Lebanon Experiential Partnership: Increasing Economic and Local Governance Opportunities

As a force for promoting economic and political advancement, NEA/AC seeks projects that involve private sector stakeholders or community members of Lebanese descent in developing, implementing, or expanding e-government solutions to streamline, reform or otherwise address policy, procedural or other inherent challenges facing local business communities in Lebanon. NEA/AC defines community members of Lebanese descent as individuals with linguistic and cultural ties to Lebanon and who have maintained professional relations with counterparts in the region. This project will leverage the talents and insight of the Lebanese community and experience of private sector stakeholders to improve policies and procedures at the local level through partnerships with local government and, if possible, the Lebanese ICT sector. As a result, the Lebanon Experiential Partnership will advance strategic objectives by:

• Collaboration and partnerships between private sector stakeholders, community members of Lebanese descent, local government and, if possible, Lebanon's ICT sector to develop and implement e-government solutions to identified business community challenges.
• Enhancing efforts for local governments to be representative of, responsive to, and trusted by their citizens and their economic needs.

This project complements USAID's programs that anchor and institutionalize newly elected, created, and/or empowered local government entities. This project is unique in its focus of tapping into the skills of the Lebanese community members specifically as a resource to improve governance and economic opportunities at the local level.