As part of the “My Municipality, My Development” conference series, a policy analyst from the LIMS was invited to a discussion on municipal governance in the Gharb region. Speaking to local leaders and stakeholders, the analyst underscored decentralization as a path to balanced development and municipal empowerment—arguing that when municipalities are granted the autonomy to manage local affairs, they can more effectively deliver essential services such as electricity, water, and waste management.

He placed particular emphasis on the need for municipalities to be able to attract private investment in these sectors, especially in a country where state institutions remain deeply weakened. Allowing private actors to produce and distribute electricity or manage water and waste at the municipal level can dramatically improve service delivery and accountability.

In the Lebanese context—where chronic power shortages, poor waste management, and failing water networks have become the norm—privately delivered municipal services could offer a lifeline to communities. By enabling local governments to partner with the private sector, municipalities can bypass national gridlock, create jobs, and improve living conditions, while ensuring that services are better tailored to the needs of residents.

• Local Discussion In The West. Financial Minister’s Advisor: To Enact Administrative Decentralization Achieving Development, April 3, 2025: Al Anbaa Online, Article AR