BEIRUT ARAB UNIVERSITY

SDG 11

SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

THE INDICATOR 11.4.7

Local Authority Planning and Affordable Housing

Does the University as a body work with local authorities to address planning issues and development including ensuring that local residents are able to access affordable housing?

RECOMMENDED RESPONSE

YES

Current evidence reviewed for 2021 to 2026

Earlier formal municipal agreement retained as institutional precedent

Prepared for THE Impact Rankings submission

1 Executive assessment

Beirut Arab University should answer YES to THE Impact Rankings Indicator 11.4.7. The clearest current evidence is the three-year Memorandum of Understanding signed on 25 September 2026 between BAU’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Built Environment and the Municipality of Saida. The agreement establishes direct institutional cooperation in urban planning, design, heritage conservation and sustainable development.

The division of responsibilities is operational rather than ceremonial. BAU will provide technical support, consultancy, planning studies, field surveys, design proposals and environmental and urban research. The Municipality will provide information, maps and data, facilitate field work and cooperate in securing project funding and defined operational support. The agreement also directs selected student graduation projects and research toward specific urban challenges in Saida.

This formal agreement follows the 2025 Urban Co-Production programme in Saida. BAU, the Hariri Foundation, Saida’s mayor, municipal councillors and local stakeholders examined participatory responses to urban change. Fifteen students completed an Urban Sustainability Design Charrette and presented proposals for Saida neighbourhoods and streets. The mayor stated that the Municipal Council was ready to discuss the ideas and build on them.

BAU’s evidence on affordable housing is credible but should be described precisely. The University participated in the 2021 Beirut Urban Declaration process, whose programme addressed the housing crisis and a new policy for producing affordable housing. Current BAU research also examines informal settlements, adaptive reuse and low-income housing. These activities demonstrate policy, research and design contributions. Public evidence does not establish that BAU and a municipality currently operate a housing construction, rent subsidy or allocation programme for local residents.

Original evidence BAU and Municipality of Saida urban cooperation memorandum | 25 September 2026

Original evidence BAU Urban Co-Production session in Saida | 10 September 2025

Original evidence BAU participation in the Beirut Urban Declaration | 10 April 2021

2 Current municipal collaboration in Saida

2 1 Three year agreement with the Municipality of Saida

On 25 September 2026, the Dean of BAU’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Built Environment and the Mayor of Saida signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding. Its stated purpose is cooperation in urban planning, design and heritage conservation to support sustainable development and improve Saida’s urban and service conditions.

The memorandum connects University expertise to municipal responsibilities. BAU will prepare planning studies and field surveys, offer technical consultancy, propose architectural and design solutions for public squares, parks and open spaces, and undertake heritage, environmental and urban research. The Municipality will provide maps, information and data, facilitate the work of field teams and cooperate on project funding and logistics through project-specific addenda.

The agreement also creates a route from teaching and research to municipal decision-making. Selected graduation projects and scientific studies will address defined urban challenges in Saida. The Municipality therefore helps identify needs and provides the information and access required for investigation, while BAU develops evidence and proposals that can inform local projects.

Original evidence BAU and Municipality of Saida urban cooperation memorandum | 25 September 2026

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Between Beirut Arab University and the Municipality of Saida to Enhance Urban Cooperation

The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design & Built Environment at Beirut Arab University Professor Hassan Abdel-Salam signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of Saida Engineer Mustafa Hijazi. The agreement aims to foster mutual cooperation in urban planning, design, and heritage conservation, thereby contributing to sustainable development and the improvement of urban and service conditions in the city of Saida.

This MoU reflects the university’s commitment to strengthening its social responsibility and aligning academic research and disciplines with the practical needs of Lebanese cities, leveraging academic and technical expertise to serve the local community.

Under the terms of the MoU, the university will provide technical support, consultancy, and urban studies. This includes preparing planning studies and field surveys, proposing architectural and design solutions to develop public squares, parks, and open spaces, as well as conducting studies on the conservation of heritage and historic buildings, alongside environmental and urban research. Additionally, the agreement entails directing a selection of student graduation projects and scientific research toward addressing specific urban challenges in Saida.

In return, the Municipality of Saida is committed to providing the necessary information, maps, and data, as well as facilitating field operations for working teams. The municipality will also cooperate in securing the funding required to execute agreed-upon projects and cover logistical, operational, and transportation expenses as defined in the specific addenda for each project.

