Workshop #1: September 6th-7th, 2011

This workshop was held as a part of the UNDESA National Sustainable Development Strategies and the Development Account Project ROA-105: “Strengthening National Capacity for the Integration of Sustainable Development Principles into Development Strategies in Countries Emerging from Conflict.”

This Stakeholder Consultation Workshop was entitled “Strengthening Capacity to Utilize Sustainable Development Principles in National Policy-Making in Lebanon” and gathered key stakeholders from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies to promote trans-sectoral dialogue on national sustainable development policy-making in Lebanon.

During the two-day workshop, the attendees were first briefed on UNDESA's Project. They then discussed the factors impeding sustainable development in post-conflict countries and made presentations on Lebanon's current development strategies. The participants were also invited to partake in interactive exercises, during which they key development challenges in Lebanon and brainstormed potential solutions to implement through the country's national sustainable development plans.

During the workshop, the participants actively engaged in the activities and demonstrated their interest in collaborating to promote sustainable development. This report further details the background of sustainable development in Lebanon, summarizes the main debates and concerns raised by the participants, and notes the effect of the workshop on national sustainable development strategy in Lebanon.

The stakeholder consultation workshop in Lebanon achieved the following predefined objectives:

• Objective 1: Share guidelines for conflict-sensitive sustainable development strategies.
• Objective 2: Scope past and present Lebanese development strategies.
• Objective 3: Develop action plans to achieve goals and address challenges in national sustainable development strategy planning in Lebanon.
• Objective 4: Overview of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio +20).
• Objective 5: Facilitate networking between professionals with different types of expertise.

• September 6th-7th Lebanon Workshop Report

Workshop #2: May 2nd, 2012

The second Stakeholder Consultation Workshop in Lebanon, “Rio +20, National Policy-Making and Sustainable Development Policies in Conflict-Affected Countries: the Case of Lebanon,” was composed of twenty-five key stakeholders representing a variety of Lebanese Ministries, civil society organizations, and inter-governmental organizations.

During this one-day workshop, the attendees were once again briefed on UNDESA's Project: “Strengthening National Capacity for the Integration of Sustainable Development Principles into Development Strategies in Countries Emerging from Conflict.” Presentations were also given on the current efforts towards sustainable development in Lebanon. The first workshop session then focused on interactive exercises to identify the gaps and opportunities which exist within the current policies and coordination efforts.

The rest of the workshop focused on sustainable development within the context of the upcoming Rio +20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants were familiarized with the processes surrounding the conference and its negotiations and the formulation of the Zero Draft Outcome Document. Participants provided recommendations for Lebanon's participation in the Rio +20 process and to ensure that Rio +20 principles are integrated into Lebanon's national sustainable development strategies after the conference.

The stakeholder consultation workshop in Lebanon achieved the following predefined objectives:

• Objective 1: Share sustainable development gaps and opportunities in Lebanon.
• Objective 2: Overview of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio +20) and the region's position with regard to its objectives and themes.
• Objective 3: Discuss the country's existing sustainable development strategies in the context of the upcoming Rio +20 conference on sustainable development and beyond.
• Objective 4: Develop recommendations to achieve goals and address challenges in national sustainable development strategy planning in Lebanon.
• Objective 5: Facilitate networking between professionals with different types of expertise.

• May 2nd, 2012 Lebanon Workshop Report