Locations
Anti-Corruption for Trust in Lebanon (ACT)
Anti-Corruption for Trust in Lebanon (ACT)
Summary
The Anti-Corruption for Trust in Lebanon (ACT) project aims to enable the adoption and measurable progress in the implementation of an integrated and targeted approach to preventing and combating corruption that is in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), Lebanon's commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) for Lebanon; and more broadly, Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
To achieve this, the project provides technical support to (1) enact and implement specialized anti-corruption laws; (2) institutionalize capacity to oversee and monitor the national anti-corruption strategy; (3) operationalize and strengthen the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC); and (4) integrate corruption risk management mechanisms in key vulnerable sectors.
Background
In recent years, anti-corruption has transformed into a national priority in Lebanon. This started well before but was certainly accelerated by the events following the massive public protests in 2019 and the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut in 2020. During that period, the country saw its first-ever National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2020, and a series of critical laws passed by parliament, followed by the appointment of the country’s very first National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in 2022, and the initiation of a series of far-reaching investigations conducted by the judiciary in relation to corruption offences in various sectors.
UNDP’s continuous technical and strategic support throughout the years to the anti-corruption institutional framework represented by the Ministerial Anti-Corruption Committee (MACCom) and its supporting Technical Committee (TACCom), as well as parliamentary anti-corruption sub-committees, paved the way for these reforms. To build on this momentum, UNDP developed a dedicated project, the “Anti-Corruption for Trust in Lebanon (ACT)”, in June 2020, to which the European Union (EU) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) have been financially contributing since September 2021. UNDP’s work on anti-corruption with our partners has been instrumental in advancing transparency, accountability, and integrity, which are prerequisites for Lebanon’s reform, recovery, and reconstruction.
The project continues to update its strategy to best serve Lebanon, constantly adapting to the political and economic climate and various challenges facing the country. The strategy evolves based on ways to diagnose corruption and assess its impacts, and serves to introduce structural reforms and improve the country’s governance model.
Learning from previous experience, the project builds not only on documented setbacks, but also on recognized accomplishments and successes, to pave the way forward, propose new directions, and implement measures that will advance its long-term, sustainable objectives. The project is also keen on unifying efforts and plans its actions carefully keeping in mind the fact that corruption is cross-cutting, and reforms are interlinked.
Major achievements
- Supporting the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Institutional framework since 2011, represented by the Ministerial Anti-Corruption Committee (MACCom) and the Technical Anti-Corruption Committee (TACCom), as well the respective sub-committees and task teams.
- Leading on the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2025 (NACS) following a participatory approach involving civil society, and its subsequent adoption by the Council of Ministers in May 2020.
- Maintaining and supporting the efforts of all concerned parties in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the NACS.
- Assisting the Minister of State for Administrative Reform in its capacity as president of the TACcom with the periodical review and progress report on the implementation of the strategy outputs which has resulted into the development and publication of the first report on the level of implementation of the NACS in October 2021.
- Supporting the finalization of the UNCAC self-assessment report of Chapter 2 on Preventive measures and Chapter 5 on Asset Recovery by the respective national task team, with the active engagement of civil society organizations.
- Building CSOs capacities and expanding their knowledge around the UNCAC self-assessment process towards an active and effective participation.
- Contributing to the development of laws in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) through the provision of technical and legislative drafting support to Parliamentarians and relevant stakeholders.
Project outcome
The project outcome is to enable the adoption and measurable progress in the implementation of an integrated and targeted approach to preventing and combating corruption that is in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and Lebanon’s commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Lebanon has been a State Party since 2009.
GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion):
The project prioritizes women’s empowerment, enabling women to become more prominent actors and leaders in anti-corruption efforts by supporting them in identifying challenges, shaping priorities, and integrating their concerns in related initiatives. Women’s participation is an essential factor across all project’s activities, along with the integration of a gender lens in the analyses conducted and the proposed policies, plans, and legal reforms at the national and local levels, as well as cross-sectoral and sectoral levels.