UNDP selects implementation partners for Local Development Project in Lebanon

The UN’s global development agency has launched the Local Development Project (LDP) in Lebanon, a multi-year initiative aimed at strengthening and professionalizing municipalities and local governance. Beyond Group, Chemonics International, and SHiFT Social Innovation Hub have been selected as implementation partners.

At a time when municipalities across Lebanon face unprecedented challenges – from strengthening their organizational and operational capacity to developing future-oriented strategies and navigating the country’s complex realities – the Local Development Project aims to establish a shared vision and long-term commitment to a more resilient future for local communities.

The project’s core objectives include developing and implementing five-year participatory socioeconomic strategies; improving the management and accessibility of essential services and infrastructure, including water, waste, and energy; and laying the foundations for economic recovery by supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), local value chains, and cooperatives, with a particular focus on youth employment.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen the operational capabilities of frontline responders, including local Civil Defense units and Social Development Centers, to improve crisis response. In addition, it aims to establish governance mechanisms that foster effective collaboration across the local development landscape, bringing together municipalities, civil society, the private sector, academia, and community representatives.

Funded by the German government through KfW Development Bank and led by UNDP Lebanon, the Local Development Project will be rolled out across 10 Unions of Municipalities. Implementation in each region will be guided by localized development committees, bringing together representatives from participating municipalities and other key stakeholders.

The total budget is estimated at around 60 million over a four-year period, running through late 2028.

The implementation partners

Following a competitive selection process, UNDP Lebanon has selected three organizations as implementation partners: Beyond Group, a Lebanese management consulting firm; Chemonics International, a US-based development consultancy; and SHiFT Social Innovation Hub, a Lebanese social innovation hub.

Commenting on its role in the project, Beyond Group stated: “The Local Development Project invests in institutional capacity and community ownership, building platforms that lead sustainable local development planning. We look forward to delivering the project and turning plans into meaningful impact for communities across Lebanon.”