Lebanon and UNESCO Sign MoU to Strengthen Heritage Rehabilitation and Wider Cooperation

BEIRUT — Lebanon and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at establishing a comprehensive and sustainable institutional framework for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany, who is visiting Lebanon, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Heritage Protection and Rehabilitation in Focus

The discussions placed particular emphasis on supporting Lebanon's efforts to protect archaeological and heritage sites and rehabilitate locations that have been damaged.

Lebanon is home to a rich concentration of archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage, making preservation and restoration an important part of the country's cultural and historical identity.

Cooperation Extends Beyond Heritage

The talks also covered cooperation in education, culture, media, science and technology. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen education and expand collaboration across these fields as part of a broader Lebanon-UNESCO partnership.

Safety of Journalists Also Discussed

Support for ensuring the safety of journalists was another subject raised during the meeting, reflecting the wide scope of cooperation discussed between the Lebanese government and UNESCO.

A Sustainable Institutional Framework

The memorandum of understanding is intended to provide a comprehensive and sustainable institutional framework through which Lebanon and UNESCO can coordinate initiatives in areas of shared interest.

The agreement provides a formal basis for continued cooperation as Lebanon works to protect cultural assets, strengthen education and advance collaboration in knowledge, media, science and technology.

Key Points

•    Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany in Beirut.
•    Lebanon and UNESCO signed a memorandum of understanding during the meeting.
•    The MoU aims to establish a comprehensive and sustainable institutional framework for cooperation.
•    Talks covered education, culture, heritage, media, science and technology.
•    The two sides discussed protecting archaeological and heritage sites and rehabilitating damaged locations.
•    Strengthening education and ensuring the safety of journalists were also discussed.

Source
•    Qatar News Agency (QNA), August 19, 2026.
Editorial note: This is a rewritten, publication-ready version based on the official QNA report. It does not attribute specific rehabilitation projects, funding amounts or implementation timelines that were not stated in the source.