Project Overview
 

The project seeks to strengthen local stability and recovery in Palestinian Gatherings host communities by improving living conditions and creating coordination mechanisms. Palestinian Gatherings are informal communities of Palestinian refugees that lack official camp status. Home to more than 55% Palestinian Refugees from Lebanon (PRL) and 59% of Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS) and vulnerable Lebanese, the Gatherings represent one of the most marginalized and overlooked populations in Lebanon, marked by lack of duty bearers, limited access to basic services, deteriorating infrastructure, volatile security, and widespread poverty. By improving living conditions in the Gatherings, supporting municipalities and local authorities extend their services, and creation of governance and collaboration mechanisms, the project contributes to addressing inter and intra communal tensions and strengthening stability.

Project Objective

• Urban infrastructure enhanced through improved provision and governance of equitable and sustainable basic urban services and upgraded neighborhoods.
• Socio-economic recovery strengthened through increased livelihoods opportunities with focus on women, youth and people with disabilities.
• Wellbeing of local communities reinforced through improved social services provision with focus on vulnerable groups.
   

Achievements & Key Figures

Between 2013 and 2025, key results and impact:

• 60 Gatherings and 25 municipalities served.
• 52% of Gatherings’ national population covered.
• 35% of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon reached.
• 200 projects implemented (120 basic urban services; 50 livelihoods; 30 health).
• 5,000 workers-days generated through civil works.

Key Achievements:

• 45,000 families of different nationalities have access to better WASH services. 
• 1,500 vulnerable families live in improved shelter conditions.
• 8 area-based improvement plans developed to guide local interventions. 
• 5 community centers established to extend NGO outreach and services into the Gatherings 
• 2,000 youth and women have better access to jobs thanks to full scholarships, training, and employment support. 
• 11 healthcare centers supported with infrastructure, equipment, energy solutions, and training.
• 12 health institutions serving Palestinian people and children with disabilities supported; and national PWD database modernized. 
• 25 NGOs and health actors trained on Psychological First Aid and supported to extend their psycho-social and specialized mental health services to the Gatherings. 
   

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

This project is classified as GEN2, ensuring that women are both active decision-makers and primary beneficiaries.  It strengthens the gender component in the following main areas: women’s agency in local development; women’s economic empowerment and labor market participation; and gender-sensitive socio-economic infrastructures. UNDP ensures the active engagement of women from the early stages of needs appraisal and prioritization of interventions, mainly through women and youth groups as well as local NGOs formed in the Gatherings. Physical interventions prioritize women-headed households and give significant weight to the specific needs of women and girls. Livelihood activities ensure the inclusion of both male and female beneficiaries and encourage high levels of participation of women and young women.