TAG #

Organization

Project Description

72

In Cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lebanese Union of Mutual Funds

This activity will introduce legal reform to existing laws and regulations in addition to building the financial and management capacities of Mutual Funds. The activity will start with reviewing current laws and regulations pertaining to MFs.  After revision, amendments to existing laws or drafts for new ones will be presented to the Parliament followed by lobbying for their passage.  Training material will be developed and training will be conducted for MF managerial and financial staff who will commit to good governance procedures. A national conference and a website will serve as platforms to bring together the different stakeholders and make further information about Mutual Funds available to the public at large.

71

Beirut Bar Association

This activity will develop a tri-lingual website hosting a variety of legal information for the use of the members of Bar and the public.  The website will also include a section with specific restricted areas for the members of the Bar only.  The public will benefit from the legal information hosted – which has not been easily accessible to the public before -- and from the legal guidance and assistance published on the portal as part of the Bar’s policy of spreading awareness. In addition, the website will facilitate interaction between the Bar and its members on the one hand, and between the Bar and the general population of Lebanon and others around the world, while enhancing the Bar’s effectiveness as a key civic institution in Lebanon.

70

In cooperation with Economic and Social Council

This activity aims to position the Economic and Social Council to strengthen its ability to act as a forum for dialogue between the government and the civil society institutions.  The Economic and Social Council addresses economic and social issues that are of central importance to the citizenry of Lebanon, providing feedback and recommendations to the government. Although not binding, the Council’s input is important since the Council represents a wide spectrum of associations, syndicates, unions, and other civil groups. This project will enhance the Council’s links with civil society institutions by helping the Council to develop and launch several public communications tools (a tri-lingual website, informative brochures, posters) while building the Council’s in-house capacities for producing such materials on an ongoing basis. By strengthening the links between the Council and civil society organizations, the Council’s role in policy formulation and promoting good governance is enhanced.

69

Non-Governmental Committee for the Follow-up of Women's Issues

This activity aims to promote women’s legal rights in Lebanon. Beginning with a review of current Lebanese laws and documents for articles that discriminate against women, the group will then organize focus group meetings and draft new laws or amendments to those that discriminate against women. These draft laws and amendments will be presented to Parliament in a national conference, followed by lobbying of Parliamentarians until the laws are amended and adopted.

69

Non-Governmental Committee for the Follow-up of Women's Issues

This activity aims to promote women’s legal rights in Lebanon. Beginning with a review of current Lebanese laws and documents for articles that discriminate against women, the group will then organize focus group meetings and draft new laws or amendments to those that discriminate against women. These draft laws and amendments will be presented to Parliament in a national conference, followed by lobbying of Parliamentarians until the laws are amended and adopted.

67

Christian Associations for the Blind

This project will build upon the results of a previous TAG activity with CRC, which resulted in the publishing of a citizen guide, “Law 220 Know Your Rights.” The current project aims to reproduce this guide in Braille and distribute it in Lebanon to a marginalized group of citizens, namely the visually impaired. This guide will help disabled citizens and their families secure the rights granted by law 220 (May 2000) and the related decrees. CAB will print and distribute 800 copies of the guide in partnership with several other organizations who work with the visually impaired.

66

Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (CESMO)

This project will promote and enforce implementation of important clauses in the “Convention on the Rights of the Child” in North Lebanon to children. It will also target raising awareness of various key sectors in the community, such as, teachers, parents, health care providers, city officials, unions’ reps and NGOs about the convention. CESMO will network with other NGOs dealing with children rights and the Supreme Council for Childhood to take the appropriate legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect, etc… Grantee will train and equip 20 trainers to address “Rights of the Child” in a summer camp for 300 children. The children will then assist in the production of flyers and posters containing the main articles to raise awareness, promote their implementation, and lobby for their adoption into Lebanese law as part of a network working on this issue.

65

Environment & Development Magazine

This project will build upon the results generated from the organization’s spring 2004 nationwide competition in which students investigated and presented real-life environmental problems and issues along with proposed solutions to these issues. The winning teams’ projects will be announced in a press conference (June 8). Based on these projects, E&D magazine will then produce 5,000 copies of a State of the Environment Lebanon 2004 report, in addition to wall charts and pamphlets which will be distributed to various stakeholders in Lebanon (municipalities, schools, media, NGOs, and members of the central government). They will also organize students’ teams to petition and lobby local authorities and Members of Parliament to solve these environmental infringements and follow up on implementation of the recommendations.

