After organizing the “#LookAroundYou” photography competition for the youth living in Lebanon aged between 16 and 32 regardless of nationality to highlight the importance of the SDGs (Related to ending poverty, injustice and inequality and protecting the environment), the winners have finally been selected and they came to receive their prizes from Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, on the 1st of June, 2017.

he Syrian conflict is arguably the most tragic humanitarian crisis of our time. Since 2011, half of the country’s pre-war population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or have fled their homes. There are currently more than 4.96 million registered Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. This situation puts the resilience of both the refugees and the host communities to test, pressuring natural resources, basic services, and the economies of affected countries.

Gathered in Anjar Municipality, Bekaa, local reporters and journalists coming from the Bekaa region discussed the clauses of the “Journalists’ Pact for Strengthening Civil Peace in Lebanon”. They also debated over the main challenges they face in their everyday missions in the field. The meeting was organized by Maharat Foundation in partnership with the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project on May 24th, 2017 with the generous funds of KfW.

"Disaster prevention and preparedness are considered an integral aspect of Lebanon's development policy. The recurrent crisis that Lebanon faces and the risks that continue to surround our country make that an absolute necessity", Dutch Ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Han-Maurits Schaapveld said during a field exercise simulating a flood scenario on the borders of Assi River in Hermel organized on Wednesday 10 May 2017 by the UNDP Disaster Risk Management Project at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Over the course of six months, the UNDP Lebanese Host Communities Support (LHSP) project has implemented through the “Peace Building in Lebanon” project in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), a training program to build the capacities of the Social Development Centers’ (SDC) managers, area coordinators, officials and staff members in implementing the Mechanisms for Social Stability (MSS) with the funds of UKDFID.

The Ministry of Defence and the Lebanese Armed Forces Command launched today the study entitled “Sustainable Energy Strategy of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)” in collaboration with the European Union-funded UNDP CEDRO Project. The launch event was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and in the presence of the Minister of Defence, Yacoub Sarraf, the Minister of Energy and Water Cesar Abi Khalil, the Minister of Environment Tarek Al Khatib represented by Dr Joseph el Asmar, the Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, Ambassador Christina Lassen, and the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag.

On April 10, 2017 a launching event was held for the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) at the Internal Security Force (ISF) directorate. The event was organized by the UNDP Community Security and Access to Justice Project, in partnership with the ISF directorate and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and under the funding of the Embassy of the Netherlands.

To learn more about Environmate please visit http://www.environmate-gcnl.org or view a short informational video about the competition at: https://youtu.be/QtEmPUSV9JQ

More than 155 teachers and principals from fifteen different public schools in Tripoli and its suburbs met in May 2017 to discuss issues they face every day but speak so little about. The participants came from Tripoli and its neighboring areas to actively take part in positive change in their school environment, believing in the need of the community for such initiatives.