TAMKIN Project -
Lebanon Municipal Capacity Building and Service Delivery

Duration of the 3-year project
1 May 2008 - 30 April 2011

Funding partner
USAID
(United States Agency for International Development)

Budget
USD 1 Million
(The total budget for the project's overall implementation in Lebanon is 7 Million)

Implementing partner
CHF International - Lebanon
(Cooperative Housing Foundation)

In collaboration with
BIAT (Business Incubator Association in Tripoli)
JAA (J.E. Austin Associates, Inc., USA)

Beneficiaries
40 municipalities in the Dinnieh (20), Akkar (12) and Zgharta (8) cazas.
The main municipalities served are:
In Dinnieh: Bkhoon, Harf Siyad, Azki, Mrah Al-Sraj, Kfarshelan, Eimar, Deir Nbouh, Kfarhabo, Bkarsouna, Seer Al-Dinnieh, Aasoun, Al Sfeera, Btormaz, Beit Al-Fokos, Karsita, Nemreen, Ain El-Tineh, Taran and Kfarbneen
In Akkar: Al Mohammara, Kobet Shomra, Majdala, Al Karkaf, Bebnine Al Abdeh, Berkayel and Borj El Arab.
In Zgharta: Mejdala, Mejdlaya, Ardeh, Alma, Asshash, Rasheen and Al Fawar.

Description
The project aims at transforming 40 peri-urban and rural municipalities in Lebanon into effective agents for leading local socio-economic development through democratic engagement with the private sector and citizenry.
In its first stage, the project worked with 15 municipalities that met specific pre-set criteria (i.e., availability of human and physical resources, readiness for participation, etc.); and during its second phase the project is working with an additional 25 municipalities for the life of the program.

Objectives
Improved capacity of municipalities to design and implement socio-economic development programming:
Designated municipal officials will take part in a self-evaluation survey, the CHF Municipal LED Readiness Survey, which will establish clear goals for each municipality, develop benchmarks for performance, and serve as the foundation for municipal action plans. Following this benchmarking, officials will participate in capacity building training and regular one-on-one technical assistance, using best practice tools delivered in a ‘Municipal LED Handbook Series’. Government stakeholders will continually review their progress with the TAMKIN team and reevaluate municipal action plans and training needs on a regular basis. In so doing, municipalities benefiting from the TAMKIN program will have substantially improved understanding of their role in supporting economic development and expanded capacity to plan, manage and deliver related services. Key results from this objective will be the establishment of 40 target municipalities with a dedicated staff member(s) who has designated authority over LED, trained in and applying international LED best practices through investment initiatives.

Broadened stakeholder participation and cooperation in local socio-economic development:
TAMKIN will establish lasting partnerships between local government, the private sector, and citizens so as to leverage the resources and capabilities that are necessary for stimulating growth and attracting investment. This collaboration will manifest itself in a multi-stakeholder Municipal Development Committee (MDC), which will work beside the Municipal Council to identify LED priorities. Members of the MDCs will be trained in conducting economic analysis, prioritizing investment needs, and planning for resource allocation. Joint-planning will culminate in a Local Economic Development Plan (LEDP) which will establish a common LED vision resulting in increased entrepreneurship, job creation, a solid business enabling environment, and an improved quality of life. The TAMKIN program will result in 40 MDCs formed through participatory election, comprised of 8-12 government/private sector/community members, meeting regularly, who have developed and are implementing projects according to publicly available LEDPs. Qualitative changes will include improved attitudes and opinions regarding their local government. Citizens will increase their trust in their community leaders through direct participation in community economic development and increased transparency from procedures introduced during the project. In this context, a Citizens Perception Index will be developed to gauge effectiveness of municipal interventions and services from the public perspective, looking specifically at citizen opinions on transparency of local government decisions, allocation of resources, effectiveness of investments, and involvement of women, youth, and other marginalized groups in local socio-economic investments.

Increased economic growth through effective and sustainable public-private partnerships:
Local implementing partners, government officials, and the newly created MDCs will apply their new capacity and skills through the implementation of visible, results-oriented LED projects. Program resources will be allocated to co-finance specific projects that focus on working with a variety of resources (financial institutions, business service providers, firms, associations, government, universities, and educational facilities) to establish lasting mechanisms in support of businesses and industries to improve productivity, innovate, and pursue market opportunities.  Projects will effectively legitimize new institutions through practical, private-sector actions. Results will include 68 projects publicly tendered and managed by the municipalities with TAMKIN co-financing and at least 50% cost share by government, private sector, and community, and consistent with LEDPs, leading to the creation enhancement of 1,500 short-term and long-term jobs in target areas, 30% increased sales in 3 target industries, and improved worker productivity.

Activities
Town hall meetings and creation of Municipal Development Councils (MDC’s). Facilitate the formation of MDCs and act as non-voting members on them to facilitate discussions as needed and monitor progress.
Collection of primary data. Conducting Leadership mapping. Conducting Interviews with business and non – business leaders. Conducting the Municipal LED Readiness Survey for the targeted municipalities. Conducting the survey related to the Citizens Perception Index (CPI) in the field.
Preparation of meeting for conducting the following two activities by the specialists: SWOT Analysis and Project Sheet
Facilitating the Organization of all municipal capacity building activities including feasibility study trainings, etc.
Participate in all MDCs’ sessions that will lead to the development of the LEDPs (i.e. sessions covering economic analysis, needs’ assessment, projects identification, projects prioritization and grading, etc.)
Review LEDPs developed by the MDCs and assist in making these publicly available prior to finalization.
Assist in the prioritization of LED initiatives and encourage ones that generate income for women and youth.
Assist the MDCs in the tendering and bidding processes, as well as implementation and monitoring of the projects.
Assist in conducting the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for all identified projects as per USAID CFR 216 regulations.
Assist the targeted municipalities in leveraging contribution to the projects (Minimum 50% cost share).
Provide linkages to private sector and support public private partnership to ensure projects sustainability.