On February 10, 2024, LIMS Leaders Academy held the LLA 101 Economic Foundations of Prosperity workshop in Metn and Baabda coastal regions. Drawing a cohort of 33 forward-thinking participants engaged at the municipal level, the workshop delved into a spectrum of solutions to local challenges.

The workshop’s agenda covered the region’s specific challenges, such as water scarcity and traffic jams, alongside broader cross-regional concerns like the electricity crisis and waste management. Through collaborative discussions and brainstorming sessions, the participants engaged in crafting solutions tailored to the municipal landscape. One of the workshop’s standout achievements was the formulation of actionable recommendation paper. These recommendations revolved around empowering municipalities to attract private sector investments and fostering a competitive environment in service delivery.

In addressing water-related challenges, the focus turned to local-level solutions, advocating for private sector involvement in water management and production. This included exploring avenues such as well drilling, seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, among others. For tackling traffic congestion, the proposed strategy emphasized collaborative efforts between municipalities, schools, and local businesses to optimize scheduling and minimize simultaneous pickups and deliveries. Additionally, initiatives were proposed to involve local businesses in infrastructure improvements, particularly in enhancing internal roads and sidewalks to enhance pedestrian traffic.

In response to the electricity crisis, participants advocated for diversifying energy sources, with a spotlight on renewable energy options. The recommendations also underscored the importance of enabling private electricity producers to compete within the existing infrastructure, utilizing both the local microgrid and the national grid for energy distribution. On the waste management front, decentralization emerged as a key theme, with an emphasis on fostering competition among multiple companies for waste collection, sorting, and treatment.

To ensure the practical implementation of these recommendations, a district committee was established at the conclusion of the workshop, tasked with overseeing and driving forward the suggested initiatives.

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• The Lebanese Institute for Market Studies Called Through A Specialized Workshop For A Greater Role For Collaboration Between Municipalities and Private Sector, February 13, 2024: Al Jadeed, TV Interview AR