BEIRUT: Al-Jadeed Television and the United Nations Development Program announced a new partnership Monday to promote Live Lebanon, an initiative that connects Lebanese individuals with associations around the world committed to local development projects.

Live Lebanon focuses on projects related to youth, health, the environment and income-generating activities, with particular emphasis on empowering local government and communities.

Al-Jadeed General Manager Dimitri Khodr signed a memorandum of understanding with UNDP Resident Representative Robert Watkins at a news conference in Beirut.

“The media create awareness and disseminate powerful information about the existence and scope of intense disparity facing Lebanese communities in a country with so much wealth,” Watkins said. “Media have the means to inspire, to literally shape the way people think and act, to shift public attitudes in simply, yet profound ways by bringing human stories to people and making emotional connections across social and physical divides.”

The memorandum of understanding is the first of its kind between the U.N. and an Arab television station, according to U.N. Information Center Director Bahaa Elkoussy.

“Through this partnership, Al-Jadeed TV will contribute to raising awareness about living conditions of local communities, strive to highlight the most pressing needs of deprived areas, and incite all Lebanese people to ‘Live Lebanon, indeed’ through contributions to the initiative,” Elkoussy said.