For his part, Professor Abdel-Salam expressed his pleasure in launching a new chapter of cooperation with the Municipality of Saida, emphasizing that the city possesses vision and ambition, and that BAU looks forward to being a partner in its revitalization journey by contributing to its development while preserving its heritage and identity.

In turn, Mayor Mustafa Hijazi expressed the municipality’s pride in collaborating with Beirut Arab University, highlighting that this partnership represents a step toward effective cooperation that contributes to developing the city and elevating its urban and service environment. He noted that the municipality appreciates the university’s academic and civic vision and looks forward to translating this partnership into joint projects that serve Saida and its residents while safeguarding its identity and heritage.

2 2 Urban Co Production and local decision makers

The 2026 memorandum developed from an active collaboration pathway. In September 2025, the Hariri Foundation’s National State Academy and BAU organized an Urban Co-Production session within the Strategic Urban Planning and Local Policies programme. Saida’s mayor, members of the municipal council, local stakeholders, BAU leaders, faculty members and students participated.

The programme examined how academia, civil society, private actors and public authorities can jointly respond to urban change. A design charrette involved 15 students, dialogue with local decision makers and proposals for neighbourhoods and streets across Saida. The work addressed inclusive and smart cities, nature-positive cities, and active and vibrant cities. The Hariri Foundation’s account confirms that the mayor welcomed the proposals and expressed the Municipal Council’s readiness to discuss and develop them further.

Original evidence BAU Urban Co-Production session in Saida | 10 September 2025

Original evidence Hariri Foundation account of the Urban Co-Production programme | 2 October 2025

Urban Co Production A Joint Session between the Hariri Foundation and Beirut Arab University

The Hariri Foundation – National State Academy, in partnership with Beirut Arab University’s Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment, organized a joint session under the title “Urban Co-Production” at the Academy’s headquarters in Saida. The event was held within the framework of the program “Strategic Urban Planning and Local Policies.”

The session explored avenues of collaboration between academic, research, private, and civil society institutions with local authorities and the public sector in the field of Urban Co-Production, aiming to develop participatory and innovative development solutions that respond to ongoing urban transformations.

Participants included Mrs. Bahia Hariri, President of the Hariri Foundation, and Professor Hassan Abdel Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment at BAU, along with Saida’s Mayor, Engineer Mostafa Hijazi, members of the municipal council, local stakeholders, Dr. Rouba Abou Zainab, Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation, and the Foundation’s team. From BAU, attendees included Professor Sobhi Abou Shahine, Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations, Professor Hania Al Nakkash, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Projects, Mrs. Zina Ariss, Director of Public Relations and Communications, as well as faculty members and students from the Faculty of Architecture.

Speaking on behalf of the National State Academy, Engineer Mohammad Hariri, Director of Research and Development at the Hariri Foundation, emphasized that the program reflects the Academy’s mission to strengthen active citizenship by developing participatory mechanisms that place academic and civic work at the core of urban governance.

In her remarks, Mrs. Bahia Hariri highlighted the Foundation’s longstanding commitment since its establishment to empowering Lebanese citizens in achieving sustainable human development and fostering national identity through partnerships among civil society, academia, and modern state institutions. She traced the Foundation’s decades-long collaboration with BAU, including scholarships, dialogue platforms, and applied research exchange, in addition to joint initiatives with the Faculty of Architecture on studies and heritage restoration projects in Old Saida. Hariri affirmed that this session marks the beginning of a renewed path of cooperation serving the city’s present and future.

Professor Hassan Abdel Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment at BAU, described the partnership with the Hariri Foundation as one that has yielded tangible outcomes reflecting collaboration, innovation, knowledge-sharing, and a shared commitment to shaping forward-looking policies for cities and urban communities.

The session also featured presentations by Dr. Hiba Mohsen, Assistant Dean of the Faculty, who showcased the capabilities and initiatives of the Faculty’s Urban Lab, and Engineer Jihad Al-Akkoum, Coordinator of the Strategic Urban Planning and Local Policies program at the National State Academy, who outlined the program’s goals, training components, and the Urban Sustainability Workshop held with the participation of 15 students.

Concluding the event, BAU students presented proposed design projects for several neighborhoods and streets in Saida, focusing on three themes: inclusive and smart cities, nature-positive cities, and active and vibrant cities. The presentations were followed by an open discussion with attendees and contributions from participants.

Session on "Urban Co-Production"

The Hariri Foundation’s National State Academy organized a session titled “Urban Co-production” in partnership with Beirut Arab University – Faculty of Architecture (Design and Built Environment) at the academy’s headquarters in Saida.

