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Country Programme

About UNFPA in Lebanon

Established in 1993, UNFPA supported country programme in Lebanon focuses on reproductive health and rights; population and development; and gender equality. Culturally sensitive approaches and human rights are cross-cutting parameters applied and adopted throughout all programme interventions and strategies.

UNFPA works in partnership with Lebanese Governmental and civil society counterparts. The guiding principle underpinning the programme is national ownership and leadership, accountability harmonization with other UN agencies, and management for results. 

UNFPA’s main strategic interventions consist of evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue; integration of population concepts and dimensions in national sector and local planning; institutional and capacity development; generation, dissemination and exchange of knowledge; collection and analysis of population data; development of integrated information systems, among others.

UNFPA Lebanon Country Programme 2010-2014

Participatory Approach

The UNFPA supported programme for Lebanon (2010-2014) was developed following an extensive consultative process with several stakeholders. The Country Programme (CP) is aligned with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) signed with the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) in June 2009, and is in line with national priorities (mainly the Social Action Plan, National Women Strategy, Education for All Reform Strategy), the UNFPA Strategic Plan (2008-2011), the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and the Millennium Development Goals. 

The CP is harmonized with the programme cycles of UNDP and UNICEF, respectively. It is informed by the priorities identified in the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and directly linked to the outcomes of the UNDAF agreed to between the Government and the UN Country Team. The programme outputs and outcomes are also linked to the UNFPA medium term strategic plan for the years 2008-2011 which has also set goals in the three interlinked focus areas of population and development, reproductive health and rights, and gender equality. 

UNFPA supported Country Programme Document (CPD) endorsed by the Government of Lebanon was submitted to the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board in June 2009 and approved to begin in 2010.

Focus Areas

The CP is expected to contribute to government efforts, as prioritized in national policies and plans. The CP will emphasize partnership, coordination as well as joint United Nations programming. In addition, it will address the volatile and complex situation in Lebanon by reflecting activities and interventions in terms of preparedness and/or response to emergency crisis and to complement the emergency preparedness plans of UN partner organizations. 

The CP will contribute to institutional and capacity building; development and introduction of normative and quality assurance tools, guidelines, and protocols; advocacy and lobbying; strengthened coordination and partnership among others. The CP will address the gaps identified in the stakeholder analysis, in the area of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, data collection, analysis and dissemination and developing systems and regulations which are sustainable and efficient. Finally, it is expected that the CP will also aim at enhancing coordination among line ministries, key NGOs, as well as other civil society organizations.  

The CP consits of three components: (a) Reproductive Health and Rights; (b) Population and Development; and (c)Women Empowerment and Gender Equality. (For more detailed information on UNFPA’s projects and work in Lebanon, please visit our Programme Areas page.)

Reproductive Health and Rights

The Reproductive Health and Rights (RHR) component is implemented with a wide range of partners (governmental and non-governmental) and focuses primarily on supporting the health sector reform by strengthening RH quality and performance while supporting its full integration in Primary Health Care (PHC) system. Particular emphasis will be placed on contributing to reducing maternal mortality in accordance with MDG 5. It also aims at expanding and incorporating information and messages across all sectors (health, education, youth, etc) targeting particularly the youth, the underserved, the vulnerable groups, and the population most at risk. 

The various strategies and activities are implemented at two levels: institutional and peripheral. At the institutional level, activities are implemented mainly with the key ministries/public administrations and civil society organizations in support of enhanced strategies incorporating SRH, RH maternal systems performance and mechanisms including referral system, RH commodity security strategy, quality assurance, institutionalization of RH within sectors, etc. At the peripheral level, the activities are implemented with NGOs, Service Delivery Points (i.e. Social Development Centers, Primary Health Care centers and health dispensaries), local communities, municipalities, etc in support of improved access and quality of RH services and information with particular emphasis on capacity development, community mobilization and enhanced management in RH. 

Some activities are implemented with a national coverage such as mass media campaigns, incorporation of RH in curricula and extra curricula, operations research, development of quality assurance tools and standards, development of relevant strategies, development of RH commodity security strategy, strengthening of system performance, outreach activities, advocacy, etc. Other activities are focused on specific areas that show needs, gaps and priorities for such interventions such as developing capacities of service providers, upgrading service package, operationalizing youth friendly services, among other, or for piloting purposes. The sub-national coverage for specific activities is determined based on key national/sub-national indicators, evaluation outcomes, relevant reports, and guidance by national authorities with the aim to bridge the gap in relation to regional disparities. 

For more detailed information on UNFPA’s current Reproductive Health and Rights projects, click here.

Population and Development

The proposed activities and interventions under this component are intended to develop national and institutional capacities for strengthening data collection, analysis, and utilization towards supporting policy/strategy development on the one hand, and the integration of population dimension and priorities in existing policies/strategies towards poverty reduction with focus on local planning on the other. The various activities will necessitate the development and/or adoption of a set of indicators for monitoring MDGs, particularly the ones related to UNFPA’s priority areas (i.e. gender, maternal mortality, and HIV/ADS). The activities will be implemented mainly at the institutional level though support could be provided for translating some results in local planning. The issues that will be addressed by the Population and Development component will vary basde on the national priorities, evidence, as well as the programme outputs on the one hand (i.e ageaing) but will also support other programme components (such as youth, gender, etc).

For more detailed information on UNFPA’s current Population and Development projects, click here.

Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality component aims at enhancing national capacities to ensure that institutions are capable of promoting policies and laws and implementing programmes that are gender-sensitive and gender-responsive in the political, social, and economic spheres. Extensive capacity building in support of government and NGOs will include introduction to and use of tools that ensure gender-sensitive resource mobilization, aid coordination, budgeting and funds allocation. A strategic participatory planning process will be supported to initiate, sustain and monitor gender mainstreaming – based on the revised national women strategy - through gender audit and analysis, gender planning and budgeting at national and sector levels, and building on the gender focal points in related sectors. Advocacy will be carried out in order to ensure that the National Action Plan for Human Rights promotes the human rights of girls and adolescents (particularly most at risk) and that capacities are developed for translating those actions in sector plans and interventions. The principles and essence of UNSC Resolution 1325 Women, Peace and Security will be advocated for and supported through developing national institutional capacities and elaborating an action plan for promoting women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and for increasing the role of women in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention.

This component will also strive to combat Gender Based Violence (GBV) throughout the life cycle, particularly in conflict and post-conflict situations. The results will be achieved through upgrading, lobbying for endorsement, and operationalizing the multi-sector, multi-dimensional GBV Plan of Action in a participatory approach for mainstreaming the components in related policies, sector plans (health, education, labour, agriculture, etc.), services and systems, and related institutional structures. Support will be provided for the establishment and functioning of related national and sub-national mechanisms to ensure continuous monitoring and reporting on GBV prevention and protection. Capacity development for prevention and protection of GBV will be supported with the active involvement of civil society and will consist of development of normative tools on GBV, training of targeted groups, and provision of a comprehensive service package. Interventions aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration of GBV survivors in their communities, through different modalities including support groups, will be developed and supported. An essential component under this outcome focuses on advocacy and policy dialogue with key stakeholders, coalitions, and other groups for amendment and enforcement of laws, implementation of public campaigns, and mobilization of policy makers to commit to and be proactive in addressing GBV, and thus ensure women’s empowerment and protection of women rights.

For more detailed information on UNFPA’s current Women Empowerment and Gender Equality projects, click here.