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EU and UN Celebrate Completion of Key Project to Support Local Authorities in Lebanon

Thu 19.09.2024

Beirut, 10 September 2024 – The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), celebrated the successful conclusion of the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP). Funded by more than US$16 million from the EU, the project has helped local authorities in Lebanon strengthen their services and resilience, especially in response to the Syrian crisis and Lebanon's economic struggles.

The event, held under the patronage of H.E. Judge Bassam Mawlawi, Minister of Interior and Municipalities, represented by Ms. Faten Abou Hassan, Director General of Local Administrations and Councils, gathered representatives from municipalities, national institutions, NGOs, and policymakers. The conference focused on the challenges faced by local authorities and explored ways to improve their operations and support.

Over the past five years, MERP has been working to improve the capacities of local authorities in Lebanon. The project helped municipalities engage in community-based planning, deliver better services, and support local economic development. MERP also worked closely with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to strengthen the environment for local governance.

In her remarks, Ms. Faten Abou Hassan said: “Lebanese municipalities have been hit hard by the economic crisis, with their revenues shrinking and their ability to serve communities under pressure. Despite these difficulties, our municipalities have shown great resilience, but they need continued support to function effectively. I call on donors to provide the assistance needed to overcome the challenges and help municipalities better serve their people.”

Ms. Blerta Aliko, UNDP’s Resident Representative, stated: "The Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project has strengthened local authorities in Lebanon, helping both host communities and displaced populations. We look forward to building on this foundation and continuing our support for local authorities."

Ms. Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat in Lebanon, added: "Through MERP, we have equipped local authorities with tools for better planning and service delivery. Our goal has been to improve local governance in Lebanon, and we hope to continue these efforts."

Mr. Samy Saadi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Lebanon, emphasized the EU's commitment: "The EU believes in the important role of local authorities in improving people’s lives, from providing essential services to driving economic development. Through MERP, we have supported municipalities in responding to their communities' needs, but it is now up to Lebanese authorities to continue empowering their municipalities."

Following these opening remarks, MERP Project Manager, Ms. Rana El Khawand, gave a presentation highlighting the project’s key achievements. The event concluded with a panel discussion that brought together experts, policymakers, and development partners to discuss opportunities for enhancing local governance and economic development in Lebanon.

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Tue 16.11.2021

  Beirut, 16 November 2021 – The second episode is about supporting local authorities to explore new ways to generate revenue in light of the current economic crisis . The Directorate General of Local Administrations and Councils (DGLAC) invited municipalities and unions of municipalities to discuss ways to generate revenue within the current economic crisis during a second episode of the DGLAC talk show series. The municipalities of Karaoun, Fnaideq and Deir Qanoun El Nahr were invited to share their innovative approaches in generating municipal revenue within the current economic context to allow for mutual learning and to encourage and inspire other municipalities to implement similar initiatives. Municipalities and unions of municipalities are deeply affected by the current economic crisis. Municipalities are limited in their ability to collect local fees and taxes and with the devaluation of the Lebanese Lira, their revenues have lost more than 90 per cent in value, for example. This results in significant challenges for municipalities and unions to deliver much needed services for their communities. In addition to the three municipalities that presented, municipal and union representatives attended online. Participants shared their views and concerns and discussed best practices and lessons learnt, with as aim to better serve their communities.   “We have a woman council, a diaspora council, and social solidarity volunteers teams to support reaching out to donors, work on development and basic services projects to develop and improve the town”, said Dr. Fatima Yassine, Deir Kanoun El Naher Community Member. “This experience had a great impact; it is an evidence that societies and municipalities are capable of facing challenges and relying on themselves. Going to donors requires successful beginnings, which makes obtaining funding for development easier.” Said Dr. Mohamad Ali, Head of Environmental Committee, Recycling Center Supervisor, Fnaideq Municipality.   According to Article 28-43 of Decree No. 4082 regulating the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Directorate General of Local Administrations and Councils (DGLAC) plays a crucial role in supporting municipal unions (UoMs) and municipalities in performing their role and responsibilities. In this role, it is responsible for supporting municipalities and unions with capacity-building, technical assistance and evidence-based planning, among other. As part of this role, DGLAC initiated the DGLAC talk show series for mukhtars, municipalities and unions of municipalities, to discuss key topics of local concern. The first episode, on the updating the municipal law, was organized in September 2021. In 2022, DGLAC will continue the series, including with an episode dedicated to mukhtars. The DGLAC talk show series is delivered under the patronage of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and with support from the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP). MERP is a joint initiative implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis “Madad Fund”. To access the event photo album click HERE. }

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