The LIMS Leaders Academy (LLA) 2023-2024 program recently concluded, culminating a two-year initiative that hosted a series of workshops for local activists in different Lebanese regions and districts. Over the past two years, 32 participants from these workshops ran in the 2025 municipal elections, with 11 successfully getting elected.

To bring the program to a close, LIMS organized two key events. First, on April 12 and 13, LIMS hosted the LLA 401 – Policy Fair, featuring a series of parallel breakout sessions. These sessions, attended by 35 local activists from across Lebanon, focused on critical topics such as waste management, water resources, tourism development, and electricity sector challenges.  

Following these workshops, and as a final program event, LIMS held the LLA 501 National Meeting on April 26, 2025. This event brought together 50 attendees, including participants who successfully completed the program, journalist and academics. The workshop featured three panels addressing: (1) Local delivery of electricity, water, and sanitation services; (2) Addressing waste management challenges at the municipal level; and (3) Enhancing local tourism and the economy. Each panel began with participants presenting their ideas for 1-2 minutes, followed by an open discussion moderated by facilitators.

By equipping local activists with the tools, knowledge, and platform to tackle pressing municipal issues, LLA has produced a new generation of reform-oriented municipal leaders. The election of 11 alumni to public office underscores the program’s real-world impact, while the Policy Fair and National Meeting showcased the depth of participant-led solutions to Lebanon’s most urgent local challenges.