EU, UN LAUNCH DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS AND COUNCILS WEB PORTAL AND AUTOMATED CALL CENTER TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN LEBANON

Committed to enhancing local governance, transparency, and efficiency through innovative technological solutions, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) and the Directorate General of Local Administrations and Councils (DGLAC) launched the newly developed DGLAC web portal and automated call center. These initiatives mark a significant milestone in improving service delivery and transparency at DGLAC, and underscore a commitment to empower more than 1,000 municipalities and 60 unions of municipalities, and communities. The launch of the DGLAC web portal (https://www.dglac.gov.lb) represents a vital advancement in DGLAC's efforts to enhance information accessibility, increase transparency and public engagement, and improve service delivery. Designed to be user-friendly in Arabic and English, the portal will serve as a central hub for municipaliti es, unions of municipalities, mukhtars and the general public for streamlining administrative processes, including accessing consistent and reliable information, legal documents, and updates. This digital gateway aims to strengthen DGLAC's outreach and operational efficiency, aligning with its mission to significantly improve local governance, making it more efficient, transparent, and citizen centric. In conjunction with the web portal, DGLAC has introduced an automated call center, that can be accessed on the following number 01-610140, leveraging WhatsApp technology. This innovative solution facilitates seamless and efficient communication between DGLAC and local authorities. It allows for swift handling of inquiries and complaints, enhancing responsiveness, transparency, and accountability in service delivery. The platform includes features such as municipal application management, complaints tracking, and analytics, designed to streamline operations and improve municipal/citizens' experience. "The laun ch of the DGLAC web portal and automated call center demonstrates the EU's commitment to supporting Lebanon's local governance. These tools will empower municipalities and unions of municipalities to deliver better services, fostering inclusive development," said Stefano Panighetti, Programme Manager for Local Development, Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon. 'UNDP is proud of the partnership leading to development of innovative digital solutions for improved local governance and improved accessibility and responsiveness of public service delivery. The DGLAC web portal and automated call center tools mark a significant step towards enhancing trust in public institutions, fostering innovation, and promoting local governance transparency'. said Blerta Aliko, UNDP Lebanon Resident Representative," said Blerta Aliko, UNDP Lebanon Resident Representative. "The introduction of the DGLAC automated call center underlines our commitment to leveraging technology for effective urban management. This initiative will contribute to enhanced communication between DGLAC and local authorities, with a view to promoting sustainable urban development and resilience," said Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat Lebanon. These initiatives signify a determined effort by the EU and UN to modernize local governance structures in Lebanon, supporting sustainable development and community resilience. Source: National news agency - Lebanon