Beirut: The World Bank has approved a USD 250 million financing package to aid Lebanon in the urgent repair and reconstruction of damaged critical public infrastructure and essential services. This initiative also focuses on the sustainable management of rubble in areas affected by conflict.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the "Lebanon Emergency Assistance Project (LEAP)" aims to maximize economic and social impact through prioritized interventions within the shortest possible timeframe. The World Bank stated that the project will adopt a phased approach to response, recovery, and reconstruction. The Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) conducted between October 8, 2023, and December 20, 2024, estimated total direct damages across ten sectors at USD 7.2 billion, with reconstruction and recovery needs at USD 11 billion.
The assessment highlighted that damage to critical infrastructure and buildings essential to economic activity, health, and safety was estimated at USD 1.1 billion. This includes sectors such as transport, water, energy, municipal services, education, and healthcare.
Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East Division Director, explained that given Lebanon's extensive reconstruction needs, the LEAP is designed as a USD 1 billion scalable framework. This includes an initial USD 250 million contribution from the World Bank, with the potential to absorb additional financing through grants or loans. The implementation framework emphasizes transparency, accountability, and results.
The World Bank financing will support immediate response activities to accelerate recovery and facilitate a return to normalcy. This includes the safe and well-planned management of rubble, prioritizing reuse and recycling. Additionally, the framework will support the rapid repair and recovery of essential services and the reconstruction of severely damaged infrastructure.
The LEAP will operate under the strategic guidance of the Prime Minister's Office, with coordination across line ministries at the Council of Ministers level. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport will oversee project execution, while the Ministry of Environment will manage environmental and social requirements.
The World Bank will enhance LEAP with increased implementation and supervision support, including the recruitment of an international lender's engineering firm for compliance due diligence. This will cover technical, environmental, social, fiduciary aspects, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) detection. Carret emphasized that these measures will ensure the project meets the highest standards of compliance, integrity, and effectiveness.