In partnership with USAID Lebanon as part of its good governance portfolio, the Center has provided comprehensive technical assistance to more than 700 municipalities as well as a number of supporting institutions under a reform program now credited with rebuilding essential administrative and financial foundations for effective local government.  

USAID extended the existing cooperative agreement in 2008 for three years to cover additional activities primarily targeting several major municipalities as well as municipal unions with complementary assistance to be provided to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MOIM), regional governments, and central oversight agencies

Recognizing the critical role of local government in economic growth and revival, USAID initially funded a pilot project in 1998 implemented by the Center for approximately 80 municipalities in Lebanon. Based on the comprehensive redesign and reengineering of municipal administrative and financial practices accomplished during the pilot project, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MOIM) issued two orders during 2002-2003 requiring all municipalities in Lebanon to use the procedures and processes developed by the Center. In order to allow the municipal reform program to be extended geographically to all parts of the country and thematically to address additional strategic objectives of the agency, USAID awarded the Center grants in 2001 and in 2004. 

Projects for local government have focused on strengthening the governing capacities of municipalities, curbing the spread of corruption, and enhancing citizen participation in decision-making processes. This implies redesign and restructuring of municipal work, including the simplification, standardization and automation of work processes in order to strengthen both human resource and financial management capabilities. It also involves training for municipal officials and staff, streamlining of intergovernmental relations, and providing information technology systems and equipment to municipalities. Activities have included workshops, training, development of customized computer applications and user guides, creation of interactive websites, organization of Citizen Reception Offices, and publication of municipal citizen guides.

In addition to the assistance provided to local government, since 1994 USAID and the Center supported the key central oversight agencies, the Civil Service Board (CSB), the Central Inspection Board (CIB), and the Court of Audit (COA), with the objective of streamlining existing regulations and facilitating the creation of new regulations deemed necessary to strengthen the role of municipalities. At the same time, complementary technical assistance was provided to the National Assembly of Lebanon (known as Parliament) between 1994 and 2007 to support its role as a democratic institution. A number of strategies, including policy dialogue trips, development of legal databases and reference guides, and creation of customized information systems, were utilized by SUNY/CLD to enhance the legislative capabilities of Parliament. The administrative work of Parliament was also reorganized and restructured through the introduction of the appropriate information technology systems and tools and through the specialized training of staff.