Lndp The Lebanese National Development Plan 2014-2017

THE LEBANESE NATIONALDEVELOPMENT PLAN (LNDP)
1) WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABSENCE OF A PLAN IN LEBANON DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1995 TO DATE?
In our opinion, most of the ills that have befallen the Lebanese economy during that period: the horrendous escalation of our public debt, the low growth of our economy, the poor quality of our social services, and the degradation of our environment are, in many cases the direct result of an absence of vision and forward looking policy that a well conceived and carefully implemented NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN would have generated instead.
2) WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE CONTINUE WITHOUT A PLAN?
In our opinion, most probably the overall economic situation will grow worse. Our Public Debt will reach $160 billion in 2022, unless some serious reforms are introduced as soon as possible. That condition may lead eventually to some serious civil disorders, unless the introduction of a NATIONAL PLAN brings an end to the anarchy by diverting all the energies toward finding some appropriate and comprehensive solution to the country's economic and social problems
3) WHAT SHOULD BE OUR NEXT STEPS?
To create a successful National Economic Development Plan we suggest adopting the following action framnework:
a.- The Plan initial build-up
We should proceed as follows:
1.-Scrutinize attentively the seven national plans that were previously formulated in Lebanon (a list of these Plans is appended at the bottom of this report) and discuss the matter at length with the experts at the CDR who developed a number of proposals in this connection.Their guidance and their advices will be useful.
2.- Examine the Plans that were created and successfully implemented in some countries like Brazil, Cyprus, Jordan and the Irish Republic. Trace and identify the causes for their success.
3.- Collect and analyze all local and foreign documents relating to these subjects in order to build up the 18 sector Plans that will make up the entire LNDP.
b.- The enhancement of the Plans
1.- At the end of our studies, their findings should be published and the readers should be called upon to present their feedback and their recommendations.
2.- A special should be brought to seek the opinions of experts in their respective fields: the faculty teachers and the faculty graduates in economy, finance and public administration, the agricultural, industrial, and building engineers, the doctors, lawyers, and accountants, as well as IT specialists, as well as the members of Trade and Workers Associations to name but a few.All the citizens should be invited to PARTICIPATE in building and developing the LNDP
c.- The adoption of the Plan
After the Plan is completed it should be presented to the Parliamentary Commissions for study and consideration before it is transferred to the Council of Ministers for examination, discussion, and eventual adoption.
d.- The implementation of the Plan and its monitoring
This is the most crucial in the entire planning process. During the past 20 years, no less than fifteen different sector plans were studied and proposed by Ministers, but NONE of them was successfully implemented, and most of them lie gathering dust in the government's archives. This is all due to lack of follow-up and monitoring.