T556 - IJMAA+ - Participatory Needs Assessment

IJMAA+ aims to promote the principles of good governance in the municipalities that it targets. As one of the requirements of good governance is enhancing civic participation of local communities in public life, the program will seek to bridge the gap between citizens, particularly youth, and municipalities in the targeted villages by conducting a joint and participatory needs assessment (PNA).

The program also seeks to encourage dialogue between youth and activists of different political and religious affiliations, as well as between Lebanese and Syrians, through facilitating cooperation among them to achieve common goals. Under this objective, the program aims to bring different stakeholders together in online and/or offline discussions around multiple sectors relevant to their community. Thus, the intervention is seeking to achieve two outcomes: a) create a meaningful and inclusive participatory process between municipalities and citizens, and b) produce an evidence-based PNA report which can serve as a guiding document for future strategic plans of municipalities and communities.

The participants will identify the priority sectors to be assessed in the PNA of each area, such as: environment, education, public works, health, agriculture, tourism, social stability, women’s rights, youth, employment, etc. This activity will take place in up to 5 villages within the Bekaa area.