On the 23rd of January 2017, the Radisson hotel, Beirut, hosted a distinguished audience for a workshop on Understanding Public Policy, as both a framework for how policies ought to be made and as a matter of what governments do, which is a corner stone for a sound and effective advocacy undertaking. Political, legal, agency management, as well as implementation aspects of policymaking were presented using case studies and testimonials in a current affairs' fashion. The main objective of this workshop was to instill a critical thinking approach to advocacy in the policymaking arena.
Dr. Mahmoud Haidar, a practitioner in the area of public policy planning and implementation, who also teaches policy courses in AUB, St Gallen University, and the Lebanese Ecole Nationale d'Administration, was the main speaker at this event attended by eminent figures such as Director General of the Ministry of Industry, Mr. Dany Gedeon; Judge Abdulla Ahmad from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Mrs. Alia Abbas from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, Mrs. Nada Sardouk, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. Fady Komeir from the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Marale Totalian from the Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as the Managing Director of QMS Engineers Ms. Desiree Khoury, and many others.
The event was sponsored and attended by H.E. Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine, State Minister for Administrative Development Affairs.
This workshop is part of the project of Strengthening HR Capacities in the Lebanese Public Sector, and as an extension of cooperation between OMSAR, PLANET and ENA financed by the European Union.
The Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) is a government organization that seeks to develop the institutional and technical capacities of the Lebanese ministries, central bodies, public agencies and municipalities. OMSAR is in charge of: assessing their reform and development needs; devising and updating administrative reform and e-Government strategies; identifying, implementing and evaluating development projects that translate the strategies into action; conducting organizational and legal studies; streamlining work procedures; and training civil servants. OMSAR is keen to remain responsive to the demands of the Lebanese administrations and to modernize them by building effective partnerships with them as well as with international donors, non-government organizations and the civil society.
PLANET is a leading Greek management and project management consulting company with a strong presence in Southeast Europe and active in a broad geography. Established in 1987, PLANET has been ever since present in most major interventions, transformations and infrastructure investments supporting clients across all sectors of the economy and the public sector. The organization uniquely provides a full range of integrated services to public and private institutions worldwide, responding to the challenges and the increased requirements resulting from the transformation of economies and the globalization of the market.
ENA a public establishment, under the Civil Service Board deals in Sustainable Human Development and has declared its mission as the provider of Professional Training of Lebanese Civil Administrators, through the propagation of the culture of sustainable human development, the promotion of Lebanon and Lebanese talents, continuing education, and tailor-made training.