In line with the Strategic Urban Planning Program at the National State Academy, the session addressed potential participatory and innovative solutions in response to ongoing urban transformations, exploring venues of collaboration among academic, research, private, and civil society institutions in close coordination with local authorities and the public sector.

Urban Co-Production

The concept of the session, “urban co-production,” expresses the daily interaction between citizens and stakeholders. The concept is operationalized through an interactive model that consolidates institutional partnerships and daily collaborations within an ongoing process of producing cities beyond finite projects, contributing to the formulation of long-term urban solutions.

Academy & Partnerships

Research and Development Manager at the Hariri Foundation, Architect Mohammad Al Hariri, highlighted the model adopted by the Strategic Urban Planning Program in translating the the National State Academy’s objectives in promoting active citizenship through the development and dissemination of participatory mechanisms that place academia and civil society at the heart of urban governance, based on research references, reports, and international agendas.

The Faculty’s Assistant Dean, Dr. Hiba Mohsen, presented the programs, projects, and initiatives of the faculty’s Urban Lab, and the possible areas of cooperation through the lab.

The Program Coordinator at the National State Academy, Engineer Jihad Akoum, presented the program’s objectives, mechanisms, and ongoing projects. He also introduced the Urban Sustainability Design Charrette organized at the academy, and leading to this event.

Urban Sustainability Design Charrette

The charrette engaged 15 students in capacity development, enhancing academic and professional skills, learning about methodologies for proposing policies and alternatives, and addressing local societal issues. The charrette was supported by dialogue sessions with local decision makers.

At the event, participants presented the designs outcomes for their proposed projects in a number of neighborhoods and streets across the city of Saida, covering three areas (Inclusive and Smart City, Nature-Positive City, and Active and Vibrant City). This was followed by a general discussion with the audience and interventions by the participants.

Bahia Hariri

Mrs. Bahia Hariri, president of the Hariri Foundation, emphasized in her speech that the Hariri Foundation, since its inception, has been working to activate the role of the Lebanese citizen in achieving sustainable human development and deepening their sense of belonging and national identity, based on partnerships between civil society, academia, and the modern state.

Hariri showcased the evolution of the cooperation with Beirut Arab University, through providing educational scholarships or through the exchange of research and applied expertise over more than four decades. Hariri indicated that this session marks a milestone for renewing the joint, long-standing research and institutional partnership with Beirut Arab University that serves Lebanese cities.

Hassan Abdul Salam

Professor Hassan Abdul Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture (Design & Built Environment) at Beirut Arab University, considered that the partnership with the Hariri Foundation has already yielded tangible results that reflect the spirit of cooperation, development, exchange of information and expertise, and the pursuit of creativity. He also noted that this partnership offers a broader horizon for the future of cities and urban communities, and better local policies—both urgent and medium-term—and also strategic ones that anticipate a better future.

Abdul Salam showcased the achievements of the workshops, field studies, and scientific meetings leading to the sessions, confirming that it clearly reflects the university and foundation’s commitment to achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of interactive academic education.

Mustafa Hijazi

The mayor of Saida, Engineer Mustafa Hijazi, spoke, thanking the Hariri Foundation for launching the program. He praised the organization of the session in partnership with Beirut Arab University, the ideas presented during the session, and the projects presented by the students. He expressed the Municipal Council’s readiness to discuss these ideas and build upon them, especially in the next phase. He reviewed a number of projects the municipality has worked on and is currently working on, as well as the studies it has completed in this field. He invited the students to review these projects and benefit from them within the framework of the program.

Finally, Hariri, along with Dr. Abdel Salam and Engineer Hijazi, presented the students participating in the program with certificates of participation.

3 Research and technical systems for local planning

3 1 Tripoli building code and municipal permit research

A BAU-listed 2024 study developed a roadmap for implementing a building energy-efficiency code in Tripoli. Its method included semi-structured interviews with personnel at the Tripoli Municipality Permit Office and analysis of barriers to implementation. The study produced recommendations on governance, institutional capacity, operational resources and policy effectiveness.

This is relevant to local planning because building permits and code compliance are municipal functions that shape construction quality, operating costs and long-term housing affordability. The study does not document a municipal housing programme, but it shows BAU research engaging municipal personnel and producing recommendations for a city-level regulatory process.

