Eastern Wadi Khaled - ADELNORD

2. The Local Development Planning Process2.1 Supportto Local Development in North Lebanon (ADELNORD)In the context of cooperation between the Republic of Lebanon and the European Union, a programto support local development in northern Lebanon (ADELNORD) was defined between the LebaneseGovernment represented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) and EuropeanUnion Delegation in Lebanon.The Project aims at improving the living conditions in North Lebanon, namely the area of upperAkkar, Dannieh and Hermel; where the local communities suffer from disparities, poverty and lack ofeconomic alternatives. The social situation in the last years has worsened due to the alarming politicalcircumstances. Despite the actual degrading situation, the region embraces a rich biodiversity,important water resources and a high agricultural potential.ADELNORD Project in his 3 components: 1) the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, 2) thecommunity development, and 3) the protection of natural resources, aims at exploring the present opportunitiesin a participatory approach and at preserving the vitality of the region in a sustainable manner.• The situation analysis allows for detailed diagnostics and provides the statistical base formeasuring the impact of the local development plans.• The detailed problem hierarchy illustrates the cause-effect relations of problems perceived andidentified by the community.• The objectives analysis shows the structure of ends and means. It leads to the identificationof solutions to be brought about with the assistance of the ESFD or of other public or privateinstitutions (strategy analysis).• The strategy analysis represents the “Local Development Plan”. The communities specify theirpriorities according to this analysis and they propose the projects for which they seek assistancefrom the ESFD (demand driven approach). On this basis the logical framework planning for theESFD contribution is developed and preliminary project identification is performed, allowing theelaboration of grant agreements for the mobilization of funds.2.2 The ESFD2.2 LocalGovernanceand the Community development componentThe mission of the Economic and Social Fund for Development is to contribute to poverty alleviation inLebanon. It is an “Apex”-Institution, mobilizing intermediary partners to implement poverty alleviationaction in job creation and community development. Self-help assistance, needs and demand orientation,active participation, sound ownership, sustainability, gender equity and ecological sensitivity arethe key trademarks of the ESFD. The ESFD is funded by the European Union and by the Governmentof Lebanon.The Fund helps to improve the access of the poor to basic social services and their living conditions.It builds on the mobilization of group initiatives and resources in the most deprived areas of Lebanon.The Municipal Council of Mounseh and the Mukhtars of the cluster are the main ESFD Partners incommunity development, by helping mobilize local resources and provide all logistic services, byproviding an office for the field development expert, as well as a phone in the temporary quarters ofMounseh municipality, after approval by the MC to cooperate. In addition to that, Mukhtars along withthe other actors approved the content of the MoU and they were signed on August 12, 2011 (see Annex 1).The cluster population and its representatives are aware that the absence of local elected administrationsin the villages of Wadi Khaled have lead to deprivation of basic services and of development projects,along with the deprivation from the Lebanese nationality, thus increasing the living and healthpressures, particularly after the border controls and the halting of smuggling trade after the recentevents in Syria.Although cooperation and community spirit are ingrained in the socio-tribal nature of the cluster, andalthough all are aware that the only way to resolve major common issues is through collaboration,rivalry on the importance of Mukhtars, due to the representative hereditary role imbricated in therole of the tribe, and new municipal elections, along with the division between the tribes of Atiik andGhannaam, this rivalry could create additional challenges to the chronic deprivation and new livingand health pressure requiring to be handled with such responsibility and seriousness that they meetthe social development ambitions of the cluster.2.2.1 Local development planningLocal development planning is a participatory process comprising the successive steps of communitymobilization, creation of structures for dialogue (committees / working groups), situation analysis,detailed problem analysis, objective analysis and strategy analysis. These steps are illustratedin Figure 2. The ESFD provides technical assistance support to local communities to implement thisplanning cycle.Figure 2: Local Development Planning Cycle8. Further projectplanning steps7. Co-ordinationof Strategies andPriorities6. Analysis ofObjectives andSolutions1. Conclusion ofthe Memorandumof Understanding5. ParticipatoryProblem Analysis2. Communitymobilization, targetgroup and stakeholderanalysis, informationdissemination3. Creation ofDialogue Structures4. Situation Analysis(Ex-ante evaluation)14• The mobilization of the community is undertaken through the systematic dissemination ofinformation, the analysis of all relevant local stakeholders and the establishment of contactwith interest groups, community based organizations and other actors to create awareness ofthe planning process and to mobilize active participation by the community.• Planning dialogue needs to be structured and formalized. The creation of local dialogue committeesand working groups is essential to provide a platform for the most active citizens and toshare responsibility for contributions to the planning process.Local development Plan of Eastern Wadi Khaled ClusterElaborated in the framework of ADELNORD Project, funded by the EU, executed by ESFD/ CDR