good governance practices for the protection of human rights

unique in its scope and in the amount of bribes paid throughout the transaction,
which could double the official cost of the permit. Lebanese media and research
institutes had unofficially estimated that the baksheesh (bribe) for a building
permit for a residential house could cost more than US$ 2,000. This is a
substantial amount given that the annual GDP per capita in 2002 was US$ 4,360.
Furthermore, without bribes to speed up the process, the paperwork can be
held up for years.
The idea of addressing corruption in construction permits was also inspired by
the Government’s decision to enable foreign investors to process all paperwork at
one desk at one rate. The LTA Booklet was similarly conceived as a one-stop shop
for all citizens interested in applying for a construction permit. LTA intended to
inform citizens about their rights and obligations, and to demystify complicated
administrative transactions.
Implementation
The entire process of publishing the Booklet took about a year. Research for the
Booklet entailed visits to the relevant agencies and interviews with professionals
as well as citizens. The first draft was discussed with a focus group of experts and
practitioners from the agencies. In the preparation and research for the Booklet,
LTA worked closely with architects and engineers as well as with the Office of the
Minister for Administrative Reform. An effort was made to design a simple and
user-friendly publication to reach a wide audience.
Research for the Booklet identified the root causes of corruption in construction
permit applications. These included applicants’ ignorance of their rights, the
indifference of civil servants who consider bribes a bonus for efficient work, a
lack of monitoring and control, weakness of public complaint procedures, and
the dissipation of responsibility owing to the high number of public institutions
involved in processing permit applications. These factors all complicate the transaction
and allow for a high level of corruption. The Booklet seeks to equip citizens
with the tools and knowledge to bypass corrupt practices. Applicants can
use any departure from the official description of the transaction detailed in the
Booklet to hold officials accountable.
The Booklet was published in February 2002, and 15,000 copies were distributed
free of charge to citizens, NGOs, municipalities, architects, engineers and
lawyers. It has served as a one-stop shop for citizens by clarifying the different
documents, steps and fees required for completing the transaction. It also provides
tips to help citizens prevent corruption.
The Booklet received wide media coverage. The Lebanese media have been
quite active throughout the post-war period in uncovering corrupt practices. They
have also been helpful in promoting and distributing the Booklet. All the main
newspapers reported on it and this led to high demand from Lebanon’s various
regions. Local TV stations and newsletters from research centres distributed to
NGOs and municipalities have featured the Booklet.
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