Lebanon

UNV in Lebanon

UNV in Lebanon
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme was initiated in Lebanon in 1993 under the umbrella of the United Nations Development Programme.
With the expansion of the UNV mandate, its programme-related work -beyond mobilization of UN volunteers - has increased, and is currently focusing on three development sectors in Lebanon:

• The Ministry of Environment - UNDP ArtGold - UNV joint project to support the effective implementation of the National Reforestation Plan through increased rights and responsibilities for local communities in Bekaa, a region where 2/3 of land is prone to desertification. read more
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-UNV project on the Right to Work for Palestinian Refugees through Lebanese-Palestinian youth dialogue to facilitate the resolution of inter-and intra-communal tensions. read more
• One of UNV Lebanon's advocacy initiatives, dubbed Teach-ins, advocating for volunteerism and youth participation in development through schools and universities reaching in 2010 nearly 10 000 students, has been up scaled and replicated by UN partners, and became part of the UN Country Team (UNCT) strategy funded by the Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO). read more

In 2011, we mark the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV + 10). [Read more about IYV + 10]

Our UN Volunteers

There are currently, July 2011, 41 serving United Nations Volunteers in Lebanon: 9 international and 32 national.

The UN Volunteers work on a range of different topics to promote peace and development in Lebanon.
Many are assigned to UN agencies, such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), whereas others work with national counterparts.

In 2010, to develop and sustain participation, UNV Lebanon has opened, multiplied and diversified the range of volunteer activities. Consequently, 43 new assignments were created totaling the number of UN Volunteers who served to 51, in 2010. Thus, UNV Lebanon tripled the number of qualified and competent volunteers to support UN partners, and is strengthening national capacities through:

• National UN Volunteers in key ministries (Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Ministry of Economy and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Environment...), the Lebanese Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office.
• Fully funded International UN Volunteers (funded by France, Spain, Japan, Finland).
• UN Volunteer fully funded Interns by the Swiss, Italian and Spanish Government.
• Corporate volunteers through the UNV Private Sector Scheme: volunteers take time off from their normal jobs for a short period of time, in order to contribute with their expertise to peace and development.
• Online volunteers contributed to reach out to Lebanese Expatriates supporting local development in their home country.