Donor: National Endowment Democracy (NED)

Partners: No partners

Duration:  2018-2019

Geographical Reach: Meniye - Donniyeh and Saida

Short Description:

Having the Lebanese Parliament passing the Right to Access Information Law in February 2017, – many administrative, technical, and social obstacles must still be addressed in order to utilize the law to its maximum potential. Subsequently, it is vital to involve and engage all relevant stakeholders in the implementation and enforcement of this Law as well as effectively advocate citizens and foreign nationals to utilize the Law.

Throughout this project, LTA provided trainings for citizens on the Law and engaged them in monitoring the extent of its implementation in Public Administrations. This leads to its effective ] implementation, as well as raises awareness on how to exercise the Right to Access Information using the Law.

Several activities are taking place under the scope of this project, selecting a number of members of the local committees in the two selected districts Meniye-Donniyeh and Saida; training the selected groups on the Right to Access Information Law; monitoring its implementation and the number of Information Requests submitted in each Public Administration (Municipalities) in the three districts; conducted workshops on Access to Information for citizens in the local regions with the support of LTA and produced a Legal review of the Right to Access Information Law and the Combatting Corruption in the Public Sector and the Establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Law.

·         Desk Research

LTA Mapped the Municipalities (Saida, Meniye, and Donniyeh) who abide by the requirements of the Right to Access Information Law, especially mandating a special public employee to be in charge of the application of the Law and creating a website with an Access to Information Section.

·         LTA conducted a training for 2 groups from Saida, and Meniye – Donniyeh, consisting of 30 participants. Topic: The Right to Access Information Law and the Obligations of Municipalities under this Law

·         The groups’ participants' submitted Information Requests according to the action plan

·         Monthly Follow up meetings with the groups regarding the follow up on their Information Requests to the municipalities and sharing experiences

·         LTA conducted 2 Legal Reviews on the Right to Access Information Law and its draft Implementation Decree and the Combatting Corruption in the Public Sector and the Establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission law

·         A seminar was held to discuss the 2 legal reviews with different stakeholders (government officials, donors, international organizations, local CSOs, and activists in order to discuss the outcomes of the reviews.