Union of Relief and Development Associations - URDA

What Union of Relief and Development Associations - URDA does

URDA (Union of Relief and Development Associations - اتحاد الجمعيات الإغاثية والتنموية) is a Lebanese non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organization founded in June 2012 through the cooperation of more than thirty relief associations and committees, with the stated mission of coordinating humanitarian work across Lebanon. Headquartered in Beirut (Khalda) and operating five regional offices spanning Beirut, North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, and Sidon, URDA delivers services through a seven-sector humanitarian portfolio: Relief, Shelter, Healthcare, Education, Protection, Livelihoods/Development, and Sponsorship.

URDA's service model combines direct field distribution, shelter-center management (including operating schools as emergency shelters during the 2026 Israeli escalation in Lebanon), and programmatic delivery through initiatives such as the "School in a Bus" mobile education unit, a Solidarity Campaign Platform for community-organized fundraising, an online Donation Portal, and structured volunteer management across Bekaa, Arsal, Akkar, South Lebanon, and Mount Lebanon. The technology stack is conventional — a multilingual (Arabic/English) website, social media channels, and downloadable reports — with no proprietary software products, AI/ML systems, or patents disclosed. Beneficiaries, served free of charge, include vulnerable Lebanese families, Syrian refugees, Palestinian refugees, displaced persons from conflict-affected southern Lebanon, and storm-affected border communities.

URDA's revenue model is entirely donation- and grant-driven, with no commercial pricing: the organization draws on individual donations, seasonal humanitarian appeals (Ramadan, Eid Al-Adha, winter aid, solidarity campaigns), and institutional grants from the European Union, UNHCR, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Government via NORWAC, UNICEF, READ Foundation, DanChurchAid, and other foreign governmental and NGO partners. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed; reports are made available via downloadable files on the organization's website. Governance includes direct partnerships with Lebanese government ministries (Health, Social Affairs, Education) and signed MoUs with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for legal protection work.

Name

Union of Relief and Development Associations - URDA

Legal name

Union of Relief and Development Associations (URDA) - اتحاد الجمعيات الإغاثية والتنموية

Website

https://urda-lb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

URDA is a Lebanese non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2012 that delivers relief, shelter, healthcare, education, protection, livelihoods, and sponsorship services to vulnerable Lebanese families, Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and displaced persons across Lebanon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Relief Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Migration, Refugees & Forced Displacement Assistance (BPADABAL), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Relief and shelter programs
• Refugee support services
• Humanitarian healthcare delivery
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut (Khalda)

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: URDA relies on donations from individuals, organizations, and charitable contributions to fund humanitarian operations and service delivery across its seven sectors.
2. International Grants and Funding: URDA receives funding from international donors including the European Union, UNHCR, and various government agencies for specific humanitarian projects and programs.
3. Humanitarian Appeal Response: URDA launches humanitarian appeals in response to crises (such as the Israeli escalation in Lebanon) to raise emergency funds from donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

URDA is a Lebanese non-governmental humanitarian organization that delivers direct humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations across Lebanon through seven operational sectors: Relief, Shelter, Healthcare, Education, Protection, Livelihoods/Development, and Sponsorship. Services include emergency relief distributions, shelter management for displaced families, mobile education units, healthcare delivery, legal protection services, and community development programs funded entirely by donations and international grants.

Product overview

URDA is a Lebanese non-governmental humanitarian organization operating since June 2012. The organization functions as a unified humanitarian platform with seven operational sectors: Relief, Shelter, Healthcare, Education (including the School in a Bus mobile initiative), Protection, Livelihoods/Development, and Sponsorship. Additional offerings include a Solidarity Campaign Platform for community fundraising, an online Donation Portal, and Volunteer Management services. The organization also manages multiple shelter centers across Lebanon for displaced populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• URDA Humanitarian Programs (Seven Sectors) Comprehensive humanitarian service delivery across seven sectors (Relief, Shelter, Healthcare, Education, Protection, Livelihoods, and Sponsorship) providing integrated support to vulnerable populations in Lebanon regardless of nationality, gender, or religion.
• School in a Bus Mobile education initiative that brings schooling services to children in remote and underserved areas across Lebanon.
• Shelter Centers Emergency and transitional shelter facilities managed by URDA for displaced populations, including schools converted into shelters during crises.
• Solidarity Campaign Platform Crowdfunding and campaign creation platform enabling supporters to organize solidarity actions (trips, events, celebrations) and raise funds for URDA's humanitarian programs.
• Donation Portal Online donation system enabling one-time and recurring contributions to support URDA's humanitarian operations across Lebanon.
• Volunteer Management Program enabling individuals to volunteer across URDA's operational areas including Bekaa, Arsal, Akkar, South Lebanon, and Mount Lebanon.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000 beneficiaries reached during Eid Al-Adha 2026 campaign
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and established.

• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026UNHCR coordinates with URDA on refugee shelter operations and humanitarian response. UNHCR Representative Karolina Lindholm Billing visited URDA shelter in Saida.
• ALEF AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026ALEF Association collaborates with URDA on 'Empowering Border Area Youth through Social Cohesion and Capacity Building' project in south Lebanon.
• WEAM OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026WEAM Organization partners with URDA on youth empowerment and digital skills training in south Lebanon border areas.
• DanChurchAid in LebanonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026DanChurchAid works with URDA on a project titled 'Strengthening Human Rights through Digital Transformation in Lebanon' funded by the EU.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2019URDA signed MoU with IOM for collaboration in legal protection field, particularly tackling cases of human trafficking. The partnership aims to fill gaps in protection for refugees and host communities.
• Dot LebanonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDot Lebanon partners with URDA on the human rights and digital transformation project funded by the EU.
• YMCA LebanonestablishedStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Lebanon collaborates with URDA on various projects including 'We Have a Gift For You' initiative reaching children in Bekaa and Zahleh.
• Chinese Embassy in LebanonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese Ambassador Chen ChuanDong visited URDA shelter in Saida demonstrating diplomatic partnership and support for humanitarian operations.
• Ministry of Health LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinister of Health Dr. Rakan Nasreddine visited URDA shelter and commended efforts in supporting displaced families, indicating strong government partnership.
• Ministry of Social Affairs LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinister of Social Affairs Hanin El-Sayed participated in URDA-organized Eid activities, demonstrating ongoing government collaboration.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerURDA participates in Core Working Group in education sector regularly convening at UNICEF office, joining Lebanese Educational Plan initiated by Ministry of Education.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian NGO operating across relief, shelter, livelihoods, and protection in crisis-affected countries including Lebanon. Directly comparable multi-sector humanitarian platform serving similar vulnerable populations.
• International Rescue Committee: INGO providing humanitarian relief, healthcare, education, and protection services to refugees and displaced populations globally, with active Lebanon operations. Comparable refugee-focused humanitarian programming.
• Relief International: INGO providing healthcare, education, and economic development in fragile settings including Lebanon. Comparable multi-sector humanitarian operations in the Middle East serving conflict-affected populations.
• International Medical Corps: INGO delivering healthcare, mental health, and relief services in conflict-affected countries including Lebanon. Comparable as a multi-sector humanitarian organization serving refugees and displaced populations with healthcare emphasis.
• Danish Refugee Council: INGO specializing in protection, shelter, and livelihoods for refugees and displaced persons, with active Lebanon operations. Comparable refugee-focused programming and humanitarian sector engagement.
• UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees): UN agency providing education, healthcare, relief, and social services to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Directly comparable as a multi-sector service provider specifically serving Palestinian refugee populations in Lebanon.
• Lebanese Red Cross: Lebanon's primary humanitarian organization providing emergency medical services, disaster response, and relief aid. Directly comparable as a Lebanese-founded humanitarian NGO delivering relief, shelter, and healthcare services to vulnerable populations.
• Save the Children Lebanon: INGO focused on children's welfare, education, and protection in crises, operating in Lebanon. Comparable in education, child protection, and humanitarian programming for vulnerable children and families.
• Caritas Lebanon: Faith-based Lebanese humanitarian NGO delivering social services, healthcare, education, and refugee support. Comparable in multi-sector humanitarian programming targeting Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian vulnerable populations across Lebanon.
• World Vision Lebanon: INGO delivering child-focused humanitarian assistance, education, protection, and livelihoods in Lebanon. Comparable multi-sector humanitarian NGO serving refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/URDA_En
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ighatheyya2URDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/URDA.NGO
• Instagraminstagram.com/URDA.NGO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urda-en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Union of Relief and Development Associations - URDA