Brief UNDP project LEB 01/001 MOET
'Institutional Assistance for Economic Policy and Trade'
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the request of governments and in support of its areas of focus, assists in building capacity for good governance, popular participation, private and public sector development and growth with equity, stressing that national plans and priorities constitute the only viable frame of reference for the national programming of operational activities for development. Governance for human development and poverty eradication is the central focus, within which UNDP assistance is geared to building institutional capacities to formulate and operationalise policy, and likely involving social, political and economic dimensions. The UNDP is a long-term and committed strategic partner to the Ministry of Economy & Trade (MOET) and the Government of Lebanon.
The UNDP support project to the Ministry of Economy & Trade (MOET) started in April 2001 with a dual funding from the World Bank and UNDP. The World Bank funding expired in July 2003 and since then the project is co-funded through the Lebanese Government and the UNDP budgets.
Since its inception, the project has proved to be crucial to the Ministry's modernisation and development, and has achieved a wide range of objectives such as: publishing of the 1997 National Accounts and finalising the 1998-2002 set of figures, preparing a series of policy papers and publications, enhancement and modernisation of the MOET IT capabilities, provision of support to the implementation of the Association Agreement, setting-up Quality & SME divisions, drafting of laws necessary to fulfil the requirements to accession of the WTO and the implementation of the Association Agreement, preparation and implementation of communication campaigns, support to the Ministry’s administration, assist the Ministry in negotiating and implementing multilateral and bilateral trade agreements etc.
In March 2004, the project’s undergo a major revision and restructuring with the continuous aim to strengthen the institutional capacities of the Ministry, promote a more balanced participation of MOET and UNDP staff, transfer of know-how and build-up the institutional memory of the institution in question. In its revised structure and mandate the UNDP project is shadowing the foreseen organisation and functions of the Ministry. The project has proven to be pivotal in all the modernisation efforts that the Ministry embarked ( and is embarking) upon and in mobilising resources (so far around € 35.00 million) of strategic projects for the Ministry and Lebanon at large (such as: SMEs, Quality, National Accounts etc.). The UNDP project & team support is mainly focusing on 5-main pillars: policy advice and legislative development; institution and capacity building; negotiation and finalisation of trade agreements; resource mobilisation and aid coordination as well as advocacy and partnerships.
The UNDP management and team at the MOET take great pride in supporting the modernisation efforts of the Ministry and in contributing to the institutional and human development of their country, Lebanon.