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Policy Brief: Strategic Planning in Lebanese Local Governments

Lebanon has witnessed a rapid urbanisation trend in the past decades that has resulted in large conurbations and an urban sprawl that has progressively taken over natural and agricultural lands, with a visible lack of primary services and infrastructure. 

Local governments are overwhelmed by daily management tasks, such as the maintenance of public buildings and roads, exacerbated by the influx of thousands of refugees from Syria and the financial distress caused by the ongoing financial crisis. As a result, local governments focus on short-term ad hoc projects and quick fixes that are likely to attract external donor funding instead of strategic, long-term actions. Most municipal officials view strategic development planning as not a priority is given the ongoing multiple crises. 

This policy brief derives several lessons learned to engage in strategic planning at the municipal level: 

Despite the availability of foreign-funded projects and the wealth of civil society initiatives, several factors, such as a lack of resources, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and political interference, are limiting the impact of municipal projects.

Lebanese residents and refugees have, more or less, equal access to services, and they both suffer from poor service quality. Refugees are more vulnerable than nationals, but they also receive financial support from donors. Youth and women are both highly unde r -represented politically. Even though they are consulted and often invited to public discussions, they are not part of municipal decision-making.

To learn more, please download the below attachment. 

Documents

DRI-LEB-VNGI-Strategic planning Download

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