Beirut (ILO) - The International Labour Organization(ILO), through its Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP), funded by the German Government through KfW Development Bank, organized a high-level field visit to the Tripoli Pedestrian Network project site in northern Lebanon.

The visit brought together key stakeholders, including the German Ambassador to Lebanon Kurt Georg Stoeckl-Stillfried, representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the German Agency for International Cooperation GIZ, Head of Tripoli municipality Riyad Yamak, Head of Trablous Hayat NGO Salima Rifi, representatives of the ILO Regional Office for Arab States, and various national local partners and workers. This engagement underscored the shared commitment to short term employment opportunities under decent work for accessible and inclusive mobility links.

The Tripoli Pedestrian Network is an urban mobility initiative that focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading a long-neglected pedestrian infrastructure, reconnecting previously unused areas and enhancing both safety and sustainability. In close coordination with the Municipality of Tripoli and with active participation from civil society representatives, the project responded to the identified need for safe, inclusive, and accessible pedestrian and cyclist pathways—especially in underserved neighbourhoods lacking public space.

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Extending over 1.6 kilometres, the project includes the development of pedestrian sidewalks, a dedicated cycling lane, and a landscaped green corridor featuring native shrubs, shade trees, and drought-resistant ground cover. It is safely separated from the adjacent highway by multiple layers of landscaping, a water channel, and safety barriers. To ensure safe pedestrian access across the service road, zebra crossings and speed humps were installed, facilitating smooth and secure connections between sidewalks on both sides.

Implemented by a Lebanese contractor trained by the ILO on Local Resource-Based Technology (LRBT) and Decent Work principles, the intervention prioritizes manual labour and local resources. As of March 2025,the project has generated over 12,977 worker-days and created 206 short-term jobs, targeting 409 vulnerable people, including women and persons with disabilities.

The field visit demonstrated to the delegates and participants the tangible impact of the project, and provided an opportunity to engage directly with workers and local stakeholders. This visit reaffirmed the strong and ongoing partnership between the ILO, the German Government, local authorities and the residents of Tripoli for improving mobility and public areas in the city centre.

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