Beirut, Lebanon
On the 28th of February, Search for Common Ground (Search) in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Network in Lebanon (UNGCNL), the American University of Beirut (AUB),and funded by the Swiss Embassy in Lebanon (SDC), held the Peace Pioneers Project’s closing event “Peace Inauguration” from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Olayan School of Business, AUB.
In the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 and 17, the Peace Pioneers Project aims to create synergies and collaboration between the private sector and peacebuilding civil society organizations in Lebanon through structured dialogue at a common engagement platform. The private sector and civil society stakeholders jointly defined partnership principles, common goals, support building civil society organization’s capacities in different sectors.
A total of 15 institutions participated in the project: Adel Metni Foundation, Alem & Associates Law Firm, Arabia GIS, Banque Bemo, Berytech, Beyond Reform and Development, BLOM Bank, Cedrusbank, Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace, Liban Post SAL, Live Love Beirut, March Lebanon, Media Association for Peace, Peace Labs, Permanent Peace Movement, and SHiFT Social Innovation Hub.
The event started with brief opening remarks by:
- Charles Holmquist (Programs Director – Search for Common Ground Lebanon);
- Nicolas Masson (First Secretary and Human Security Advisor at the Swiss Embassy in Lebanon);
- Dima Jamali (Representative of Global Compact Network Lebanon);
- Ziad Hayek (Secretary General for the High Council for Privatization and PPP);
- Celine Moyroud (Country Director, UNDP)
Followed by a Panel discussion on “The Role of Private Sector in Peacebuilding”, the Peace Pioneers Project Research Findings Presentation and a reception where private and public sector representatives got the chance to exchange ideas and best practices on this emerging topic.