64

Data Consult

To make better use of public resources and improve the responsiveness of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in its regional offices to public demands in the fields of Trade, Insurance, Consumer Protection, and Intellectual Property Registration, this project will connect the Ministry with its regional offices electronically. The project will link the Ministry in Beirut with the regional offices in the North, South, Beqaa, and Nabatieh to enhance communication, allow for decentralizing services, and insure adequate coordinated online work flow between the peripheries and the center. Training of employees in the regional offices on the use of the new system will ensure its effective application and set the foundation for further decentralization.

63

Teachers' Union

Because teachers often lose rights or benefits due to lack of clear information regarding those rights, the Teachers’ Union will develop and produce a guide to provide Lebanese teachers with a simple guide to their rights (e.g. appointment, contracts, wages, lay-off, dismissal, etc.). Once produced, the 40,000 guides will be distributed to all private schools teachers, with promotional posters and a website for the Union developed to help strengthen communication linkages for the Union and its members. Following the project completion, the guide will also serve as a valuable resource in future training workshops of the Teachers’ Union.

62

YASA

This public-private partnership will allow YASA to work with the Parliamentary Committee for Public Works to convene 18 preliminary focus groups involving all stakeholders to address the issue of traffic safety in Lebanon, followed by 6 consultative meetings with relevant government agencies, and bringing professional engineering and legal expertise to help draft new legislation to modernize and update traffic law in Lebanon. A final national gathering will be organized at Parliament before the draft law is introduced. The Parliamentary Committee will then work for this draft law’s passage in the Lebanese Parliament, with YASA members available to help lobby other members of Parliament and generate public support as needed.

61

University of Balamand

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Balamand (UOB) in partnership with ACT will develop a web-based information software system that will enhance transparency, accountability and good governance at the local level (starting with 19 municipalities) by offering complete tools for both local authorities and their constituents that will allow them to calculate, update, disseminate and view indicator data and related information and to exploit this data efficiently to ensure a sound basis for policy and decision-making. The application will be posted on the UOB main website. A launching event along with a training session for the 19 municipal officials will be conducted. Sustainability and updated data will be guaranteed by the FHS students through papers and master’s projects. Pamphlets and nineteen discussion forums will be used to raise the awareness of the target communities.

60

In cooperation with Ministry of Finance

Produce and distribute 100,000 copies of a user-friendly guide on the benefits and obligations of all public sector's retirees (civil servants and military and education personnel) and upload the information on the Institute of Finance's website; conduct an assessment survey to evaluate the impact of the project.

59

Society of Lebanon the Giver

In an attempt to promote awareness for citizens' rights and duties among youth, the Society of Lebanon the Giver developed and produced a play entitled, Bala Wasta, which focuses on nepotism, wasta, misuse of authority and official positions, and corruption. The play will be performed for approximately 18,000 students from middle and secondary schools in the Aley region of Lebanon.

58

CREADEL

This activity aims to promote the concepts of democracy, good governance, transparency and accountability to Lebanese University (Bekaa) students. Creadel will survey 1000 of the university’s students for perceptions on these concepts. Then they will organize 4 workshops for the students to discuss the results and create dialogue on these issues. Following each workshop, a newsletter will be published and distributed (5000 copies in various LU Bekaa schools) summarizing findings, students’ opinions and views. A final booklet (4000 copies) containing the results of the survey and workshops will be printed and distributed among the students. As part of this project, and with the support of the University, Creadel will establish a student club in LU Zahle campus. The club will provide a free and democratic space of discussion between students.

