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MEPI in Lebanon
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Regional Programs
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MEPI in Lebanon
The following lists ongoing and completed programs in Lebanon, as well as providing a link to Regional Programs, where an organization is working in two or more countries simultaneously. Wherever possible, we have provided a link to the organization’s home page. Ongoing ProgramsThe following programs are specific to Lebanon (unless otherwise identified). [MEPI reform pillars are listed parentheses]. Increasing Women’s Participation in Teachers’ Associations [Women] – this program provides training and building the capacity of the League of Public Secondary School Teachers and the Private School Teachers Union in Lebanon. The program is designed to develop models for increasing women’s participation in and contributions to teachers’ associations, to strengthen the democratic leadership skills of the leaders of the two associations, and to increase the effectiveness of the associations as engines for the improvement and reform of education. Empowering Arab Women through Literacy [Women, Education] – this grant is intended as an extension of the Basic Living Skills Program (BLSP), a non-formal integrated education kit in Arabic geared towards illiterate and semi-literate women in the Arab World. Funding will support the publication of a series of simple booklets based on 11 topics addressed in the BLSP, including civic education, legal rights, and women’s empowerment. Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS)Launching a Transitional Justice Program in Lebanon – This grant includes a series of roundtable discussions to bring together participants from government, academia, media, and civil society groups to develop suggestions for practical transitional justice programs. These programs will focus on four themes: recognition of the past and truth seeking, building trust between the state and citizens, reconciliation and public healing, and memory and memorialization. The grant will also bring the Common Ground film festival, a series of films that emphasize the common humanity shared by people in conflict, to Beirut. Magistracy Monitoring [Democracy] – this program provides for reporting on daily judicial activities as published in the Lebanese press, on sentences published in specialized judicial bulletins, and especially on direct recourses to courts. The implementer is working in cooperation with lawyers and jurists, leading to a new generation of young researchers, and together they will publish reports in the media intended to spur on public dialogue and debate. All works will be published in a book, while a list of some 150 indicators and criteria will be established for sentences related to democracy and human rights in the country. Lebanese Transparency AssociationPromoting Democracy in Southern Lebanon - This project promotes sustained civic engagement among marginalized populations in Southern Lebanon through town hall meetings. The goal of these meetings is to develop recommendations to enhance civic action, improve dialogue, and reduce violence in this region. Lebanese Transparency AssociationElectoral Law for Lebanon - The Electoral Law for Lebanon project was awarded to Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) to implement an intensive six-month project, divided into 2 phases, related to the passage of a new law. The project's purpose is to ensure the active participation of Lebanese civil society in the reform and electoral process. The project was initially broken down into two phases over six months. The first phase (September-December 2005) concentrated on the period in which the newly formed National Commission examined the electoral framework, considered the various reform options, and began drafting a new law. The second phase (January-February 2006) was supposed to start with the presentation by the Commission of its draft to the parliament. During both phases, the implementer worked very closely with the National Commission, and as the submission of the draft electoral law was delayed until June 1, 2006, the project has been extended to December 2006. Nabatieh Youth CenterInternational Education Association – This project will provide informal education for 300 girls and boys, between the ages of 12 and 17, from 30 schools with after school activities designed to promote a better understanding of democracy. The program will train trainers to lead youth in activities that relate to improving their respective communities. Trainers will work with youth in groups, providing innovative instruction on such themes as the media and free press, internet technology, and protecting the environment. Nahar Ash-Shabab AssociationShadow Government Project – This grant aims to empower Lebanese youth through projects focusing on political engagement and education. The grant will offer 31 students from 21 Universities the opportunity to form a “shadow government” to monitor political developments and act as a watchdog over the real government’s performance. Through a combination of academic training and practical application, students will be encouraged to become more active citizens, and with an eye toward a future role in the government. National Democratic Institute (NDI) Training Women Candidates [Democracy, Women] – This program trained female candidates to run for local elections in 2004 and trained candidates to stand for parliamentary elections in May of 2005.
Notre Dame University; Madonna University American Studies University Linkage [Education] – Notre Dame University in Lebanon and Madonna University in Michigan are partnering to establish a full-fledged American Studies programs on both campuses.
Scholastic International My Arabic Library [Education] – this program is providing access to Arabic-language reading materials for 3rd and 4th grade classrooms in Lebanon, as well as Jordan and Bahrain. Scholastic International is also providing accompanying preparatory teacher training and curriculum materials to teachers so to encourage independent reading, thinking, and analytical skills of young readers. Statistics Lebanon Ltd.Lebanese Reform News Service - This award to Statistics Lebanon supports free and independent media in Lebanon by creating news services for subscribers. The project includes the creation on a reform news website and regular SMS transmissions of broadcasts to subscribers. Pre- and Post-election Surveys [Democracy] – Through polling, Statistics Lebanon Ltd. is giving citizens a voice in the political processes and informing reformers in government of the electorate’s demands. The grant provides for conducting 12 opinion poll surveys regarding topics surrounding parliamentary elections and the overall political climate in Lebanon. Statistics Lebanon is disseminating the information to major media outlets to improve voter education and the quality of public debate in the country. Policy Innovation for Leadership Learning and Reform [Democracy] – this program is designed to develop knowledgeable, transparent, and accountable leadership among youth and women and strengthen cooperation between civil society organizations, the media, and the parliament. The project will promote democracy education and awareness for the need for political reform through journalist training sessions, awareness campaigns, university lectures, public policy workshops, national issue fora and other integrated activities. RegionalLebanese individuals or groups participate in the following programs, which take place in two or more countries in the region. [MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.] Clicking on the organization name takes you to their website, while clicking on the program name takes you to the program description. Completed ProgramsThe following, Lebanon-specific programs, have already be completed. [MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.] Building Young Leaders [Democracy] – As part of a larger project, Freedom House has provided training to young Lebanese leaders throughout the country.
Center for Development and Planning (CDP) Pillars of the Future [Education] – through practical capacity building activities and training workshops, the Center for Development and Planning introduced high school students to the concepts of democracy, transparency, and accountability so to build toward the future goal of good governance. For this program, CDP created an interactive CD containing information to train students and teachers on a variety of civics concepts. Open and Pluralistic Media [Democracy] – Journalists, media professionals, and media lawyers are receiving training in journalism and business skills, as well as advocacy training to work more effectively with parliamentarians and other organizations. This is part of a five-country program based out of Internews’ office in Lebanon. In the run up to 2005 Parliamentary elections, Internews also provided special training to print and broadcast journalists in covering and monitoring elections.
National Democratic Institute (NDI) Domestic Elections Monitoring – NDI provided support and training to a consortium of Lebanese NGOs and universities, which monitored parliamentary elections, conducted random samples in all four electoral rounds, and dispatched more than 500 observers for the elections.
Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity of the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections 2005[Democracy] – in partnership with the Lebanese Center for Political Studies (LCPS), LTA organized a series of roundtables and a national workshop on electoral law reform from the perspective of enhancing accountability and transparency. LTA and LCPS have organized three roundtables on the following topics: election monitoring, transparency in the campaigning process, and elections as an accountability mechanism. A national workshop attended by major stakeholders in the process will debate the conclusions of the workshops and develop recommendations for electoral reform in Lebanon. International College Literacy Program for Lebanese Teachers [Education] – this grant has enabled the International College to train a group of 25 “star” teachers in the principles and elements of literacy training of young children. The trainees will become trainers for other teachers in their schools and neighboring communities. Safadi Foundation Digital Reform Initiative [Education, Women] – this program enabled the Safadi Foundation to build its capacity to assist women and youth who seek to improve their livelihoods. This MEPI small grant provided computer hardware and software, extensive English language training, and computer skills training to the targeted audiences in Tripoli and Northern Lebanon. Empowering Arab Women Through Literacy [Education, Women]– this program empowered illiterate and semi-literate women in Lebanon through the creation and publication of a series of simple booklets on civic education, women’s issues, and legal rights. Booklets were used to improve and maintain women’s literacy level as well as inform them on topics relevant to their everyday lives and concerns. Completed Regional Programs Clicking on the organization name takes you to their website, while clicking on the program name takes you to the program description.
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