Beirut — 27 May 2022: To support Lebanon’s digitalization efforts, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnered with the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) to advance the digital transformation in Lebanon and support in the new Digital Transformation Strategy. Digital transformation will contribute to enhance accountability and transparency and improve delivery of services across public administration and in key sectors of the economy.

Years of corruption and economic mismanagement hurled Lebanon into a state of emergency the country hadn’t witnessed since its civil war. Unless the country’s socio-economic crisis is reversed, deepened poverty and humanitarian suffering will persist for years to come.

Digital technologies provide a unique opportunity to unlock innovative solutions to the complex development challenges facing Lebanon today. Digitalization has the potential to stimulate economic growth, improve public services and match people with jobs, while strengthening their trust in the state. By passing the Digital Transformation Strategy on 12 May 2022, the Government recognizes these opportunities and puts digitization at the forefront of development that can help the government, communities, and businesses connect and contribute more meaningfully to society.

In her statement, H.E. The Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Ambassador Najla Riachi, stressed that “The MoU between OMSAR and UNDP represents a new start for further collaboration, in order to implement the digital transformation strategy. It will extend to different governance areas and introduce new initiatives such as a digital readiness assessment”.

“Through this important partnership, UNDP will support the government in accelerating the digital transformation, which would unlock new opportunities for economic recovery, help reduce the digital divide, and create a more responsive state that better serves the needs of all people in Lebanon” said Melanie Hauenstein, Resident Representative at UNDP Lebanon.

In the framework of this partnership, UNDP will act as a strategic partner, provide technical assistance and play a central role in coordinating United Nations’ assistance to OMSAR’s efforts in advancing digitization through an inclusive process that will benefit from broad based institutional participation in the roll out of the Digital Transformation Strategy.

As a starting point, UNDP will support the implementation of a Digital Landscape and e-readiness Assessment, as well as collaborate closely with OMSAR on planning and executing future digitalization projects and initiatives across Lebanon.
 

For more information, please contact

In UNDP — Lebanon | Rana Moughabghab | rana.moughabghab@undp.org | +961 3 835 351

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.