When hundreds of displaced families arrived in the Joumeh area of Akkar during the 2024 escalation of hostilities, local leaders had little time to prepare. Shelters had to be organized, volunteers mobilized, and assistance coordinated almost overnight. 

Similar scenes unfolded across Lebanon. Municipalities, local organizations, and residents worked tirelessly to support displaced families and respond to rapidly changing needs. Their efforts demonstrated remarkable solidarity—but also exposed gaps in communication, coordination, and local preparedness. 

For many communities, one lesson became clear: an effective crisis response begins long before an emergency. 

Building on these experiences, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the European Union and in partnership with Nahnoo and the Permanent Peace Movement, supported municipalities and existing community committees across 38 communities and five territorial areas. 

Through training, coaching, and crisis simulation exercises, more than 440 local actors examined what had worked during the crisis, identified gaps, and developed solutions suited to their communities. The process helped clarify responsibilities, improve coordination, and reinforce the relationships communities rely on during difficult times. 

One Crisis, Different Local Priorities 

Although communities faced many of the same pressures, their priorities differed according to their local realities. 

In Maghdouche, South Lebanon, the crisis revealed the need for reliable community-level information. Participants identified better data collection as essential for understanding vulnerabilities, identifying available resources, and making faster, more informed decisions during emergencies. 

In Baasir, Mount Lebanon, the focus was on mobilizing people. Recognizing that municipalities cannot respond alone, local leaders launched a youth volunteer initiative to support communication, community outreach, and data collection when future challenges arise. 

In Maqneh, Bekaa, discussions highlighted the absence of Civil Defense services. Instead of waiting for external assistance, community members began exploring ways to improve local readiness through first-aid and fire-response training and better use of existing municipal resources. 

“Before the training, we focused on responding once a crisis happened. Today, we are planning ahead, identifying the resources we need, and preparing our community to respond more effectively.” 

— Local Committee Member, Maqneh 

Preparedness Starts with Partnerships 

For many communities, being prepared was not only about having an emergency plan. It was also about building the relationships needed to put that plan into action. 

In the Joumeh Union of Municipalities in Akkar, insider mediator and community committee member Ziad El Rez brought municipalities, schools, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and youth groups together to plan for future emergencies. 

Through this collaboration, local actors established clearer coordination mechanisms, improved information sharing, and better defined the roles of different institutions. 

“Preparedness starts long before a crisis. Because people trusted one another, we were able to bring local institutions together around a shared vision. Today, those relationships are stronger—and that will make a real difference when communities need to respond quickly.” 

— Ziad El Rez, Insider Mediator and Community Committee Member, Tekrit 

A similar process took place in Damour, where municipalities and community organizations drew on lessons from the 2024 escalation to jointly develop a local crisis-response plan. 

“Before, everyone responded separately. Today, we understand that our community is stronger when we plan and work together.” 

— Antoinette Ghourayeb, Community Committee Member, Damour 

From Planning to Community Action 

The initiative went beyond preparing communities for emergencies. It also helped bring people together at a time of uncertainty and heightened tension. 

Working alongside municipalities, local committees organized activities for displaced and host communities, reaching more than 5,000 displaced people. These initiatives created opportunities for dialogue, built trust, and helped ease tensions. 

The programme also trained 120 Ministry of Social Affairs volunteers and shelter coordinators in conflict sensitivity, communication, safeguarding, volunteer management, and crisis coordination—equipping them to respond more effectively and sensitively to people’s needs. 

For Fatima Khalifeh, a collective shelter manager and community committee member in Ghazieh, learning from other communities was among the most valuable aspects of the experience. 

“Hearing how other communities handled difficult situations gave us practical ideas we could immediately apply. We improved communication within our committee, strengthened coordination with local authorities, and started discussing problems before they became conflicts.” 

— Fatima Khalifeh, Collective Shelter Manager and Community Committee Member, Ghazieh 

Better Prepared, Together 

Emergencies cannot always be prevented, but their impact can be reduced when communities are prepared and connected. 

Across 38 communities and five territorial areas, the programme delivered 357 capacity-building workshops, engaged more than 440 local actors, trained 120 Ministry of Social Affairs volunteers and shelter coordinators, and reached 7,374 women through community activities. 

Beyond these numbers, the initiative reinforced something less easily measured but equally important: trust. 

Communities across Lebanon are now carrying forward the lessons of recent crises. With clearer roles, stronger local partnerships, and improved coordination, they are better equipped to respond when challenges arise—and to face them together.