Outcome LBN_O_2

Advancing partnerships and resourcing

UN Women Lebanon made significant process in effectively influencing other actors, achieving financing of GEWE, advancing its own partnerships and raising awareness for Gender Equality. To do so, the Lebanon Country Office expanded its media outreach, appointed one new Goodwill Ambassador, engaged two celebrities, closely engaged over 20 donors as well as 25 UN agencies. Media partnerships UN Women expanded its media outreach and strengthened partnerships with media organizations. The media issued 11 press releases and 251 pro bono placements, in print, online and broadcast media. This includes press releases and interviews with UN Women representatives highlighting key figures and statistics from UN Women research and studies, organization of high-level visits, public events and donors’ engagement. II. Partnering with Strategic Multipliers UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador (NGA) for Lebanon, Joyce Azzam: UN Women Lebanon appointed its first Goodwill Ambassador, Joyce Azzam. This partnership supported further awareness raising and influencing actors on Gender Equality. This included the Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator, ambassadors, ministers, other officials, and feminist activists participated at a public even in January 2023 to launch the newly appointed UN Women’s National Goodwill Ambassador. This event secured wide media coverage. Joyce Azzam raised the UN Women flag on the seven highest peaks in Lebanon calling for gender equality, which was posted on Twitter (ENG- AR) and on FB ( ENG- AR). V ideos featuring the NGA: (1) A video message kicked off the UN Lebanon International Women’s Day campaign, (2) a reel produced for HQ’s platforms around women in sports was posted on UN Women global Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , Tiktok and IG platforms, etc. UN Women RO and Lebanon social media platforms and on RO YouTube channel, in addition to (3) a video message for UNW’s global 16 days of Activism 2023, posted on Azzam’s social media platforms, UN Women Lebanon and RO channels and shared with HQ. The first series of UNW Lebanon podcasts (3 episodes) featuring Azzam and guests was completed, promoted on UNW Lebanon channels and regional IG platform and shared with HQ. Celebrity engagements: Two celebrities participated in joint campaigns to further raise awareness on GEWE. Singer Abeer Nehme and News anchor Yazbek Wehbe participated pro bono and featured in the UN Lebanon 16 Days of Activism campaign led by UN Women. Actress Liliane Nemri was engaged in several videos , within UN Women’s “Quest for Equality” campaign. III. Increased donor visibility opportunities: UN Women increased its visibility towards through bilateral meetings, donor events as well as social media engagement. This included various activities including various dedicated SM week to donors such as GE , UK , one Communications and advocacy campaigns – The Quest for Equality several media engagement/SM coverage during donors/High-level officials visits to relevant projects (i.e., The inauguration of a production unit in Beirut , in the presence of Japan’s ambassador and the visit of the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Tim Watts MP and Australian delegation to two UN Women-led initiatives), as well as two joint multimedia stories ( article and video ), on UN joint programs developed by UNIC with support from UNW work, both were posted on UN Lebanon, UNW, UNW RO and global SG websites and highlighted donor’s support. Coordination within the UN system: UN Women mobilized the UN system around the joint International Women’s Day campaign 2023 " Stand up for women " , which earned a total of 1.9m organic, non-sponsored impressions on social media Through the UN Communications Group, UN Women Lebanon CO amplified support/engagement to its national communications initiatives and daily advocacy on social media. Within the UN Communications Group and the UNCG communications taskforces, UN Women contributed to the UNSDCF (2023-2025) Communications Strategy and the UNCG 2023 Work plan, progress of work & deliverables by UNIC/RCO. UNW helped develop joint communications activities (assets, videos, SM packages…) including the #TakeAStep and the “All For Lebanon” campaigns.

Advancing partnerships and resourcing

With an overall budget of $7.4 million in 2024, UN Women has three primary programmes in Lebanon (under which a number of projects fall) that seek to promote women’s rights and gender equality across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus. Work calling for legal reform and preventing violence against women and girls is crosscutting across all portfolios: ? Women, Peace and Security programme (budget of $1.7 million), aims to promote women's meaningful participation in conflict prevention and resolution, gender-responsive peacebuilding and increased women’s engagement and leadership in humanitarian action. ? Women’s Economic Empowerment programme, with a budget of $2.2 million, cuts across the humanitariandevelopment nexus to support inclusive recovery. The programme focuses on enhancing the resilience, self-reliance, and leadership of crisis affected women through access to comprehensive livelihood and protection services. Livelihood opportunities target vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian women as well as women with disabilities through access to short-term paid employment in cash-for-work opportunities created in community kitchens, menstrual hygiene production, and carpentry. ? Governance and Participation in Public Life progamme, with a budget of $1.9 million. UN Women, in partnership with UNSCOL and UNDP, works collaboratively to increase women's representation in decision-making bodies, supporting legal reform to establish gender quotas within local municipal councils. Furthermore, the office continued to deliver Gender-Responsive Humanitarian Assistance. With the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah since 17th September 2024 and almost 900,000 people displaced, among which 51 per cent were women and girls, the CO had strategically repurposed some of its funding and managed to supply immediate humanitarian assistance to women and girls.