The United Nations Development Program hires mostly locals for its projects in Lebanon. According to UNDP Resident Representative Marta Ruedas, the U.N. organization turns to foreign experts only if qualified professionals are not available locally and when assignments require political neutrality.
The Spanish native, who is also the U.N. resident coordinator in Beirut, said expatriates may also be engaged by UNDP through the Junior Professional Officer Program, if they come from a sponsoring nation.
Ruedas spoke with Devex in October 2009, a month prior to the formation of the unity government in Lebanon. November also saw the launching of Live Lebanon, which enables Lebanese living abroad to support development projects in their homeland through direct donations.