Original evidence BAU publication on Tripoli building energy code compliance | 2024

Thesis - Faculty of Architecture - Design & Built Environment

List of Publications by Department for the Academic Year A Roadmap for the Implementation of Building Energy Efficiency Codes Compliance in Tripoli-Lebanon: Key Actions in the Familiarity Stage

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to provide policy recommendations for strengthening governance and institutional capabilities to ensure effective climate action and sustainable development in Tripoli-Lebanon and to propose a multi-staged implementation framework for T-BEEC, focusing on familiarity, with the aim o To facilitate Lebanon's transition towards sustainable energy sources by implementing an effective Building Energy Efficiency Code (T-BEEC) in Tripoli. Theoretical Framework: The study employs environmental science, urban planning, and socio-economic theories, focusing on policy adoption and the diffusion of technological innovations to enhance urban energy efficiency and sustainability. Method: A mixed-methods approach is adopted, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with key personnel at the Tripoli Municipality Permit Office and thematic analysis of the barriers and facilitators to BEEC implementation. Comparative case studies from different geopolitical regions provide a broader perspective on the challenges and strategies of energy code compliance. Results and Discussion: Findings emphasize the critical need for infrastructure and resource optimization, including vehicle maintenance and replacements, spatial layout reorganization, and the prompt repair of computers and printers, to ensure operational efficiency. Additionally, the pursuit of diverse financial support sources highlights the reliance on municipal fees, international aid, NGO contributions, and educational partnerships to overcome financial and resource constraints Research Implications: This study impacts urban energy management theory and practice, providing key insights for policymakers and planners in similar settings. Originality/Value: This study outlines a unique approach to implementing energy codes during Tripoli's familiarity period, enhancing urban sustainability and policy effectiveness.

3 2 Urban Observatory and municipality coordination

In June 2026, BAU signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut. The agreement provides for architectural studies and urban projects in close coordination with municipalities, local authorities and relevant institutions. BAU will also support the establishment of the Order’s Urban Observatory, strengthening data, research and strategic planning for Lebanon’s built environment.

The Observatory commitment complements BAU’s direct municipal work. It provides a professional mechanism through which urban evidence and academic expertise can be organized for wider planning use, while the Saida agreement supplies a defined local-authority application pathway.

Original evidence BAU and Order of Engineers and Architects strategic agreement | 22 June 2026

Beirut Arab University and the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut Sign a Five-Year Strategic Cooperation Agreement

Beirut Arab University, represented by its President, Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam, has signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut, represented by its President, Engineer Fadi Hanna. The agreement aims to strengthen the partnership between both institutions in the fields of training and knowledge exchange, while developing the skills of students and alumni from BAU’s Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment to meet modern labor market demands.

The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from both institutions, including Dr. Omar Houri, BAU Secretary-General; Professor Sobhi Abou Chahine, Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations; Professor Hania Nakkash, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research; Professor Hassan Abdel Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment; and Dr. Heba Mohsen, Assistant Dean, alongside a distinguished delegation from the Order of Engineers and Architects.

This agreement aligns with both parties' shared commitment to supporting applied education and exchanging professional expertise. It establishes a framework for organizing targeted training courses for BAU architecture students and alumni. These programs are designed to enhance their capabilities in architectural design, heritage building rehabilitation and preservation, sustainability, and the application of modern architectural technologies.

Furthermore, the agreement sets the stage for joint events and collaborative developmental projects. Both institutions will co-host specialized lectures, conferences, exhibitions, and workshops. They will also share expertise and partner on architectural studies and urban projects in close coordination with municipalities, local authorities, and relevant institutions.

As part of their mutual dedication to advancing the field, BAU’s Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment will leverage its academic expertise and academic personnel to support the establishment of the Order of Engineers and Architects' Urban Observatory. This initiative will significantly boost the role of research and strategic planning in the continuous development of Lebanon's built environment.

Representatives from both Beirut Arab University and the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut emphasized that this agreement represents a major milestone in strengthening institutional cooperation. By opening new avenues for students and alumni to acquire practical, hands-on experience, the partnership is set to drive innovation and support ongoing development within Lebanon's architecture sector.

3 3 Research on the Lebanese planning system

BAU-affiliated researchers published a 2023 study on reforming Lebanon’s urban management system and improving master-plan preparation. The research examines national, regional and local planning responsibilities, municipal decentralization, land-use planning and participatory planning. It proposes a framework that connects the different levels of governance involved in master-plan generation.

