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Project Overview

Current program activities are designed to build on progress made to date in order to further institutionalize municipal standards and procedures, increase transparency and accountability in all aspects of municipal operations, expand the municipal revenue base, and strengthen the role of local government in economic development. The Center coordinates closely with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MOIM) to ensure that activities are consistent with local government requirements and to provide technical assistance to facilitate municipal compliance in the use of the standardized administrative and financial procedures developed under the assistance program.

Advanced technical assistance is being provided to municipalities throughout Lebanon in order to improve transparency and accountability in all aspects of municipal work in support of strong local governments able to collect taxes efficiently, consistently, and legally with opportunities for tax evasion and corruption minimized. The introduction of advanced technology tools and the automation of work processes have enhanced decision-making capacities providing at the same time the internal system controls necessary to identify appropriate user access and minimize opportunities for data manipulation and corruption.

Related support is being provided to the regional government institutions and to municipal unions, the latter to help ensure the sustainability of the reform efforts irrespective of national politics or interests. Specific activities are being organized to enable unions in the future to offer support to members in terms of long-term planning, in initiating economic development projects and attracting investment, and in coordinating at the regional and national level on issues such as water use and environmental protection.

Expansion of the municipal revenue base is a primary focus of the program. In addition to the natural expansion of revenues resulting from the implementation of transparent and accountable procedures and systems, additional revenue streams are being identified through comprehensive surveys of income sectors such as billboard advertising and unregistered rental contracts.

Installation of the Municipal Geographic Information System (MGIS) in major municipalities is an important component of the project designed to expand the taxation, inspection, and auditing capabilities of the targeted institutions, ultimately enabling revenues to be expanded. Related assistance is being provided to the engineering units of these municipalities to ensure that work in this area is commensurate with that achieved in the financial and administrative sectors, and that future reliance on the central government Urban Planning Department is minimized.

The program also involves assistance to the Court of Audit, the Central Inspection Board, and the Civil Service Board - the executive oversight agencies - designed to enhance agency effectiveness in fulfilling mandates with respect to the administrative and financial supervision of the major municipalities, facilitate municipal compliance in the use of standard financial and personnel data management procedures, and further the electronic sharing of information amongst agencies and municipalities

Complementary support for the Lebanese Parliament continues in the current program to be centered on several broad objectives: enhancing legislative review, human resource, and administrative capabilities, broadening public access to information and to elected officials, and expanding citizen participation in the public policy debate.