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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.
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