Course Overview
This course was developed as part of a project led by Transparency International – Lebanon (TI-LB), with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (under the Anti-Corruption for Trust in Lebanon Project) and co-funded by the European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. The initiative aims to strengthen the right of access to information in Lebanon as part of broader efforts to promote transparency and accountability within the public sector.
Although Lebanon has an established legal framework guaranteeing the right of access to information, its practical implementation remains limited. This is due to a lack of awareness of the law among both public officials and citizens, insufficient training, and inadequate administrative and logistical capacities within public institutions. Added to this is a weak culture of transparency among citizens and administrations alike.
The initial report of the National Anti-Corruption Authority on “Compliance of Public Administrations with the Right of Access to Information Act” indicates that only 40% of administrations proactively disclose information, and fewer than 50% of national administrations and 25% of local administrations have an appointed Information Officer.
Accordingly, this training course seeks to equip learners with a thorough understanding of the legal framework governing the right of access to information, to elucidate its provisions, and to apply its procedures effectively. It also aims to highlight the challenges associated with its implementation and to identify practical measures for enhancing transparency within their respective institutions.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Summarize the legal and constitutional foundations of the right of access to information in Lebanon and identify the information that is available as well as the applicable exemptions.
- Explain the proper procedures for requesting, processing, and publishing information in accordance with the Access to Information Act.
- Identify the challenges related to the implementation of the right of access to information and outline measures to enhance its effective enforcement.
Duration
Approximately 1 hour
Certificate
At the end of the training course, participants are required to pass an assessment in order to be awarded the certificate.