The following is a statement by Lebanon’s Civil Society, its representatives in the 3RF, and private sector organizations: ‘As Civil Society representatives in the 3RF, we express our concern regarding the attempts to destabilize the Central Inspection and Inter-Ministerial and Municipal Platform for Assessment Coordination and Tracking (IMPACT) in Lebanon. We call for a strong and broad coalition to promote initiatives advancing effective and collaborative governance. We wish to highlight the success of the IMPACT initiative, which has pioneered digital audit across central administrations and municipalities and has coordinated the COVID-19 response and ensured the fair dissemination of vaccines and social protection assistance under the World Bank-funded ESSN program. We emphasize that the success of the IMPACT initiative has shown that change can come about and that it is possible to introduce meaningful performance management and embed a culture of integrity and service at the heart of public activity. We call for all parties to stand by any actors working to expand such fresh initiatives for effective oversight and accountability, sparking a contagious wave of change within our country. We urge the media and all other stakeholders to stand by, defend and support competent civil servants who are still holding onto their jobs in the state and to be vigilant of disinformation campaigns. We call on all civil society members and honest public servants to stand firm by this and other similar initiatives that promote open and collaborative governance. Finally, we wish to announce the creation of a committee to follow up and oversee the development of the IMPACT platform and make sure no political agenda will be able to derail such a constructive initiative.” Transparency International Lebanon, LiveLove, Arcenciel, LLWB, LUPD, OEA, ALEF, BHI, BUL, SSVP, Khaddet Beirut, Kulluna Irada, RDCL, LPSN.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon