Displaced Project: Resource Mobilization fact sheet
A. Background
The seventeen-year civil war in Lebanon left the country in ruins. More than 100,000 civilians were killed and twice as many were wounded, handicapped, orphaned, widowed and left homeless. Over 500,000 Lebanese (90,000 families at an average of 5.7 persons per family) were displaced or became refugees.
One of the most affected areas in the country in displacement has been the Mount Lebanon region, specifically the Cazas of Alley, El-Chouf and Baabda, with a very high number of displaced families (80%). Displacement radically altered the geographical distribution of Mount Lebanon's multi-confessional population where previously Christians, Moslems and Druze had lived together, an example of religious and political pluralism. Today the displaced are among the poorest echelons of the Lebanese society due to the loss of their houses and income. Over 50% of the Displaced are not able to meet their basic needs and 12.5% live in absolute poverty. Many families still illegally occupy the homes of other households.
Realizing the magnitude of the Displaced problem and its effect on the Lebanese political, economical and social life, the Government of Lebanon established the Ministry of Displaced (MoD) on January 4, 1992. The overall mandate of the MOD was to manage the return program and to address the multiple needs of the returnees, including monitoring financial assistance to the internally displaced to rebuild their homes and evacuate occupied shelters; promoting and supervising the reconciliation process between residents and returnees; and promoting the socio-economic rehabilitation of the region in order to secure a sustainable return. Through 2000, the Ministry was able to finalize reconciliation in more than 40 villages of Mount Lebanon, rehabilitate or reconstruct more than 85% of damaged housing units in Alley, El-Chouf and Baabda; and carry out socio-economic activities in coordination with governmental institutions, UN agencies, donors, NGOs and the local Communities. The multi-sectoral activities of the Ministry entail coordinated efforts with the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) and line ministries in the area of infrastructure rehabilitation in the Mount Lebanon region. MOD has also forged partnerships with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for the implementation of community based activities and projects in a variety of development sectors, as well as partnering with the European Union, USAID, and other donor communities.
Not withstanding the efforts undertaken by all the parties, the return process faced several challenges and obstacles. Issues of productive employment opportunities, especially in agriculture, remained crucial. In the Mount Lebanon region, agriculture remains one of the primary sources of income. In addition, the creation of employment opportunities in the non-agricultural sector in the Mount Lebanon region is of key importance. Furthermore, addressing social infrastructure is a key consideration for a successful return process. Most importantly, addressing local communities, and the youth of the region, proved key in promoting a feeling of belonging and resolving conflict at the community level.
B. What has been achieved to date
1. Reintegration and Socio-economic Rehabilitation of the Displaced: Phase I
The mandate of resettling more than 500,000 Lebanese with its various dimensions, including the ever-present multi-confessionalism, constituted a huge challenge for a newly created Ministry with limited management and financial resources. It was in this context that UNDP Project on reintegration and socio-economic rehabilitation of the displaced was conceived in order to provide the required technical assistance to the Ministry.
The first phase of the programme, which extended between 1994-1997 was conceived as a technical backstopping to a newly created Ministry, acted as a socio-economic programming unit for the Ministry, supporting its Statistics and Planning Division, its Technical Division and the Credit Unit. It has also supported the Ministry in the management and coordination with line Ministries, NGOs and donors, playing a crucial role in mobilizing support for the socio-economic development of the region, especially in issues of restoration of basic social services, employment generation, and agriculture and environment development. The programme also managed EU assistance for agricultural development and credit provision, as well as initiated youth development projects targeting out-of school youth and young adults providing skill training, civic education and confidence building and establishing of national youth teams for community rehabilitation and emergencies in the Mount Lebanon region.
The programme was externally evaluated in 1996. The evaluation mission concluded that the programme was successful in establishing statistical databases to monitor the return of the displaced; compiling baseline data on existing social structures, health services, public and private schools, vulnerable groups, municipalities and agricultural cooperatives; assessing of socio-economic needs in the communities; preparing related project proposals; developing a credit programme for agriculture with the European Union and the Lebanese private sector banking; providing technical assistance to the returnees; organizing social integration activities; facilitating coordination between governmental institutions, international organizations and local NGOs; and mobilizing resources.
