Dear partners,

We are pleased to launch our new quarterly partners newsletter from Tripoli.  UNDP’s Executive Board approved this month the new Country Programme 2023-2025 for Libya defining our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) signed with the authorities.  The new program renews our shared commitment to build peace, strengthen governance and promote sustainable growth in Libya.  Despite the ongoing political deadlock and fragile security, much can go forward with key counterparts and the many Libyan women and men dedicated to ensuring their country moves forward. 

Thanks to your engagement and a wide array of consultations with government, civil society and private sector partners throughout the country, the program makes difficult choices focusing on accompaniment to partners where change is reasonably possible without an elected executive, a national budget or a national development strategy.  The program continues critical support where UNDP has been invested in years, such as support to HNEC and the electoral process, it refocuses better key engagements notably on rule of law or its local peacebuilding investments, while launching new areas of work on local governance, emissions reduction, energy transition and water security. 

Importantly, its new local peacebuilding program builds on the work achieved with the stabilization facility by improving its focus on the most vulnerable areas, investing more decidedly on resilience through improved trust, services and jobs and an emphasis on accompaniment of local authorities.  Investments at local level by the governance and environment portfolio will also focus on those 20-30 most vulnerable municipalities so as to bring a critical mass of investments together and build on the relationships and established networks.  Broadly more than half of the focus municipalities will be in the South which all interlocutors agree require much more investments. 

To deliver on these commitments we have now completed the restructuring of the office with a renewed presence of all international staff in Libya and a strengthen cohort of national staff.  Indeed, we firmly believe our value also lies in close accompaniment and support combining local knowledge and networks with solid expertise.  After over 6 years of temporary arrangements, we are thrilled to be settled in our new living quarters and offices in Janzour.  They are another sign of our renewed commitment to accompany Libya on the long term.  Those new and expanded facilities in Tripoli will be followed by a strengthened presence and staffing in Benghazi and Sabha. 

We need to be clear-eyed about the global context and the many competing priorities and crises which may drag attention away from Libya.  Financing the program will remain a challenge and require renewed commitments from all partners but also new pooled fund mechanisms where Libyan government resources need to play a more important role.  A country like Libya is in a position to do so. 

We strongly believe the program’s objectives are achievable despite the well-known obstacles.  The millions of Libyans who want positive change and a better future for them and their children need institutions and leaders that take their responsibilities, and we must continue to accompany country with solidarity, specially now.