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Release
USAID Awards UAlbany $17
Million to Bolster Democracy in Lebanon
Contact: Michael Parker (518) 437-4980
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 20, 2004) -The Center
for Legislative Development (CLD) at the University
at Albany has been awarded a three-year, $17
million grant from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) to continue
its efforts to strengthen municipal institutions
in Lebanon and increase their effectiveness
in support of democracy. The grant was announced
Tuesday in a ceremony attended by more than
1,000 dignitaries, parliament members and municipal
officials held at Unesco Palace in Beirut. An
agreement was signed with the Interior and Municipalities
Ministry of Lebanon, USAID and University at
Albany CLD representatives.
Conceived in 1993 by the late Abdo Baaklini,
a professor with UAlbany�s Rockefeller College
of Public Affairs and Policy and former director
of CLD, the Lebanon program fulfills key USAID
local and regional objectives by promoting democracy
and good governance.
�Organizing the work of local government in
a transparent way has enabled municipalities
to plan and implement essential social and economic
projects,� said USAID mission director Raouf
Youssef, in a recent statement. �The administrative
and financial work has helped in improving the
income of many municipalities, which witnessed
an income increase of 200 and 300 percent in
the last three years.�
�We greatly appreciate USAID�s investment in
the Center for Legislative Development�s efforts
to strengthen democracy in Lebanon,� said UAlbany
Interim President John R. Ryan. �This is a testament
to the foresight of Dr. Baaklini, who designed
a program with an understanding of the history
of Lebanese people and knowledge of what it
would take to insure the development of a successful
and accountable government.�
�By strengthening the role of local government
in economic development, encouraging e-government
and strengthening municipal administrative and
financial capacities, we are enhancing the foundations
of democracy in Lebanon,� said CLD Director
Robert Nakamura. �We are honored that USAID
has renewed its commitment to support the vision
of Dr. Baaklini and the leadership of Lebanon
Country Director Mahmoud Batlouni.�
�Municipalities, the intermediary government,
the various oversight agencies, as well as the
Lebanese Parliament will act capably and efficiently,
by modern standards, once certain weaknesses
in their structure have been addressed,� said
Batlouni. �We have developed most of the required
information systems and databases for the municipalities.
This will bring significant savings in resources
and will permit immediate implementation.�
CLD has been working with USAID in Lebanon
since 1993, and has previously implemented a
multi-phase $25 million program that included
technical assistance to Parliament, several
executive agencies, and some municipalities.
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