Batroun Launches Municipal Citizen Guide and Website 

Batroun Municipality, USAID, and the Center marked the official launching of the municipal website in parallel with the publishing of the Batroun Municipal Citizen Guide in a ceremony at the Public Hall of Mar Estephan Church in Batroun on December 4, 2008.

The event was held in the presence of USAID/Lebanon Mission Director Denise A. Herbol with a number of local dignitaries, prominent community leaders, as well as municipal officials in attendance.

After a welcoming statement from Mr. Youssef Lattouf, Vice President of the Batroun Municipal Cultural Center, Batroun Mayor Marcelino El Hark focused his remarks on the importance of the cooperation between the municipality, USAID, and SUNY/CLD in enhancing the work of the municipality, expressing his hope for future cooperation with USAID in terms of further administrative development.

Regional Director for SUNY/CLD Mahmoud Batlouni then spoke about the dramatic shift in the financial and administrative work of the Municipality resulting from the concerted efforts of the Mayor, council, and employees noting in particular their ability to readily integrate the modern and transparent procedures and technical applications introduced under the program.

USAID Mission Director Herbol, noting that the assistance to Batroun is part of the agency's overall strategy to strengthen the financial and administrative capacities of municipalities, highlighted the program's success in building local government institutions that are more "effective, democratic, and responsive". She further noted a tangible result of the assistance – local governments in Lebanon increased directly collected revenue from $42.0 in 2003 to $59.2 million in 2007 – a rise of nearly 41% for the four-year period.

Part of comprehensive efforts to encourage improved local governance, the website and citizen guide are designed to broaden public access to officials and support greater transparency and efficiency in providing services and information to citizens. Specifically, general information about the Municipality, administrative and financial information related to transactions, and the budget for recent years can be accessed at the website – www.batroun.gov.lb. Comments, suggestions, and complaints can also be sent directly to the municipality from the site.

The Batroun Municipal Citizen Guide provides general information regarding the work of the Municipality, transaction application forms and detailed instructions, as well as the fees, document requirements, and estimated processing time for each type of transaction. Designed to increase transparency with respect to municipal processes and fees, the website and the Municipal Citizen Guide were also developed to further citizen relations with the administration of the Municipality.

Establishing a sound administrative base as a result of the assistance, Batroun Municipality increased direct revenues 44% between 2003 and 2007 and has successfully attracted international funds from the EU, World Bank, and other organizations for a number of major development projects in recent years.

Following the speeches and website demonstration, Mayor Marcelino El Hark presented plaques of appreciation to USAID Director Denise Herbol and SUNY/CLD Regional Director Mahmoud Batlouni in recognition of the important assistance to Batroun Municipality under the current program.