Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

2010 Category 3: Lebanon
inquire and comment on issues related to elections. The MoIM also launched two
websites as means of communicating with citizens and stakeholders: a civil-status
portal (www.omsar.gov.lb/moi/Search.aspx) that enables citizens to track their ID
status, and an elections website (www.elections.gov.lb) that includes up-to-the-minute
information on election laws, GIS maps, decrees, etc.
All of the above achievements contributed to the successful administration of the
2009 Lebanese parliamentary elections in a more interactive, inclusive, modern,
transparent and democratic manner. However, the biggest impact by far of the
MoIM’s new management approach is the restoration of public confidence in the
government’s ability to administer free, fair, democratic and transparent elections.
This newfound trust has facilitated the Ministry’s efforts to develop a broader culture
of democracy and participation.
It is also important to mention that due to the systematic new approach to administering
elections, the Ministry’s capacity as an institution has been strengthened
and the various Ministry directorates have become more synchronized in the sense
that more information is being shared. Another important benefit is the standardization
of work methods related to elections. Maintaining a transparent process
for working and following international standards has resulted in better management
of resources.
Replicability and Sustainability
The management of Lebanon’s 2009 elections has been ranked as a success by
domestic and international observers, as well as by stakeholders directly involved
in its delivery. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities has taken the
needed steps to document the new working methods and establish the necessary
grounds to sustain them, with the determination to transfer this approach to other
government functions.
Thanks to the systematic approach devised by the MoIM, it is able to set forward a
solid example of replicable best practices. Systematization comprised, primarily, the
master plan and the internal and external coordination mechanisms set in place,
which were based on six main components: (1) identification of key issues such as
the needs of the directorates and the resources needed to meet international standards;
(2) the development of a clear strategy (in this case, the master plan); (3) the
assignment of roles and responsibilities in order to establish good governance and
accountability mechanisms; (4) the development of an action plan that was directly
linked to a time line and budgetary framework, which kept the project moving forward;
and (6) evaluations of the work, by both the MoIM and the external stakeholders.
The evaluations aimed at identifying lessons learned that could be built on for
future elections or other endeavours.
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