April 27, 2001Municipal Development in Lebanon (MRC) This workshop took place as a way to gather information for a multi-faceted feasibility study to assess the need for the establishment of a Municipal Resource Center (MRC) in Lebanon. The objectives of the study were to identify the main challenges faced by municipalities, to pinpoint their needs, to determine how receptive municipal officials were to establishing an MRC in Lebanon, and to prepare a programmatic municipal proposal. The workshop assembled 44 participants, 15 of which were municipal officials from all the regions in Lebanon, and the rest researchers, experts, academics, and NGO representatives with focuses in municipal development. It was inaugurated by Dr. Salim Nasr, LCPS General Director, and Mrs. Heba El-Shazli, Deputy Regional Director of NDI, who together presented an overview of the project and its goals to participants. In-house sessions were used to discuss and make decisions on ideas for the design, functions and programs that would be undertaken by a potential Municipal Development Program which would focus on empowering municipalities and building their capacities to serve their communities.
This workshop was organized with support from and in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
The results of the workshop were published in a book entitled:
Municipal Development in Lebanon: A Survey Research and Critical Review.