This publication is supporting evidence rather than proof of a municipal contract. Its value is that it addresses the institutional structure within which local authorities plan, and it supplies research relevant to the planning challenges covered by BAU’s later Saida partnership.

Original evidence BAU research on enhanced master plan generation | 2023

4 Resident needs and housing affordability

4 1 Informal settlements and vulnerable residents

A 2022 BAU study examined the Taamir district in Saida as an informal-settlement case. The research identifies refugees, displaced people and fragmented families among its residents, investigates local challenges through field methods and proposes guidelines to improve quality of life and public-space conditions.

The study predates the 2025 and 2026 municipal collaboration, but it demonstrates that BAU already possessed place-specific evidence about vulnerable neighbourhoods in Saida. This strengthens the relevance of the current MoU, under which field surveys, urban studies and student research can be directed toward specific challenges identified with the Municipality.

Original evidence BAU research on upgrading informal settlements in Saida | 2022

4 2 Adaptive reuse as a low income housing pathway

A 2025 paper by BAU researchers studies adaptive reuse and walkability in the historic El-Mina district of Tripoli. The paper explains that reusing existing buildings can create community assets, including low-income housing, student housing, community centres and mixed-use venues. It also notes that reuse can reduce demand for new materials and lower development costs.

This research provides a concrete housing-affordability pathway within urban regeneration: adapting existing buildings rather than relying only on new construction. The study does not report completed affordable homes or a municipal allocation system. It should therefore be cited as research that can inform local planning and housing decisions, not as evidence of housing units delivered.

Original evidence BAU research on adaptive reuse and low income housing | 2025

4 3 Affordable housing policy dialogue

BAU participated institutionally in the April 2021 Beirut Urban Declaration Conference on reconstruction after the Beirut Port explosion. BAU’s Dean of Architecture worked within the organizing committees, and BAU academics contributed to sessions on the urban fabric, heritage rehabilitation and legislative frameworks for reconstruction management.

The official conference programme also addressed the impact of the economic crisis on housing and included a round table titled Towards a New Policy for the Production of Affordable Housing. The round table involved the Public Corporation for Housing and international housing specialists. BAU’s public account does not state that BAU led that round table, so the evidence supports institutional participation in a wider reconstruction and housing-policy forum rather than authorship of the proposed policy.

Original evidence BAU participation in the Beirut Urban Declaration | 10 April 2021

Original evidence Official Beirut Urban Declaration programme | 10 to 11 April 2021

BAU participated in Beirut Urban Declaration Conference after Beirut Port Explosion

The Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University participated in Beirut Urban Declaration Conference for restoration of afflicted areas after the huge explosion that occurred on August four. The conference was organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the Faculties of Architecture in Lebanon whereby this event came after long preparations and workshops in addition to direct field work which started directly after Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020.

Since then, Professor Ibtihal El-Bastawissi, the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture- Design and Built Environment, has worked within the organizing committees of the Deans of Faculties of Architecture for Beirut Urban Declaration which included five sessions. She invited a group of university professors from various faculties to participate in all aspects of conference activities in coordination with the Dean of Faculty of Human Sciences, Professor Mayssah El-Nayal. Professor El-Bastawissi also participated in a workshop organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut in cooperation with the French government, UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) in order to achieve this declaration.

The university had interventions in more than one session in the conference where Professor Hassan Hallak gave a lecture entitled "The Economic and Social Role of the Beirut Port," in which he talked about the history of the development of Beirut Port and its economic and social impacts on the city.

Dr. Khaled Sadek gave a lecture under the title of "The Urban Fabric of Beirut between History and the Present" in which he dealt with the development of Beirut's urban fabric during the historical eras that the city has gone through. He mentioned the human values that the city has acquired, which are based on reverence of freedoms, respect of intellectual pluralism and openness to different civilizations.

In the fourth session, Dr. Hiba Mohsen gave a lecture entitled "Rehabilitation and Restoration of Damaged Heritage Buildings", in which she discussed the importance of preserving the heritage and the risks that threatens it, in addition to several proposals for the rehabilitation and construction of old neighborhoods.

In the second day, Dr. Khaled Sadek gave another lecture under the title of "Legislative Frameworks for Reconstruction Management", during which he presented the reality of legislation and the mechanisms available for reconstruction.

