Donor: Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

Duration: January 14, 2023 – March 31, 2024

The CIPE 2023 project was initiated to enhance the role of Lebanon’s private sector in advocating for governance reforms, with a particular focus on operationalizing beneficial ownership (BO) information within public procurement procedures. Funded by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), this project aimed to improve transparency, reduce corruption, and empower civil society organizations and investigative journalists in monitoring and advocating for public procurement reforms.

A significant achievement of the project was the development of an online platform designed to track and monitor beneficial ownership in public procurement processes. This platform, developed in partnership with Open Ownership, serves as a critical tool for the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), civil society organizations, and investigative journalists, enabling them to ensure due diligence and transparency in public procurement.

In addition to the technological advancements, the project focused on building the capacity of key stakeholders. A series of workshops and training sessions were conducted to equip civil society organizations and investigative journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills to gain a deeper understanding of public procurement, the importance of transparency, and beneficial ownership.

The project also developed a comprehensive monitoring methodology to track the progress of the Public Procurement Reform Strategy. This methodology is designed to engage civil society actively in monitoring and advocating for the law’s enforcement.

By operationalizing beneficial ownership information within public procurement, the CIPE 2023 project is making significant strides towards improving governance and reducing corruption in Lebanon. The focus on capacity building and advocacy ensures that these reforms are sustainable and have a lasting impact on the country’s public procurement processes.