolution and Transformation & representatives of the 25 NGOs who attended the TOT, to take part in discussions.

Downloads 00048472 - Progress Report 2009 (1,621 KB) Project Document (1,630 KB)

Relevant News Trained university students set up Peace Clubs at universities Reporters receive Press for Peace Awards and Internships Workshop on proposal writing held for municipal officials Local municipal officials trained in peace building methodologies The training workshop on "Objective Reporting in Conflict Situations" Empowerment Civil Society Institutions to be Actors of Change UNDP, Souk El Tayeb and local Ministries enhance a culture of peace and co-existence through inter-communal exchanges and cultural activities UNDP distributes Certificates to participants of Summer School on peace and reconciliation