Project Title: Sharing responsibility for a balanced socio-economic development in Lebanon.

Specific Objective:
To improve the capacity and administrative performance of CSOs and government bodies in Hermel, Baalbeck, and Jroud Byblos, and to activate networking mechanisms that enable them to better support democratic and socio-economic development.

Target Groups:

• Local authorities active in Baalbek, Hermel, and Jroud Byblos.

• Focus on 7 unions of municipalities (comprising ~56 municipalities).

• 25 active local CSOs.

Final Beneficiaries:
Population of Baalbek, Hermel, and Jroud Byblos.

Executive Summary

The project launched a Regional Development Office to provide technical support to municipalities and civil society in the targeted areas. While Baalbek and Hermel actively participated—through capacity building, training, and the hiring of LDAs—the Jroud Jbeil region did not engage despite outreach efforts.

Key actions included:

• Hiring and training 6 Local Development Agents (LDAs).

• Formation of 6 thematic committees (instead of 7 due to lack of participation from Jroud Jbeil).

• Active facilitation and training of 57 committee members.

• 17 draft concept notes developed collaboratively by PDA and local actors.

• 6 sectoral development plans prepared in cooperation with the committees.

Achieved Results

• 3 CSO initiatives formally registered, with 2 having received legal status and 1 pending approval.

• 74 CSO staff members trained on strategic planning and concept note writing (target was 60).

• Regional Development Office established, with formal outreach initiated to stakeholders.

• 6 LDAs hired and trained, embedded within the unions of municipalities.

• 6 development committees established and operational (excluding Jroud Jbeil).

• 57 committee members trained in strategic planning processes, including:

  • Situation analysis

  • Problem tree development

  • Strategic priority identification

Project Duration:
From: 01/01/2014
To: 30/04/2016