Bilateral development aid - 2024
In 2024, 5 development projects by Polish non-governmental organisations and 5 initiatives of the Armed Forces Operational Command were implemented in Lebanon. In addition, the Polish Embassy in Beirut launched 6 projects. Priority was given to building the capacity of local administration, strengthening the operational capabilities of emergency rescue and civil defence services in responding to natural disasters, improving the quality of water and road infrastructure, developing education and entrepreneurship as well as promoting climate protection efforts—primarily through sustainable waste management and the use of renewable energy sources.
Infrastructure and crisis management
Assistance measures contributed to improving the quality of damaged water infrastructure—whose condition posed a threat to continuous operations—by clearing more than 3 km of a riverbed and building nearly 1.7 km of irrigation channels, as well as to repairing road infrastructure. At the same time, initiatives were undertaken to strengthen local crisis management capacities. Representatives of 26 municipalities received training, which improved their preparedness for natural disasters.
Another project focused on enhancing the skills of services responsible for emergency response management in crisis situations, firefighting, and search‑and‑rescue operations. Its main beneficiaries—namely the Lebanese Red Cross, the Lebanese Civil Defense, and the Beirut Fire Brigade—received specialist equipment for search‑and‑rescue operations. Additionally, the project included workshops for key command personnel and emergency response training sessions. The trainees and users of the provided equipment were directly involved in delivering assistance to the civilian population during armed hostilities in southern Lebanon.
Education, entrepreneurship, and local development
Development projects also supported the professional activation of residents in rural areas at risk of unemployment and the growth of local entrepreneurship. To this end, the tourism potential of central and northern Lebanon (including Batroun, Chouf, and Jbeil) was utilised, and a training programme was implemented focusing, among other areas, on information technologies and social media management.
At the same time, Polish Aid activities enabled the development of the education system and entrepreneurship among the most vulnerable communities in Beirut and other locations. More than 2,500 participants took part in workshops, courses, and training sessions, of which 70% were women and over 5% were persons with disabilities. The programme enabled them to acquire professional skills in fields such as robotics, 3D printing, solar energy technologies, administration, and photography, increasing participants’ chances of finding employment and achieving economic self‑reliance.
Environment and climate protection
As part of another project, a municipal waste‑collection system and river‑clearing programme were implemented in several districts of central and northern Lebanon (e.g., Bekaa, Keserwan, Tripoli), benefiting around 5,000 households—home to nearly 30,000 people. A public awareness campaign was also organised to educate communities on environmental protection, with particular emphasis on waste segregation and recycling.
Operations of the Polish Military Contingent as part of UNIFIL
An important aspect of Poland’s assistance in Lebanon involved the activities pursued by the Polish Military Contingent participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The projects implemented by the contingent’s Civil‑Military Co‑operation (CIMIC) team supported the peacekeeping and security‑enhancement efforts in 5 municipalities covered by the mission’s mandate in southern Lebanon. The initiatives included enabling the generation of energy from renewable sources, purchasing firefighting equipment, and supporting the development of the local health care system.