57

Consumers Lebanon

Consumers Lebanon, in cooperation with Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, will investigate and test water quality and potability of 800 brands of bottled water by licensed and unlicensed companies. Under the supervision of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Works, Consumers Lebanon and the Department will collect sample of the water from the market, in compliance with specific strict requirements from AUB Laboratory, where the water tests will take place.  Based on the results of the tests, a study will be conducted and then presented in a form of a report to the Parliamentary Committee for Public Works Committee which will announce the results and present them to the parliament and other concerned authorities (Ministries of Water and Power, Economy and Trade) to take the necessary corrective actions. In addition, Consumer Lebanon will publish the results and information in 400,000 copies of a brochure that will be disseminate to the public allover Lebanon to warn them against the use of unhealthy water.

56

In cooperation with Ministry of Finance

Mr. Dirani, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, plans to produce and distribute 50,000 copies of a user-friendly guide on “stamp duty” that describes the process, procedures, and information to citizens. This form of duty is not only little known but also misunderstood as most Lebanese citizens and residents in Lebanon are not aware that this fee is due on all signed documents, copies, photocopies, selected writings or summaries produced on the Lebanese territory. This guide will help citizens comply with the applicable rules and avoid penalties (which could be 10 times the value of the fee) as a result of their non-compliance with the set procedures. The Institute of Finance will upload the information on their website to allow for broader dissemination of the information, widely publicize the guide, and conduct an assessment survey to evaluate the impact of the project.

55

GA Consult

Promoting transparency and accountability in financial reporting and good governance in corporate financial planning among Lebanese small and medium enterprises thru the production and distribution of 8000 copies of a booklet and organizing a conference and 4 workshops in cooperation with KAFALAT, UNIDO, Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business at LAU and Lebanese Industrialists Association.

54

LAPNAC

Enhance transparency and accountability and good governance in terms of public participation in local life/issues thru building and equiping a town hall and holding several activities (forums and lectures) where the public can meet with their local representatives (MPs, Mayors, and government officials) to discuss local governments’ plans, budgets, achievements, and problems.

53

National Bureau for Compulsory Insurance

The National Bureau for Compulsory Insurance will form a public-private partnership with the Insurance Control Commission at the Ministry of Economy and Trade on a project related to compulsory car insurance, with additional support from the Lebanese Insurance Companies Association (ACAL) as well. The recent decree has generated much controversy and confusion, and this project will produce a booklet for the general public explaining all requirements and procedures in a user-friendly format. There will be 600,000 copies of this booklet produced and distributed via direct mail throughout Lebanon. The information will also be uploaded and kept current with any changes or amendments to the law on the Ministry of Economy and Trade website.

52

Consumers Lebanon

Consumers Lebanon will operate a hotline to receive consumers’ complaints, and will launch a monthly consumers newsletter. The organization will publish and distribute 60,000 copies of this new 4-page newsletter each month for 6 months, with information to increase consumer awareness, information, and protection. The newsletter will also be published on Consumer Lebanon’s website. As part of this grant, Consumers Lebanon will also lobby private and public institutions to address complaints received by Consumers Lebanon.

51

In Cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lebanese Union of Mutual Funds

A comprehensive guide to clarify procedures, requirements, responsibilities, and benefits for mutual fund members and administrations of mutual funds will be developed and 150,000 copies of this guide will be distributed. The information of the guide will also be uploaded onto new website for the Directorate General including a section to allow complaints and feedback. A national conference for Mutual Funds will be organized as a forum for all concerned parties to address critical issues regarding mutual funds.

50

INMA -Information International

Derive the Corruption Perceptions Index in 4 countries in the region to indicate the level of corruption, through conducting polls and interviews with business people, country analysts, residents and expatriates

49

Sustainable Democracy Center

Raising awareness of the youth on the negative impact of corruption by means of tournaments of the Board Game CORRUPTION and creating a marketing strategy to ensure the sustainability of the game

48

Center for Development and Planning

Enhancing transparency and accountability at MOL and NSSF by disseminating information to the public on administrative procedures thru the production of brochures on the categories of these proceudres and developing complaint forms.

47

Public Urgence Committee

Mobilize civic activists and leaders to monitor and lobby on environmental issues in the Koura, Batroun, and Byblos regions. Project will develop video documentary and printed guide to outline role of PAG’s, current pollution problems, and official responsibilities. These materials will be used in workshops to train citizens to act as watchdog groups to monitor the situation and to urge the government to respond and act according to laws to control the pollution generated. A project website will be developed to track problems raised and actions taken.

