The 2021 Joint Communication on a “Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighborhood - A new Agenda for the Mediterranean” underlines the importance to give special attention to the promotion of the role of women in society and the economy as part of a renewed commitment to the rule of law, human and fundamental rights, equality, democracy and good governance. In line with EU external and internal policy areas set under the Gender Action Plan (GAP) III which scales up the EU contribution to reach SDG 52 in all EU internal and external policy areas and across the 2030 Agenda, the European Commission has adopted in 2022 the Action “Women Empowerment Hub in Lebanon (WE HUB)” financed under the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). 

The overall objective of the action, with a budget of EUR 6,000,000, is to promote the advancement and empowerment of women for effective realisation of gender equality. The specific objectives of the project are:

SO1. Increase women’s leadership and participation in political and public sphere;

SO2. Foster an enabling environment for better engagement of women in the workforce;

SO3. Enhance key legislative reform and measures that protect women from all forms of violence.

The expected results of the action are as follows:

Under SO1:

·       Women feel more empowered to engage in political life;

·       Women are more visible in public space. They gain competencies, networks, confidence and legitimacy

·       Policy dialogue at national level is enhanced and the political and legislative framework is more compliant with gender equality

Under SO2:

·       Women and civil society are better equipped to address discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes.

·       Policies stemming from evidence-based information and recommendations to combat gender discrimination and inequalities are adopted by different stakeholders on a systemic level.

·       More women can access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, in non-traditional and unconventional sectors

Under SO3:

·       Actors in the line of protection offer better services to VGB-survivor and their coordination with NGOs is enhanced;

·       The access to justice of GBV survivors is enhanced;

·       The existing legal framework for protection of women from violence is more enforced;

WE-HUB Project will be implemented by Expertise France and GIZ, as follows:

Expertise France will be in charge of components 1 and 3 and responsible for the overall coordination of the project and donor reporting. GIZ will be in charge of component 2. 

The activities planned under Component 1 / SO1 are the following:

1.1. Awareness campaign about the positive contribution of women and youth in the public and political spheres;

1.2. Capacity reinforcement and financing of local projects for common good, implemented by women/youth organizations and in partnership with municipalities.

1.3. Capitalization and communication about successful local development projects outlining the leading role played by women and youth

1.4. Coordination and coalition building activities for reform and lifting reservation on CEDAW articles governing women’s rights (with a focus on personal status)

1.5. Data collection, evidence-based information, publication and recommendations to policymakers produced by the LNGO and in coordination with the feminist NGO platform