On November 8, 2025, LIMS launched the 8th edition of its Leader Academy (LLA) with the LLA101 Economic Foundations of Prosperity workshop at the Hilton Metropolitan Palace Hotel in Beirut. The workshop brought together 50 reform-minded alumni and activists from across Lebanon for a full-day democratic process to select the projects and leaders who will drive advocacy campaigns ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. Participants engaged in a multi-stage process designed to foster transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. Candidates submitted their advocacy proposals on a dedicated online platform before the workshop, allowing to review campaigns, track polls in real time, and engage directly with voters.
 
On election day, a two-stage voting system ensured participants could understand each reform, ask questions, and make informed choices. In the first stage, fifteen proposals spanning infrastructure, macroeconomic, and governance reforms were presented in concise two-minute pitches, followed by interactive voter questions. Candidates presented their ideas publicly, responded to questions, and had their proposals scrutinized.
 
Seven proposals reached the needed voting threshold to move to the second round. They advanced to deeper discussion in parallel panels, with voters free to move between sessions to explore reforms of interest. This approach encouraged active engagement, critical evaluation, and strengthened participants’ ownership of the outcomes. The workshop concluded with a second round of voting, electing two winning projects. Voters and participants whose proposals were not selected joined the winning platforms, reinforcing collaboration in advocacy.
 
By practicing debate, deliberation, voting, and coalition-building, participants gained hands-on experience in democratic principles, preparing them to engage constructively in Lebanon’s broader political landscape, particularly ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. The selected projects will now form the basis of advocacy campaigns, giving reform-minded citizens a practical platform to influence public policy and strengthen democratic governance in Lebanon.