MEPI-LAA Open Space Forum 20-22 February 2015
"Lebanese Civil Society Challenges & Opportunities"
Opening Remarks
Youssef Sfeir
MEPI-LAA President
Feb. 20, 2015
On behalf of MEPI-LAA's Alumni & Board allow me first to welcome H.E David Hale, US ambassador to Lebanon for his kind participation in today’s Open Space Forum on Lebanese Civil Society Challenges & Opportunities. His valuable attendance is a proof of the continuous commitment of the US State Department to promoting and engaging in civic change in Lebanon & the Middle East.
I would also like to welcome Mr. Gebran Kattini, the representative of the Minister of Tourism for his kind presence. A big thank you to MEPI-LAA friends & colleagues participating in today’s forum. You all serve as the eyes and ears of the civil society community in Lebanon, giving us critical insight into the impact of our activism in driving positive change within the Lebanese society, and we are always eager to engage in discussions with you and benefit from your recommendations.
I also want to thank, respectively, Mr. Erik Ryan, the MEPI Coordinator at the US embassy in Lebanon for his great cooperation and assistance. Special thanks goes to our highly professional consultants Mr. Jo Topher & Dr. Barbara Kozok. A profound appreciation is also addressed to MEPI-LAA team & Bethania Association for their outstanding work in organizing today’s Forum.
Dear friends and esteemed (partners), we are all aware that Civil Society Organizations in Lebanon play a crucial role in the growth of our nation and the creation of high hopesfor Lebanese citizens. Today’s event aims to learn more about the needs of the activists in our civil society, being the first initiative of its kind, our aim is to also assess the impact that our activities are having or could better have on our efforts to endorse positive change within our society.
We believe that the direct and open discussions will be a hallmark of this Forum and will surely result in numerous thoughtful and creative recommendations for the donors and for MEPI-LAA. As a pledge, I assure you that MEPI-LAA will act upon the Forum recommendations in the upcoming future in order to fulfill the following objectives:
1. Building a strong civil society network.
2. Identify thematic groups.
3. Explore & address civil society needs, interests, weaknesses, strength, threats & opportunities.
4. Develop a common five years strategy along with a roadmap that tackles the themes generated from the forum.
5. Share the outcomes, the strategy & the road map with MEPI & other donors.
6. Develop a strong and solid Lebanese Civil Society Coalition.
In order to achieve all these objectives in a proper & transparent manner, we will be using the Open Space Technology that will enable our diversified groups to create inspired outcomes & extraordinary results with regularity. The key factors of our success are: planning & action, learning & doing, passion & responsibility, participation & performance.
While assessing the groups’ recommendations, we will consider carefully the impact that the suggested themes would have on our community– both in terms of what risks they may face and whether the suggested change would serve to attract donors to small, medium & long term programs investing. Donor’s confidence –confidence in our mission & vision and in the fairness of the fundraising process – is an important guiding element that we should keep in mind while considering, testing and formulating your recommendations.
It is indeed the marriage of donors’ support and better ways to facilitate more funds formation that make our vision the envy of the world. I am therefore, very much, looking forward to the output from the coming three days.
Thank you again, esteemed guests and participants for your efforts to help us to improve the ability of the US Embassy in Lebanon & MEPI-LAA in understanding the capital of the civil society in Lebanon, to grow and drive positive change and community growth.