2. Reintegration and Socio-economic Rehabilitation of the Displaced: Phase II
Following the completion of the first phase of the programme, and the realization that cross-cutting concerns for a sustainable return process entails the implementation of a sustainable human development approach for achieving reconciliation at the local level between confessional groups, reducing poverty, and expanding socio-economic rehabilitation efforts, UNDP and the Ministry decided to initiate a second phase of their joint socio-economic rehabilitation programme for the displaced.
The second phase of the programme was given an operational function, with the objective of producing a demonstrative effect in sustaining and expediting the return of the Displaced. The second phase of the programme directly target the population in the region, (displaced, returnees and residents), in 4 main pivots (Damour, Joun, Harf, and Bhamdoun) in three Cazas of Alley, El-Chouf and Baabda, thus targeting more than 11,600 resident and returning families. The strategy employed by the programme during its second phase of intervention included a focus on employment and income generation through small-scale socio-economic interventions (agricultural development, handicrafts, small credit and income generation), social rehabilitation (education, health, environment, youth, women, and vulnerable groups), and small-scale community infrastructure (agricultural roads, irrigation canals, sports playgrounds, retaining walls, etc.). An overarching strategy was a focus on reintegration and conflict resolution through youth mobilization in villages.
In accordance with the needs assessment carried out in the first phase of the programme, activities carried out during the second phase focus on the following sectors:
a) Reconciliation: among returnees and local population, youth and children through community participation in programme implementation, training/workshops in civic education and conflict resolution; sports and cultural activities.
b) Social Development: equipment and supplies for the existing dispensaries, training for health personnel; basic equipment to primary schools, training for teachers; basic services and income-generating activities for vulnerable groups;
c) Economic Development: agricultural and livestock production, small-scale family businesses, credit and marketing systems, employment and income generation;
d) The project also ensures that Environment and Gender are maintained as cross cutting issues within the activities and the impact.
The objectives and targets of the second phase can be summarized as follows:
1. Supporting the reconciliation process for the returnees and residents targeting 11,600 families by the year 2000, through:
promoting ownership of the programme by community committees, CBOs, NGOs, youth clubs and other community affiliation (animated meetings with local committees and other groups to create linkages among people, design and implementation of focused reconciliation programmes and activities using native talents and skills, setting up a mobile peace wagon for training on conflict resolution and peaceful means, and social integration, and implementing a communication strategy including publications, audio-visual material with incentive to reconciliation and peace building attitudes)
Promoting reconciliation and re-integration of children and youth promoted (equipping the existing identified youth clubs, organizing training courses for staff of youth clubs on reconciliation and conflict resolution techniques, organizing youth sports and socio-cultural activities and environmental activities; organizing day camps for children, and conducting training of instructors)
Mainstream vulnerable and marginalized groups within communities (develop demographic profiles, formulate the needs in project proposals and mobilize resources.
2. Supporting the rehabilitation of the socio-economic sector in the region and help create new employment opportunities, through:
Rehabilitation of basic social services (equipment for public schools and training of instructors, equipment and supplies for existing dispensaries and health centers, training on primary health care, implementing a school health programme, and implementing pilot priority projects)
Rehabilitation of agricultural productive infrastructure, and provision of technical assistance to farmers and agricultural cooperatives (technical assistance to farmers, training courses on the various agricultural issues, capacity building for cooperatives, execution of small community infrastructure projects, explore marketing options, and provide equipment to cooperatives)
Strengthen access to credit (technical assistance and guidance to credit NGOs, training sessions for credit borrowers, and manage the EU credit project)
3. Mobilizing and coordinating resources and establish an information system for a sustainable return process, through:
Implementing fund raising strategy (preparation of a Regional Development Plan and design a resource mobilization strategy)
Setting up a Programme Information/communication System (GIS, communication strategy).
3. Progress to date (April 1998-March 2001)
Under its objective of supporting the reconciliation process for the returnees and residents, the programme was able to complete the technical feasibility of 100 proposals according to the needs of the villages; organize animated meetings with 200 community members; organize youth summer camps and 3 youth training workshops; organize training for public high schools instructors on issues related to reconciliation and extra curricular activities; conduct training on civic education in 14 public schools; organize outreach events to increase public awareness on the programme, including a session with donors and three sessions with target groups (municipalities, youth clubs and schools); and equip 71 youth clubs in target area with books, computers and recreation equipment.
Under its objective for rehabilitation of basic social services, the programme provided 209 schools with computer sets, software, audiovisual equipment, and educational materials; conducted 3 training sessions with 36 teachers on the use of IT; completed the formation of 4 environmental clubs and training 50 teachers on environmental preservation; provided 11 dispensaries/health centers with needed equipment to serve a number of villages; completed 13 sessions on primary health care to staff of dispensaries and health centers; and conducted school health programmes in 267 schools for 12400 children 6-12 years old.
With the aim of employment generation, the programme succeeded in completing 29 community based activities, including rehabilitation of potable water networks, water springs, agricultural roads and socio-cultural premises especially playgrounds. In addition, through its targeted activities in supporting the agricultural sector as a major source of livelihood for residents/returnees, the programme supported the rehabilitation of agricultural productive infrastructure and provide technical assistance to farmers and agricultural cooperatives (e.g. establishment of the Green Line Extension Service to service farmers; organization of 102 training courses on the various agricultural issues; completing agricultural community infrastructure projects; provision of equipment for 12 cooperatives; provision of agricultural equipment to 123 municipality; establishment of olive oil quality laboratory; and preparation of extension pamphlets and guides.
In addition, the programme management unit supervises the implementation of the EU agricultural project and acts as a liaison with beneficiaries and NGOs providing credit with the aim of establishing a coordination mechanism.
Finally, the programme provides technical assistance to the Ministry for the overall coordination and resource mobilization for the implementation of a socio-economic development plan for the region.
C. The Way Forward (2002-2003)
The programme was externally evaluated in the third quarter of 2001. The evaluation mission concluded that:
programme activities supporting reconciliation are crucial for the reconciliation process;
socio-economic rehabilitation activities carried out by the programme strengthened the returning process in terms of increasing access to basic social services and increasing productivity;
the role of the programme in coordinating with the different NGO's and donors has contributed to avoiding duplication. The coordination between the programme and the local municipalities assisted the later in acquiring basic skills of negotiation, working with contractors, and conflict resolution.
Targeting is adequate where chosen villages and clusters are among the most affected areas of displacement; it was distributed confessionally over severely depopulated, physically devastated, economically remote, and socially deprived areas.
Local participatory development processes are adequate where project selection employs a participatory process with local communities for determining the priorities and ensuring sustainability.
the prerequisite set by the programme for local community contribution (a minimum of 20%) is a necessary pre-condition to move the locals away from the idea of entitlements and contributed to the communities' feeling of ownership.
The external evaluation mission, however, recommended the following:
The budget of the programme should be increased as it is limited compared to the scope of activities and the geographic coverage of the programme is too broad.
As the programme proves to be an efficient tool in supporting the reconciliation and socio-economic interventions of the Ministry of Displaced, there is a necessity for extending the Programme activities over this later lifetime.
the programme should further emphasize reconciliation activities in order to cement the returning and reconciliation process in the different villages.
the programme should give more support to sectors focusing on social and human capacity building, with increased support to municipalities, clubs, cooperatives, and local NGO's in terms of training, institutional development and capacity building. programme activities should be re-oriented towards implementing projects at the pivot level or focal locality in order to achieve better measurable impact; and promote participation among different localities.
the programme should begin the training of youth leaders in communities to sustain its reconciliation interventions.
the programme should formulate a good system of follow-up, evaluation and impact assessments.
the programme should initialize its communication/ information strategy to be widely disseminated on all stakeholders, including donors for mobilizing adequate resources to allow the programme to continue operation until the end of 2002
Following the recommendations of the evaluation mission, the programme's interventions in 2002 will focus on the following:Building social and human capacity at the local level in order to provide the local population with the skills and resources necessary to enable it to actively participate in the local development of the region and overcome internal differences. As such, all the constituencies of the local community will be provided with development skills through focused training sessions in the sectors of education, health, local authorities, local communities, economy and the environment.
Youth reintegration and reconciliation, especially in terms of training of trainers for sustaining the process.
Continue the focus on the development of employment and income generation sectors, especially agriculture.
Wrapping up assistance for basic social infrastructure, especially health and education.
D. Project Briefs
1.Support to basic social services: capacity building for improved education and health services
1.1 Education
The participation by complementary school students in extra-curricular activities provides an opportunity for students to develop a variety of skills that are integral to the process of reconciliation and reintegration, for instance: team work, consensus building, resourcefulness and accepting responsibility. In addition, extra-curricular activities enable students to develop skills particular to the extra-curricular activity pursued. The capacity of teachers within public complementary schools to provide students with meaningful extra-curricular activities is limited, both due to the lack of resources and skills. As a result, students in public complementary schools do not have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities and develop the associated capacities.
The objective of this programme component is to enhance the capacity of public school instructors to reinforce themes relating to reintegration, conflict resolution, and citizenship.
Planned activities include teacher training in extra-curricular activities with specific focus on the above-mentioned themes; creating artistic and consensus capacities (Mural Painting); and monitoring the application of this training for increased awareness of students. The underlying factor also includes the development of consensus and teamwork skills in the participating students. Other activities include the completion of the provision of educational and IT equipment initiated in 2001 to schools.
The target group for this training includes all students and teachers of public schools in the Cazas of Aley, Baabda and Chouf Cazas (93 primary schools, 88 complementary schools, and 22 secondary schools)
The potential partners in this component include the Ministry of Education, UNESCO, local universities, local and international NGOs.
1.2 Health
The community field workers of the programme have found that an area of concern to the returning and resident populations of the three-targeted Cazas is the adequacy of, and access to, health services. Improving health services is one process that can significantly encourage the displaced population to return to their village, and ensure that the resident population remains. One way to improve the quality of available health care in the targeted region is through empowering the local population to be proactive in their own healthcare by raising their awareness on fundamental health issues. In addition, building the capacity of health personnel in local health centers will improve the quality of available health care.
The objective of this programme component is to enhance access to, and quality of, community health services in targeted villages. The programme component on health specifically aims at increasing the local population's knowledge of basic health issues and practices, train local medical personnel both on health issues, communication and counseling, and public school health programmes. Health awareness sessions provided to the community will also serve as a forum for interaction among members of the local communities.
Planned activities include conducting community health awareness sessions (using youth clubs, schools and dispensaries), and targeted health-training sessions for local medical personnel.
The target group of this component includes medical personnel, children, youth, and other community groups in the Aley, Baabda and Chouf Cazas. The number of health centers to be addressed amount to 54 (14 in Aley, 6 in Baabda, and 34 in Chouf).
The potential partners in this component include the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, local NGOs such as the Red Cross, and national and international NGOs.
2. Support to municipal development
In 1998 the first municipal elections, since 1960's, were held and municipalities were re-established in the targeted Cazas. Elected municipalities have weak institutional capacity, and lack the needed human resources to act as local development agents in their villages. In addition, municipalities see their role as focusing on the development of village infrastructure, without any focus on the development of the human capacity of the village.
The objective of this programme component is to strengthen the capacity of municipalities to act as local development agents within their communities, through fostering participation, and forging partnerships.
Foreseen activities include conducting a capacity building programme for municipalities on realities of municipal work (to identify challenges facing municipalities); project design and implementation (with special emphasis on municipal planning); municipal governance (especially targeting team performance and mobilizing local capacities); municipal committees and joint projects (introducing partnerships), and legal issues. The programme component also targets the mobilization of municipalities to come up with small scale community level development priority projects for implementation, as well as partnering with municipalities in the implementation of priority projects as a means to demonstrate issues raised in the capacity building package.
The target for these activities includes members of the municipal councils in 199 villages in Aley (58 villages), Baabda (44 villages) and Chouf (97 villages).
The potential partners include the Ministry of Municipal and Village Affairs, local NGOs, such as the 'Human Rights Movement' and international NGOs.
