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On Saturday March 05 22, Innovative Institutional IDEAS launched the last workshop for representatives from Alma El-Chaab as part of IDEAS’ work on the UNDP and UN-Habitat MERP project. The workshop was held to discuss the findings and recommendations of the municipal finance assessment that IDEAS conducted for the Municipality. Mr. Jean Gofari, commented, “The assessment identifies the areas that need improvement and then can help to formulate actions plans to address the shortcomings, and he hopes that the Municipality will be assisted with equipment automated systems, followed by training in order to enhance its financial and administrative performance. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a tenth workshop in Tyre municipality on February 24, 2022. The main objective of the workshop was to present the data collected during the municipal financial assessment conducted by IDEAS and discuss the initial findings of this assessment. The capacity-building workshop is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative of the UNDP and UN-Habitat, and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). Eng. Hassan Dbouk, President of Tyre Municipality, praised the presentation that was made, and noted that he would support the recommendations and possible solutions with fellow decision makers in the Municipality in the near future, and he hoped that the Municipality will be supported by donors, especially in terms of the Municipality’s financial and administrative improvement through training, information equipment, and GIS The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a ninth workshop in Bickfaya-Mhaydseh municipality on February 23, 2022. The main objective of the workshop was to present the data collected during the municipal financial assessment conducted by IDEAS and discuss the initial findings of this assessment. The capacity-building workshop is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative of the UNDP and UN-Habitat, and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). MS. Nicole Gemayel, President of Bickfaya-Mhaydseh municipality, praised the presentation that was made, and noted that he would support the recommendations and possible solutions with fellow decision makers in the Municipality in the near future, and he hoped that the Municipality will be supported by donors, especially in terms of the Municipality’s financial and administrative improvement through training, information equipment, and automated systems. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized an eighth workshop in Nabay Municipality on February 17, 2022. This was conducted as part of a series of workshops for municipal institutions selected by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) and is funded by the European Union (EU) through the EU Regional Trust Fund response to the Syrian crisis, the Madad Fund. The Municipal Financial Assessment is a review of a municipality’s behavior and performance for the past five years. The aim of the workshop was to identify the areas of performance that need improvement and then formulate action plans to address the shortcomings and improve the municipality’s performance Municipal President Mr. Marwan Attallah, explained that the priorities of the Municipality have changed due to the economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. He hoped that the Municipality will be supported by donors, especially in terms of financial and administrative improvement through training and equipment, The IDEAS team discussed with the municipal officials the importance the Municipality implementing the recommendations discussed in the near future in order to improve the municipal administrative, financial, and technical processes.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a seventh workshop in Qana municipality on February 10, 2022. The main objective of the workshop was to present the data collected during the municipal financial assessment conducted by IDEAS and discuss the initial findings of this assessment. The capacity-building workshop is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative of the UNDP and UN-Habitat, and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). Mr. Mohamad Kreicht, President of Qana Municipality, praised the presentation that was made, and noted that he would support the recommendations and possible solutions with fellow decision makers in the Municipality in the near future, and he hoped that the Municipality will be supported by donors, especially in terms of the Municipality’s financial and administrative improvement through training, information equipment, and automated systems. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

