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 The World Bank Access to Information MENA Committee. On November 17, 2009 the Board of the World Bank approved a new policy that will help strengthen the norm of transparency in governance in the global system. It is the Access to Information Policy. The new policy goes into effect on July 1, 2010. The following elements of the policy are notable:
1. There is a philosophical shift from disclosure to access; that is, from July 1 the presumption will be in a favor of access to any information held by the World Bank outside a narrow list of exceptions.
2. Access to World Bank information will be facilitated by the institution itself via a range of media.
3. Procedures and service standards will be set up for tracking and responding to requests.
4. There will be an appeals procedure that requesters of information can use, and a body of international experts will play a role in the appeals process.
5. Finally, civil society organizations are to be encouraged to play a role in raising awareness of the new policy, encouraging the use of the new procedures, and monitoring implementation.
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MEDITER Women for Change is a biennal project funded by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office, which manages the external cooperation programs of the EU.
The overall objective of the project MEDITER - Women for Change aims to strengthen women's leadership within Local Authorities and NGOs and, through them, to provide an appropriate response to risks of economic, political and cultural marginalism in the Mediterranean region, one of the strategic areas of European gravity.
Indirectly, the project aims to reduce the risk of crises (economic, political and social) in the Mediterranean, through the strengthening of women's representation in the areas of administrative hierarchy and decision-making positions within the Authorities and local NGOs.
To achieve these objectives, the project aims in particular to complete the following two specific objectives:
1. To increase the preparation level and access of women in decision-making positions by developing an ongoing program of higher education for women-manager in Local Authorities and NGOs.
2. To encourage permanent exchange between women-manager of public and nonprofit sectors on subjects of common interest, through the creation of a thematic network dedicated to the development of cultural policies.
Under the second goal, in January 2011, the network MEDITER - Euro-Mediterranean Network for cooperation has been created.
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The Civil Society-Parliament Liaison Unit project aims to increase the influence of CSOs on the legislative process of Lebanon in order to catalyze democratic reform, by establishing a CSO liaison unit for the Lebanese Parliament.
This unit will coordinate the work between members of parliament (MPs) and the CSOs working on changing national policies and legislation.
In the hope of improving how civil society organizations (CSOs) influence the legislative sector and achieve democratic social reform, this project will create a CSO liaison unit for the Lebanese parliament to coordinate the work between members of parliament (MPs) and the CSOs working on changing national policies and legislation, and demonstrate its benefits by supporting a number of advocacy CSOs in their parliamentary work. The aim of this CSO liaison unit is to help CSOs in Lebanon with their legislative demands from their parliament and assist them in achieving the policy change they are campaigning for by providing a number of services.
The unit will also provide training to CSOs on policy advocacy campaigns, train CSOs on how to build diplomatic relations with MPs, coach CSOs in building their policy campaigns strategy, provide media exposure to the CSOs work with the parliament, and build the culture of consultation and cooperation between CSOs and MPs. The unit will also develop a monthly newsletter for MPs on the policy/legislative work of CSOs in Lebanon. The project will also include conducting two seminars for MPs on the role of CSOs and the work they are conducting related to national policy and legislation. An advisory council of advocacy CSOs will be established to oversee the work of this unit, and insure its independence.
* FUNDED BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEMOCRACY FUND – UNDEF
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.jpg) The Tobacco Control Citizen’s Watch (TCCW) is a group of anti-tobacco advocates whose mission is to ensure the implementation of Lebanon's Law 174. This law bans smoking in all closed public spaces (e.g. governmental buildings, airport, schools, public transport, malls, restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs), mandates health warnings on tobacco product packages, and bans all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
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 Beyond Beirut is a Lebanese non-governmental organization with a mission to encourage the development of experiential tourism beyond the city limits of Beirut as a means for sustainable economic development in rural Lebanon.
Beyond Beirut goals are:
• To create awareness of the importance of tourism beyond the city limits of Beirut as an economic driver.
• To promote rural tourism as a means for sustainable economic and community development
• To introduce and support the concept of destination development
• To empower communities with the means and tools to actively develop their assets
• To enhance job creation and retention
• To conserve natural and cultural heritage
• To enhance quality of tourism service
• To encourage business to business linkages as an essential potential for economic growth
• To encourage public/private partnerships
• To develop, sustain and expand an integrated network of marketing channels to create a pull demand for tourism in areas beyond the city limits of Beirut
* Beyond Beirut started as a USAID funded project.
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