Lebanon

Lebanon Development Marketplace 2005

As part of the Lebanon Development Marketplace 2005 competition, the UNDP and the World Bank organized an event entitled “Hand in Hand for a Better Environment” on the occasion of the Unity Day on the 13th of April 2005 at BIEL, Pavillon Royal – Beirut.

Dr. Mona Hammam, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Omar Razaz, World Bank Representative, delivered speeches in the presence of the jury, competing NGOs and the public. The jury included: Mr. Patrick Renault, Head of EU Delegation in Lebanon, Mr. Berj Hatjian, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Thomas Letcher, Ambassador of Switzerland, and Mr. Ali Maher, Secretary General, Arab Thought Foundation.

The programme included: Lebanon Development Marketplace 2005 Award Ceremony, Ozone Play by Al-Makassed School, Environmental Songs by Paul Abi Rashed, Traditional Folk Dance and Songs by Deir Al-Ahmar group, Environmental Quiz, and an exhibition for eco-tour operators, natural reserves and rural produce.

“Harvesting Community Ideas for a Better Environment” is a competition aimed at supporting community innovations and initiatives to clean up and protect the Lebanese landscape, air and water. The aim of the competition was to raise awareness about environmental degradation; involve the youth and local communities in creative thinking and implementation; and pilot new ideas on the environment which could be scaled up at the national level. Seven projects were chosen out of 15 that reached the final stage. Each project will get the funding of up to US $20,000.