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Lebanon
Voluntary National Review 2018

Main Messages

Lebanon is a high middle-income country with a democratic political system, a liberal economy based on entrepreneurship and largely relies on services, and a society characterized by cultural diversity and openness. Following the election of a new President in October 2016 and the formation of a national conciliation government in December 2016, the Government’s engagement towards Agenda 2030 accelerated, while adopting a localization approach. A National Committee to oversee the roll-out of the SDGs was formed chaired by the Prime Minister. In addition to representatives from all line ministries, this committee also includes civil society and private sector representatives to generate wide ownership of the agenda. Thematic groups have been formed along “4Ps” together with a statistical task force. The initial focus of the committee has been the VNR and a national website for SDGs was created and populated. Three workshops to raise awareness on SDGs, promote inclusion, and launch VNR preparations were conducted. Regional consultations with civil society also took place. In addition, a parliamentary committee on SDGs was established.

Lebanon’s past performance on the MDGs was mixed, with the country still facing development challenges, including on poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. The situation was highly exacerbated by the impact and spill-overs of the Syria crisis. While Lebanon has shown exceptional solidarity by temporarily hosting 1.5 million displaced from Syria, this has come at a high cost, compounding pre-existing development challenges, and stretching Lebanon beyond its limits.

Today Lebanon’s political scene has found a promising equilibrium. Domestic political unity coupled with support from the international community made it clear that Lebanon’s political and economic stability are essential, including for the overall region, and need to be preserved. This was demonstrated during the ISG meeting, and the three conferences in support of Lebanon that followed.

People” are at the core of the government’s focus. Poverty rates, already high before the Syrian crisis, have worsened since then. The communities hosting the majority of displaced lack the resources and capacities to address the increased demand on public and social services. This has not halted the government’s efforts towards creating a better environment for all through pursuing national programs that enhance social assistance packages for the most vulnerable Lebanese (such as the National Poverty Targeting Program), and to provide education for all through the Reaching All Children with Education Program. Despite the challenges, many positive developments have taken place in Lebanon’s health system with improved quality of services and coverage. Women’s rights constitute one of the cornerstones of the government’s approach; while gender parity scores positively in education, efforts are intensified to improve women’s participation in political and economic spheres.

With “prosperity” in mind, but also with “people” at the core of its thinking, the government presented to the CEDRE conference its Vision for Stabilization, Growth and Employment, outlaying its plan to spur economic growth, create decent jobs and provide a conducive environment for private sector investment in the medium to long term. Consultations around the vision with relevant stakeholders, including civil society, took place. At the core of this vision is an ambitious Capital Investment Plan (CIP), outlining priority infrastructure projects to support the recovery of economic growth, as well as sectoral and structural reforms. The potential of projects to contribute to meeting SDGs was one of the selection criteria for the CIP. At the same time, the budgets of 2017 and 2018 were passed and are projecting a decline in the deficit through a number of fiscal measures.

Meanwhile, the government is striving to ensure a better “Planet” for its citizens. Water and air pollution together with solid waste management, remain the main impediments to environmental sustainability and are addressed in a medium-term infrastructure investment plan covering water, waste water, solid waste, transport, electricity, telecom, as well as tourism and industry. The government’s sectoral strategies on water and electricity aim to increase the share from renewable energy.

The government is cognizant that none of the SDGs can advance without “peace, justice, and strong institutions”, through cross sectoral efforts along the public sector modernization and good governance initiatives currently underway and the access to information law voted last year. Improving government statistics will definitely constitute a crosscutting reform that facilitates mapping SDGs and targets and will ultimately serve to improve policy making.

The parliamentary elections held in May 2018 and the subsequent government formation will constitute new grounds for taking forward the government’s medium-term vision while covering all dimensions of sustainable development, with well-chosen priority challenges to be tackled.

Focal point
H.E. Minister Nazem El-Khoury
Minister of Environment
Ministry of Environment
P.O. Box 11-2727
Beirut - Lebanon
Tel: +961(0)1 97 65 33
Fax: +961(0)1 97 65 33
Documents & Reports

National Reports
Report Topics covered Process
National Report - Lebanon Rio+20;

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Lebanon is listed as a partner in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform.
Eng. Iffat EDRISS

Objectives: -protected marine biodiverity namely sea turles nests, illegal fishing and illegal construction. -protect people's rights to free access to beaches and safe and clean water. -provide open space for sports and leisure. OBBA Public Beach Strategy is an update to The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPWT) Public Beach Strategy, endorsed in 2001 to provide healthy and free coastal public space for people. The strategy aimed to improve the management of those spaces, protect marine ecosystems and protect the coastal zone in Lebanon from illegal privatization. With an ex...[more]

Partners
Ministry of Public Works and Transportation: as in charge of teh coastalzone management Ministry of Environment : as one of its objectives is to increase protected areas by 2020 Operation Big Blue Association: Marine concervation NGO Cedars for Care Association; Philantropy and social NGO aiming to improve life of teh less fortunate in Lebanon and improve public spaces services to provide well...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform

The establishment of a Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform is a prerequisite to the development of sustainable policies for integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation. It aims to provide a common basis for the development of national water information systems in four pilot countries, and to deliver an assessment of water resources management and use (i.e., drafting of a white paper) by collecting and exploiting data of these systems. It will allow for an evaluation of best practices, joint management of transboundary resources, and follow-up on regional or sub-regio...[more]

Partners
* International Office for Water * Institut Méditerranéen de l'Eau * Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (EMWIS) * Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations * United Nations Environmental Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP) * Arab League Center for Water * Ministry of Water and Irrigation (Jordan) * Ministry of Energy and Water (Lebanon) * Ministry of Energy, Mines,...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations