“Empowering municipalities is an essential step in restoring decision making on administrative and economic matters to citizens”. Minister Ahmad Fetfet, April 4, 2006

Major Economic Development Convention brings together ministers, MPs, municipal presidents, and donor agencies

A major convention held under the auspices of HE Prime Minister Fouad SInioura was organized April 4, 2006 to introduce municipal and union presidents to the relevant donor programs including those of USAID, the EU, the World Bank, and the UNDP.

SUNY/CLD Director Mahmoud Batlouni emphasized in his opening statement the importance of building transparent and accountable foundations - the financial and administrative capacities – essential to municipal success in planning and implementing projects in the community.

Acting Minister of Interior and Municipalities (MOIM) Ahmad Fetfet (photo right), representing PM Sinioura, recognized the projects implemented by USAID and SUNY/CLD and the related municipal achievements at the administrative, financial, and citizen service levels, acknowledging that some of the municipalities as a result of the assistance are much more advanced than central government institutions.

He noted that the assistance has encouraged transparency in particular in the budgeting and revenue collection processes, adding that “municipal development is essential to achieving greater autonomy in local economic development”.

The Convention program also included presentations by Minister of Finance Jihad Azour, Minster of Agriculture Talal Al-Sahli, Minister of Tourism Joseph Sarkis, Dr. Berj Hatejian representing Minister of Environment Yaacoub Sarraf, and Antoine Richa on behalf of the Minister of Industry Pierre Gemayel.

USAID Director Raouf Youssef, Head of the World Bank in Lebanon Omar Razzaz, UNDP Director in Lebanon Mona Hammam, and Hassan Hamdan of the EU gave presentations as well to the audience that included ministers, deputies, local government officials and directors of international institutions and NGOs. In addition to the key donor information, officials were provided an overview of the legal guidelines to be followed in establishing non-governmental institutions to implement projects.

Director Batlouni referred to a recent working paper prepared by SUNY/CLD on the current economic situation and the challenges facing local government that, in conjunction with Ministry policy papers, will be used in future regional workshops focused on formulating suggested changes in laws impacting the legal framework for municipalities.

Recommendations for local governments highlighted during the convention included the critical need for adequate operational and financial supervision of projects, and the importance of utilizing available statistical information for various sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and social welfare in determining project feasibility and in evaluating results.

USAID Mission Director Raouf Youssef encouraged municipalities to be the catalysts for economic development noting that local governments are uniquely positioned in terms of both understanding and commitment to the community to “design and provide adequate economic development projects to cater to the specific needs of these communities”.

According to Director Batlouni the improvement in municipal administration has established the base for a “new era in which municipalities form effective partnerships with both the central government and with donor agencies in implementing sustainable social, educational, and economic development projects”.

The event was widely covered by TV stations including LBC, Future TV, and New TV, and all major newspapers including An Nahar, L'Orient Le Jour, and The Daily Star.

Some pictures from the convention