46

In cooperation with Ministry of Social Affairs

Educating women on their rights, the laws that protect them, and their responsibilities as citizens thru the production of 20 stories, printing of 20,000 booklets and conducting workshops through social workers in Beirut and South.

45

InfoPro

Establish and promote a one-stop-shop website containing a public database of minimum 2000 business and economic documents with statistics and information benfecial to all professionals, analysts, potential investors, etc. This project is one of early activities for new NGO established by InfoPro: Center for Economic Information.

44

Contact and Resource Center

Help disabled citizens and their families secure the rights granted by law 220 (May 2000) and related decrees. CRC will develop, print, and distribute 40,000 copies of a comprehensive, user-friendly, guide on all the different services and benefits disabled citizens are entitled to from many different government ministries and offices as stipulated by the 102 articles of the law.

43

In cooperation with DG of Urban Planning

Facilitate interaction between the public and the Directorate General of Urban Planning through the production and distribution of 30,000 brochures for each of the 31 administrative transactions for distribution in 22 offices nationwide (930,000 brochures total). Also clarify the relationship between the DG and municipalities through the production of a guide specific for Urban Planning and municipal council interaction.

42

Assabil

Promoting T, A, and Good Governance within the Assabil network through conducting 100 workshops on human, women's, and children's rights and environmental issues, purchasing core resource materials on these topics, and setting stands for TAG outputs in each of these libraries to better promote Lebanon-specific resources related to T, A, and Good Governance.

41

In Cooperation with Ministry of Finance

Producing and distributing a user-friendly citizen guide on built property tax declarations and payments.

40

Association for the Defense of Law and Liberties (ADDL)

Achieving better accountability and transparency in various legal rights associated with human rights through the production and distribution of informative guides on freedom of expression and freedom to publish and the launching of an interactive website.

39

Connexus

Focusing on the privatization process and impact on consumers and investors, especially the intended privatization of the telecommunications sector, through developing a dedicated website that contains all related laws and information and that provides a forum for discussion open to the public, and publishing a circular to be distributed to MPs and key leaders.  Press conference to launch project.

38

Center of Development and Planning

Promoting the concept of citizenship through producing and distributing a booklet and organizing a national competition on best examples. The activity will be carried out with the support of CERD.

37

Tomorrow's Advice

Making the programs and services of Public Housing Institute more accessible to low income classes through targeted brochures + distributing in coordination with Ministry of Social Affairs and relevant NGO's.  All updated info will also be uploaded on a website ensuring better transparency for citizens of all social classes.  Enhance PHI accountability to its customers thru developing complaint and follow up systems.

36

In Cooperation with Ministry of Industry

Developing and distributing a booklet on the certificate of origin required for all industrial exports, upload information on the websites of the Ministry of Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industrialists' Association, and hold 4 regional workshops to disseminate information. Collect information thru questionnaires to acquire statistics on nature and type of manufacturers and address discrepancies in statistical data regarding certificates of origin between the concerned authorities.

35

In Cooperation with OMSAR

Organizing a one-day workshop about organizational performance reporting in the Lebanese Government, to be followed by production of a manual to set the framework of local standards for reporting to the Lebanese public.  The manual will be submitted by the Minister of Administrative Development to the PM to issue directive to public administrations to begin reporting as outlined in manual. 

34

Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training

Clarifying all procedures and requirements to establish a touristic project will help increase transparency and encourage more investment in touristic ventures.  A comprehensive guide will be produced and 3 workshops held in Baalbeck and Beirut.

33

Hariri Foundation

Organizing six workshops for 70 principals in public and private schools in the Sidon/Zahrani region to help principals develop and produce school manuals clarifying the rights and responsibilities of the school, its teachers, and the students. The manuals will be distributed to teachers and to the families of about 33,000 students in the Sidon/Zahrani area.

32

International Management and Training Institute (IMTI)

Enhancing transparency and accountability in 200 community based organizations (CBOs) through training on the use of the Financial Management Manual, developing a code of conduct checklist on financial management for all to sign, a directory and website of compliant CBO's to facilitate access to the manual and code and to promote cooperation with these CBO's by donor agencies operating in Lebanon.