Making urban humanitarian policy: the “neighborhood approach” in Lebanon

Displaced people are increasingly living in urban areas and humanitarian organisations are rethinking their policies and practices. The ‘Neighbourhood Approach’-an area-based policy model has become globally popular amongst humanitarians. In this paper, I trace its development in Lebanon through a Temporary Technical Committee (TTC) on Neighbourhood Upgrading. Although it failed in being taken up as a distinct policy, aspects of it are being incorporated into plans and agendas of various actors. Through a critical document analysis I interrogate how humanitarians imagine ideas of ‘neighbourhood’ and ‘community’ in urban contexts. Using the critical literature on urban policymaking and mobilities, I show how the making of the neighbourhood approach draws together people, experiences, lessons, and territories both near and far, thus complicating its provenance as local or global. I offer a glimpse into the world of urban policymaking by humanitarian organisations whilst also challenging the mainstream discussions on urban policy mobilities.