OVERVIEW
Aiming to improve public spaces for the residents of Beirut, UNOPS is currently implementing the project entitled “SiMA" (Sustainable Integrated Municipal Actions) following the Beirut Port Blast.
Sioufi Garden in was one of the selected gardens that underwent rehabilitation. The project includes three components: i) upgrading/rehabilitation of roads, public spaces, communal spaces, and gardens, ii) conducting specialized capacity building activities to improve the capacities of municipal staff and project partners and iii) promoting the operational management and maintenance of the gardens.
The Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) is responsible for the overall operations and maintenance of the garden, while the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at AUB leads the development of a long-term governance strategy. The Dawaer Foundation, a local NGO, supports the project through social cohesion initiatives and capacity-building activities.
The project seeks to strengthen the rehabilitation, management, and sustainability of the garden with the overreaching goal of transforming it into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable public space that promotes community engagement, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship.
FUNDING SOURCE
This project is funded by the German government through KfW Development Bank, and is fully managed by UNOPS as the direct implementer.
OBJECTIVES
- To strengthen the inclusive use of Sioufi Garden by the local community through co-designed social and cultural activities.
- To enhance the capacity of municipal staff and local volunteers in the sustainable management and governance of the public space.
METHODS
IFI is leading on the governance strategy and operational guidelines for Sioufi Garden's maintenance, under a community-centered action plan (CAP). This work is grounded in the following: an assessment of the Lebanese context for managing public gardens and spaces; an analysis of the current situation at Sioufi Garden; and benchmarking against comparable international experiences to generate relevant ideas and solutions. The developed framework will support the establishment of a representative community council comprising local community members and municipal representatives, including youth and individuals from diverse social and professional backgrounds.
PROJECT OUTPUTS / PUBLICATIONS
A Community-Based Action Plan outlining strategies to ensure the garden's long-term safety and sustainability and a framework for community ownership, local partnerships, and resource mobilization.
CONTACT PERSON
Leila Solh - [email protected]