Beirut, 28 April 2021. UN-Habitat and UNICEF have held a series of over 15 interactive workshops across Lebanon to promote uptake of the jointly collected neighbourhood profile data and use of an easy-to-navigate online portal by local authorities, other United Nations agencies, local and international NGOs, and civil society groups. The profiles are multisectoral assessments of the living conditions of Lebanese and non-Lebanese in 28 disadvantaged neighbourhoods across Lebanon.
The workshops presented the main findings of the profiles and took participants through the many functionalities of the portal. They also promoted the use of the data for evidence-based programming and coordination within an area-based framework.
“UN-Habitat hopes that the neighbourhood profiles will continue to serve local authorities, local and international stakeholders, to inform interventions that have the potential to address immediate needs, enhance social stability, and contribute to sustainable urban development. This is especially important as the country responds to multiple and ongoing crises,” said Taina Christiansen, Head of the UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme.
In a highly urbanized country characterized by a lack of data on cities, the neighbourhood profiles cover multiple themes or sectors, including local economy and livelihoods, buildings, water and sanitation, health, education, and child protection. They also study these issues from the perspective of all residents living in a geographical area – regardless of nationality, gender and age.
“The joint neighbourhood profiling project responds to a long-standing scarcity of reliable, multisectoral and spatialized data required to inform sustainable development and humanitarian response – by all actors,” said Yukie Mokuo, Representative of UNICEF Lebanon.
Multiple shocks and challenges in Lebanon – ranging from the Syrian refugee crisis, the socioeconomic and financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recovery and reconstruction following the Beirut Port blast – clearly demonstrate the need for accurate and holistic baseline data at the city and neighbourhood levels.
“With the neighbourhood profiling data, the Beirut Municipality will be able to better understand the needs of its residents, which will in turn enable us to tailor and prioritize our interventions to address the most pressing needs and challenges facing inhabitants, with the aim of ultimately improving their quality of life,” said Jamal Itani, Mayor of Beirut. He spoke during one of the last workshops in the series, held on 24 March 2021 in Beirut Municipality, covering the neighbourhoods of Sabra, Daouk-Ghawash, Hayy Tamlis and Karm El-Zeytoun.
“The profile that UN-Habitat and UNICEF have undertaken in Sibline will be considered as the baseline or starting point for the preparation of any project proposals that we want to submit to donors. Your study has come as a support to the municipality’s vision to respond to what the country is facing, including the civil uprising, COVID-19 lockdowns and the challenging economic and political situation,” said Mohammad Younes, Mayor of Sibline, following a neighbourhood profile workshop held in the area.
Municipalities targeted by the UN-Habitat–UNICEF Neighbourhood Profiling project include Baalbek; Barja; Beirut; Bourj Hammoud; Burj El-Shemali; El-Marj; El-Minié-Nabi Youchaa; Halba; Ketermaya; Tripoli; Haret El-Fouwar; Qabb Elias Wadi El Dalam; Saida; Sibline; Sinn El-Fil; Sour (Tyre); Taalbaya; Naameh Haret El-Naameh; Zahle, Maalaka and Taanayel; and Zouq Mkayel.
The workshops are complemented by two tutorial videos prepared by UN-Habitat and UNICEF that enable users to navigate different components of the portal and geoportal, as well as a toolkit that serves as a reference and guide to using the profiles.
About the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries, supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. Working with governments and local partners, its high-impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a dedicated Goal on cities, SDG 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
About UNICEF
Working in Lebanon for over 70 years, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and our work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lebanon/