BEIRUT URBAN DECLARATION CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

5 Institutional continuity with municipalities

The current Saida partnership is consistent with BAU’s earlier formal municipal engagement. In March 2019, BAU and Al-Mina Municipality signed an agreement covering infrastructure and the area surrounding BAU’s Tripoli Campus. The agreement included converting adjacent land into a public park for Al-Mina residents and BAU students.

This earlier agreement is outside the five-year event window and is not used as the primary basis for the response. It is retained because it is a formal municipal agreement and shows an established institutional pattern: the University and a municipality identify a local urban need, combine resources and pursue a publicly accessible improvement.

Original evidence BAU and Al Mina Municipality public park agreement | 12 March 2019

A Cooperation Agreement between Al Mina Municipality and BAU to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a public park

The President of Beirut Arab University Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the President of Al-Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine signed a cooperation agreement covering infrastructure and the surrounding area of BAU Branch in Al Mina. The President of Al-Mina Municipality Council spoke about the nature of this agreement saying "This is not the first agreement of cooperation between the Municipality and BAU. Our cooperation began since laying the foundation stone for the establishment of BAU Tripoli Branch in Al-Mina City. We believe in BAU’s role to raise the status of the city and our relationship with BAU has developed during the era of former Secretary General late Mr. Issam Houri. Also, we have always been able to meet the university demands concerning the building, investment and licensing.” He added, “We are proud today to sign an agreement of cooperation regarding the establishment of the public park near the university campus which will be a public common for BAU students and Al Mina people.” BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El -Adawi maintained, "Today we signed an agreement, which is the first of its kind to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a park of public interest for Al Mina people and BAU students.” He added, “Our presence here is not limited to this distinctive educational facility in Lebanon and the Middle East. It includes our vision of being partners with the people of Tripoli, Al Mina and the North to create a success story not only at the educational level but also for the development of the city. BAU Branch in Al Mina was established nine years ago, and since then the region has been significantly developed and many job opportunities have been open for the people in the North as most of the BAU academic and administrative staff members and professors are from Tripoli and the North. This was reflected in the university labour needs which we emphasized to be limited to the people of the region so they feel we are here to achieve development goals in addition to educational issues.” On the other hand, and within the framework of the Signing Ceremony, a gathering was held between the President of BAU Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the Northern figures: Former Prime minister Najib Mikati represented by Mokbel Malak, Minister of State for Economic Empowerment for Women and Youth Ms. Violette Khairallah Safadi represented by Ms. Nadine Ali, M.P. Dr. Ali Darwich, M.P. Jean Obeid represented by Mr. Elie Obeid, Ministers and Former Deputies Dr. Ahmad Fatfat, Mohamad Safadi represented by Mr. Ahmad Safadi, Mr. Omar Miskawi, Election Candidate for Tripoli Ms. Dima Jamali, Mayor of Tripoli Municipality Eng. Ahmad Kamareddine, the President of Al Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine, The Head of the Educational Area Ms. Nahla Hamaty, and the Director General of Water in the North Dr. Khaled Obeid. BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi delivered a speech emphasizing on the role of universities in spreading the social awareness and services in addition to their role in educating people. He mentioned the importance of establishing BAU Tripoli Campus in helping the Northern students to maintain education. In addition, he spoke on the high standards of education provided by Beirut Arab University at the five current faculties at the Campus. Moreover, he mentioned that BAU works on the student’s personality that serves the community and can builds success stories despite the difficult economic situation Lebanon faces. The gathering was culminated by a lunch included BAU and all distinguished gusts.

6 Evidence mapping for THE Indicator 11.4.7

The following matrix maps the verified evidence to the wording of the indicator. It distinguishes direct institutional action from supporting research so that the submission does not overstate the record.

7 Conclusion

Beirut Arab University should answer YES. BAU currently works directly with the Municipality of Saida through a three-year agreement that assigns concrete planning, research, data, field-work and project-support responsibilities. The 2025 Urban Co-Production programme shows that this cooperation was preceded by structured dialogue with the mayor, municipal council, stakeholders, faculty and students and produced neighbourhood-level proposals for the city.

BAU also contributes to the affordable-housing dimension through policy dialogue and applied research. Its documented work covers informal settlements, vulnerable residents, adaptive reuse for low-income housing and the national discussion on affordable-housing policy. The evidence supports a positive institutional response, provided the submission describes these as research, planning and policy contributions and does not claim that BAU currently delivers municipal housing units or rent subsidies to local residents.

8 Original evidence register

The report uses official BAU, municipal-partner and professional-body sources. Each source is linked directly below.

Evidence reviewed on 16 October 2026