3. Support to employment and income generation
3.1 Agricultural development
Agriculture is a primary source of employment and income for residents in the displaced regions of Chouf, Aley and Baabda. However, as a result of the internal strife, agricultural production was constrained by the lack of infrastructure, and the decline in quality and quantity of produce. Current agricultural production in the region faces several constraints, including poor extension facilities and services; high production costs as a result of overuse and/or misuse of agricultural inputs, high labor cost, and weak cooperative work; and marketing difficulties.
The objective of this programme component is to increase agricultural productivity, and farmers' income in the region.
Activities include the rehabilitation of community based agricultural infrastructure projects; the development of the olive and olive oil sector (establishment of a central olive press to improve quality, establishment of a center for packaging and standardization); providing capacity building tailored training to agricultural cooperatives; mechanizing the agricultural production process; developing the beekeeping sector, and assisting beekeeping cooperatives in basic equipment for much extraction, filling, and wax recycling; establishment of a center for processing agricultural produce; establishment of a nursery for the propagation, production & marketing of medicinal & aromatic plants; and developing fruit orchards.
Potential partners include the Ministry of Agriculture, cooperatives, farmers' associations, local and international NGOs.
3.2 Handicrafts development
There are many community groups in the targeted Cazas who are skilled in producing unique handicrafts. There is an opportunity to support existing handicraft networks to establish a formal handicraft cooperative in each of the Aley, Baabda and Chouf Cazas. The handicraft cooperatives will create employment opportunities in the Cazas and bring additional income into the area.
The objective of this component is to ensure economic diversification, employment and income generation for households in the region.
Activities include strengthening existing handicraft co-operatives through training (management, financial administration, marketing, negotiating contracts, etc.); provision of equipment; facilitating the negotiation of contracts for the purchase of the handicraft; and provision of technical follow-up during the first period of operation.
The target group includes existing handicraft co-operatives. It will also provide information to interested persons on how to establish a cooperative and/or small business.
The potential partners include the Ministry of Social Affairs, community committees, cooperatives, local and international NGOs.
4. Reintegration and Reconciliation at the local level
Instilling in the resident and returning populations a sense of social cohesion is essential to ensuring the existence of a sense of belonging, citizenship and social cohesion among the local population. Attitudes and values attached to conflict preventing, peace building and peacemaking are important to nurture in any post conflict society. Peace and democracy are pillars to promote a sense of citizenship and consolidating civil peace. These are extremely important issues in areas where displacement was prevalent.
The objective of this programme component is to mobilize local communities in the displaced areas to contribute to peace building and local development f their communities. The project aims at facilitating the interaction of community groups from different villages, confessions, and cultural affiliations in order to foster a feeling of common belonging and to develop a common strategy for their contribution towards the development of their region. The project also aims at changing prevailing confessional attitudes and reversing individualistic attitudes.
This programme component targets three different levels: local community structures, local authorities (municipalities), and youth. Underlying themes include the promotion of integration between the resident and returning population, and the empowerment of local communities to actively participate in local development.
Activities targeting municipalities include conducting training sessions for local participation, especially on issues of participatory local development and planning, democratic governance, citizenship, human rights, conflict resolution and mediation, group dynamics, and organizing and managing local groups.
Activities targeting local communities for the promotion of reconciliation techniques in the local community at large include holding focus groups, organizing discussion sessions, conducting participatory rapid assessments, etc. The aim of these sessions is to discuss issues of importance in relation to peace building and conflict resolution, both within communities, and between villages.
Activities targeting youth build on the achievements of the programme to date, and focus on creating a network of youth leaders to lead youth activities, conducting alternative conflict resolution technique training workshops; conducting training on conflict resolution, peace building, democratic governance, good citizenship and human rights, and leadership skills); and formalizing the youth network by developing a mentoring program. Trained youth leaders will work on community-based enterprises. Other activities include the establishment of annual "youth parliament", school competitions on issues of reconciliation and reintegration, and publishing a trimester youth newsletter.
The target within municipalities includes members of the municipal councils and selected local community members, notably youth, in 199 villages in Aley (58 villages), Baabda (44 villages) and Chouf (97 villages). Youth within and outside youth clubs will be targeted (97 youth clubs).
The potential partners include the Ministry of Municipal and Village Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs, local NGOs, such as the 'Human Rights Movement' and international NGOs.
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Lebanon
