This is the web site of the United Nations System in Lebanon, a window on the world of the different organizations of the United Nations present in the country.

United Nations entities currently operating in Lebanon cover a number of mandates that range from peacekeeping to peacemaking, development and humanitarian work and socio-economic focus. 

The United Nations Secretary-General is represented in Lebanon by UN Special Coordinator, Mr. Michael Williams. His office, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), is the political office of the United Nations in the country.

The Special Coordinator for Lebanon coordinates the activities of the UN Country Team with the Government of Lebanon, donors and international financial institutions. The Special Coordinator for Lebanon is assisted in this task by a Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, currently Ms. Marta Ruedas (Spain), who is Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and is also the head of the United Nations Development Programme )UNDP).

The main development work of the United Nations is divided among nine organizations that are active in the fields of  health, education, child protection/rights, population, environment management, poverty alleviation, women empowerment, agricultural and industrial development, employment generation, social protection and sustainable livelihood, good governance, support to civil society, institutional capacity-building and human rights.

These are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), International Labor Organization (ILO), and United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ILO, UNOHCHR and UNESCO have regional offices in Beirut.

There are also a number of non-represented agencies active in Lebanon, among which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In addition, there are the smaller technical agencies that provide support on request/ad-hoc basis, such as the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Within the context of its regional mandate, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), supports and participates in the collaborative work of the UN development organizations in Lebanon.

UNDP established in 1998 the Sub-Regional Resource Facility for Arab States (SURF-AS) in Beirut to provide policy support to its Country Offices in the region.

The United Nations Information Center (UNIC) disseminates information about the United Nations and about the UN agencies activities in Lebanon.

The development agencies liaise and maintain a close working relationship with the two organizations dealing with refugee issues: the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

There are Two peacekeeping operations: the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) based in Naqoura and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and Israel/Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission (ILMAC) through its Liaison Office in Beirut (UNLOB).

The UN Resident Coordinator System

Coordination Function

The UN Resident Coordinator assumes, on behalf of the United Nations System and in consultation with representatives of the United Nations organizations, overall responsibility for, and coordination of, the System's operational activities carried out in Lebanon.

The Chiefs of UN Missions constitute the UN Country Team. An expanded UN Country Team constitutes the forum where UN coordination relating to operational matters takes place.

The World Bank, represented in Lebanon since January 2000, is a full member of the UN Country Team and participates in the collaborative work.

Bearing in mind the complementarity of the United Nations System and the need for a division of labour within the respective spheres of competence of the different UN organizations, the UN Resident Coordinator System works at improving the coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of operational activities of these organizations and their consistency with the plans, priorities and strategies of the country.

Partnership with Lebanon

The main counterpart of UN organizations in Lebanon at the representational level is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The latter also plays a leading role as convener in terms of preparation and follow-up of UN International Conferences. The main counterpart of the UN System in Lebanon at the programme level is the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR). There is a process of regular consultations on priorities, approaches and issues of UN System action in the country. It is noted that individual UN organizations have line ministries as their counterparts.

The UN System explores and develops partnerships with key organizations and components of civil society. Possibilities for cooperation with the private sector are also being studied.

At the request and in close collaboration with the government, the UN Resident Coordinator System in Lebanon seeks to promote and support donor coordination, in terms of exchange of information and experience, forum for policy discussions and possibilities for collaborative action. The UN Resident Coordinator System also facilitates resource mobilization to support national strategies and priority programmes, either directly or through its own activities. The UN Resident Coordinator System, through UNDP, also provides direct support to the government for donor coordination, when and as requested by the government.

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