CESMO “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally” in Lebanon

Fostering democracy and increasing participation in Lebanese society are among the cental concerns of CESMO (Centre d’etudes strategiques pour le Moyen-Orient) and its MEPI-funded Local Grant project called “Resoring Citizens’ Involvement in Local Public Affairs.”   The following article from CESMO explains the project.

The Lebanese sate has been described by several analysts as one of the weakest in the region. 

This is due, on the one hand, to its unique society, which gave priority to the rights of the diverse religious communities at the expense of individual rights that eventually led to a fragmented society of separate communities living side by side, with no attempt at integration and with each of these communities showing more allegiance to its religious feudal leaders than to the state.

On the other hand, more than three decades of repeated wars and unrest have impaired any attempt at decentralization and weakened local authorities to the point that citizens do not feel it is useful for them to participate in the system. 

CESMO’s project therefore aimed at reviving a culture of local participation, while demonstrating to the citizens of Tripoli and the surrounding area that they can and must participate in their own affairs.

As this project fell within several MEPI priorities (including supporting local civil society, fostering networks, encouraging women’s participation in public life, promoting good governance, and promoting public awareness and involvement in current political issues), we approached MEPI, which reviewed and eventually approved our project proposal.

That was the starting point of a fruitful partnership.  It was also the beginning of a “work friendship,” which, through close cooperation, permitted enough flexibility to adapt our work to the ever-changing situation on the ground, thus allowing the final successes of this endeavor. 

For this project, we formed eight district committees, each composed of 12 citizens from different backgrounds – teachers, students, non-sectarian scouts, store owners, home makers, etc.– but all sharing the same desire to work with each other to make a change.

With he first step being the need to empower citizens with the necessary knowledge to make their participation effective, we organized two-week seminars in which they acquired background knowledge (including the functioning of the state, electoral mechanisms, how to lobby for a bill to be passed, and the work of the different Ministries and how to collaborate with them), as well as communication skills.

As a result, each of these district committees has started working in its area to gather citizens around issues of common interest, such as environmental problems, refuse collection, street cleaning, street lightning, playgrounds and parks, public health, education, and common houses.  One of the committees even obtained a consultative seat on the Municipal Council.

After identifying needs, participatns started working on specific issues, including improving the state of the roads and streets, garbage collection, helping street children, and planting trees in a systematic way – first collecting evidence, then lobbying for changes.

The initial results on the ground will be seen in a few months but the project has already met its main objective: fostering citizen participation in local public affairs.  We are confident that this is the first wave that will spread throughout society towards increased efficiency, transparency, and accountability of local authorities.