On Friday January 21, Innovative Institutional IDEAS launched a sixth workshop for representatives from Al- Beddawi as part of IDEAS’ work on the UNDP and UN-Habitat MERP project. The workshop was held to discuss the findings and recommendations of the municipal finance assessment that IDEAS conducted for the Municipality. Mr. Hassan Ghamrawi, commented, “The assessment identifies the areas that need improvement and then can help to formulate actions plans to address the shortcomings, and he hopes that the Municipality will be assisted with equipment and automated systems to enhance its performance”. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a fifth workshop in Tayr Debba Municipality on January 5, 2022. This was conducted as part of a series of workshops for municipal institutions selected by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) and is funded by the European Union (EU) through the EU Regional Trust Fund response to the Syrian crisis, the Madad Fund. The Municipal Financial Assessment is a review of a municipality’s behavior and performance for the past five years. The aim of the workshop was to identify the areas of performance that need improvement and then formulate action plans to address the shortcomings and improve the municipality’s performance Municipal President Dr. Weam Zeidan explained that the priorities of the Municipality have changed due to the economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. He acknowledged that the Municipality needs to be assisted with equipment and automated systems in order to facilitate and improve its work. The IDEAS team discussed with the municipal officials the importance the Municipality implementing the recommendations discussed in the near future in order to improve the municipal administrative, financial, and technical processes.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a forth workshop in Deir Kanoun En Nahr municipality on January 5, 2022. The main objective of the workshop was to present the data collected during the municipal financial assessment conducted by IDEAS and discuss the initial findings of this assessment. The Municipal Finance Assessment workshop is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative of the UNDP and UN-Habitat, and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). Mr. Adnan Kassir, President of Deir Kanoun En Naher Municipality, praised the presentation that was made, and noted that he would support the recommendations and possible solutions with fellow decision makers in the Municipality in the near future, and he hoped that the Municipality will be supported by donors, especially in terms of the Municipality’s financial and administrative improvement through training, information equipment, and automated systems. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

Innovative Institutional IDEAS organized a third workshop in Al- Boustan municipality on December 23, 2021. The main objective of the workshop was to present the data collected during the municipal financial assessment conducted by IDEAS and discuss the initial findings of this assessment. The Municipal Finance Assessment workshop is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP), a joint initiative of the UNDP and UN-Habitat, and is funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). Mr. Adnan Al-Ahmad, commented, “The assessment identifies the areas that need improvement and then can help to formulate actions plans to address the shortcomings, and he hopes that the Municipality will be assisted with equipment and automated systems to enhance its performance”. The IDEAS team discussed the importance of the Municipality addressing the gaps mentioned in the municipal financial assessment and implementing the suggested recommendations in order to strengthen its capacities and impact on its local residents.

The purpose of this assessment, being part of wider assessment including also other unions and municipalities, is to review the overall institutional capacity of the union and municipalities in terms of municipal finance, the strengths and weaknesses of the municipal systems supporting it, the threats and challenges to financial sustainability resulting from the current macroeconomic and — financial crisis exacerbation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic — and the opportunities in terms of building institutional and systems resilience for municipal finance management and delivery.
As a next step, a profiling process will be conducted in July 2021. The profiling process will help shed light on the political, economic, social, and demographic context within which the Union of Tyre Municipalities finance system functions, as well as the key legal, regulatory, and procedural frameworks relevant to the union.
This assessment was launched in February 2021. It is being supported by the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP) a joint initiative by UNDP and UN-Habitat, and funded by the European Union through its Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, Madad Fund.
Eng. Hassan Dbouk, Head of Union of Tyre Region Municipalities, said “We have been doing some efforts in improving financial transparency, and lately we have published our financial statements online. This assessment will strengthen our position, and allow us to attract more international donations” .
Mr. Mahmoud Batlouni, Innovative Institutional IDEAS president, said “ the importance of this workshop is the Municipal Financial Assessment, which provides a roadmap to improve the administrative, financial, and technical processes of the Union of Tyre Municipalities"

On Wednesday May 26, Innovative Institutional IDEAS launched a workshop for representatives from the Al-Fayhaa Union of Municipalities as part of IDEAS’ work on the UNDP and UN-Habitat MERP project. The workshop was held to discuss the findings and recommendations of the municipal finance assessment that IDEAS conducted for the Union.
Innovative Institutional IDEAS President Mr. Mahmoud Batlouni stated that, "The importance of this workshop lies in the findings of the Municipal Financial Assessment, which provides a roadmap to improve the administrative, financial, and technical processes of the Al Fayhaa Union.
Eng. Dima Homsi Moussa, Acting Director of the Al Fayhaa Union, commented, “The work highlighted the strengths and weaknesses in the Urban Community of Fayhaa’s administration and finance, and we are looking forward to the final recommendations.