Technical Assistance for the design and implementation of a multi-city urban development program in Lebanon
Context
The Urban Project Finance Initiative (UPFI - a joint AFD-EIB-EU initiative) supports project promoters in the southern and eastern Mediterranean area and in the Western Balkans, helping them to develop and finance ambitious urban development projects that aim to create jobs, reduce poverty and upgrade the urban fabric.
To support Lebanese municipalities to respond to mounting urban problems, the Urban Projects Finance Initiative (UPFI) and its partners are working alongside Lebanon’s central government, represented by the Council of Development and Reconstruction (CDR), to design and implement a new multi-city urban development program in Lebanon.
The Program aims to strengthen the socio-economic situation of beneficiary cities by supporting them to develop integrated urban projects geared towards upgrading and enhancing their physical and social infrastructure in ways that stimulate private sector-led economic growth and job creation.
Objective
The assignment included the assistance to AFD, EIB and CDR for the identification of projects constituting the multi-city programs (and feasibility studies) and the definition of this program: perimeter, dimensioning, implementation modalities. This included the definition of the Environmental & Social management framework as well as the definition of the policy framework for the resettlement of the population.
Our contribution
Together, we conducted the following activities:
- Definition and design of the program
- In-depth analysis of existing projects in Lebanon
- Definition of the program’s pillars in line with Lebanon’s socio-economic challenges
- Sizing of the program
- Proposal of beneficiary cities
- Proposal of integrated urban projects
- Feasibility studies
- Elaboration of feasibility studies for key projects
- Consolidation of integrated projects
- Definition of the program’s implementation modalities
- Institutional, operational and financial set-up of the program
- Environmental & Social Management Framework
- Resettlement policy framework
Our assistance has enabled the definition of a program covering 9 Lebanese cities (Aaley, Balbeck, Halba, Jbeil, Nabatieh, Saida, Tripoli, Tyre et Zahlé). This program included projects related to (i) revitalisation of heritage and enhancement of urban environment (requalification of urban centers, blue-green corridor projects), (ii) revitalisation of commercial assets – local economic development (market and port projects) and (iii) improvement of transportation and urban mobility (investment projects in public transport, enhancement of traffic conditions).
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