BACK
The project in brief
Implemented by
United Nations Development Program UNDP and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR - Lebanon
Country
Lebanon
Duration
2018-2021
Description
UNDP and UNHCR have established a Tensions Monitoring System to collect data, analyse and provide feedback and recommendations. The findings are shared with the government at national and regional level where recommendations are fed back into the response. They serve as an early warning system to ramp up conflict prevention.
Project aims
To enhance government and peace actors understanding of social tensions in order to inform a more conflict-sensitive approach in their programming.
Main activities of the Good Practice
UNDP and UNHCR have jointly established a Tensions Monitoring System which monitors, analyses and provides feedback and recommendations on actions to address inter-community relations.
Data is collected through a variety of channels including quarterly Perception Monitoring Surveys, Ministry data, family outreach research, monthly tension inputs from UN agencies, and WhatsApp surveys in hotspot areas.
The findings are disseminated to government partners to better inform their programmes and policies. The findings are also discussed at key stakeholder meetings at national and regional level where key recommendations are formulated and fed back into the response.
The findings are also used to serve as an early warning system for potential conflicts and help partners to engage in more conflict sensitivity programming.
Partners
- Ministry of Social Affairs
- Ministry of Interior and Municipalities
- Social Stability Sector partners (currently some 49 partners)
Challenges and how they were overcome
Challenges
Over the last two years, refugee - host community relations have been deteriorating, with 43% of the population reporting negative relations in August 2020 in comparison to 21% in July 2018. The rise in tensions is mainly related to job competition and access to services such as health and electricity.
There are also increased tensions in intra-Lebanese relations, with 40% of people reporting negative relations in August 2020
How they were overcome
The Tension Monitoring System has evolved – expanding its focus from tensions between host communities and Syrian refugees to a more holistic approach due to increasing intra-communal tensions and the need to address tensions in a more comprehensive manner.
Results of the Good Practice
- In 2019 and 2020, a total of 163 sector partners were engaged through the project and were trained on better integrating conflict sensitivity principles in their processes.
- The data and analyses are also used for advocacy – for example, in 2019, 5 joint major advocacy actions were taken by partners.
- One of the advocacy strategies successfully led to halting the eviction of Syrian refugees and ensuring sufficient notice periods prior to demolitions.
Next steps
Putting in place additional monitoring channels to collect more granular data and expand the monitoring of social media.
