The Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs, Dr. Fadi Makki, under the auspices of the Prime Minister, Dr. Nawaf Salam, launched the National Program for the Governance of Boards of Directors and Leadership in the Public Sector and the Linking Platform with Universities, in the presence of their Excellencies the Ministers, their Excellencies the Ambassadors, the new members of the Boards of Directors of the first category in the public sector, general directors, chairmen and women of the boards of directors, as well as representatives of diplomatic bodies, international organizations, experts, and representatives of the media.
Makki opened the ceremony by welcoming the attendees, stressing that “the launch of the program constitutes an essential step within a broader reform process through which the government seeks to rebuild state institutions on modern, transparent and effective foundations.”
He pointed out that “during the past year and a half, the government was able to fill more than 140 leadership positions, which included members of boards of directors, regulatory bodies, and executive leaders in state institutions,” considering that “these appointments constitute an important milestone in the process of enhancing the performance of public administration and renewing its capabilities.”
He stressed that “what distinguishes the newly appointed leaders is the diversity of their professional backgrounds, as a large number of them come from the private sector, academic institutions and liberal professions, which constitutes an opportunity to enrich state institutions with new experiences and modern approaches to work and management.”
Makki stressed that “benefiting from this experience remains linked to the extent of the ability to enable new leaders to adapt to the specificity of the public sector and understand its legal, regulatory and administrative frameworks,” noting that “appointment itself is not enough, and that the main challenge lies in enhancing the capabilities of these leaders and providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to enable them to perform their tasks efficiently and responsibly.”
He explained that “the National Program for the Governance of Public Councils and Leaderships aims to prepare new leaders to exercise their duties effectively within the frameworks of public administration, by providing a common understanding of good governance, public finance, public procurement, integrity and anti-corruption, in addition to work and decision-making mechanisms within state institutions.”
Makki also launched a platform linking the public sector and the academic sector, which aims to enhance cooperation between public administrations and institutions on the one hand, and universities, experts and researchers on the other hand, allowing for the benefit of academic and knowledge expertise in addressing administrative challenges, developing public policies, and supporting reform and modernization paths in public administration.
He pointed out that “these initiatives fall within the core of the program to reconfigure state administrations and institutions 2030, and the new national anti-corruption strategy that is being worked on,” stressing that “success on this path requires public leaders capable of leading change, enhancing cooperation between institutions, and achieving tangible results that reflect positively on the quality of public services.”
Makki also thanked “the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for their support and funding for the platform linking the public sector and the academic sector, appreciating at the same time the Prime Minister’s support for purposeful initiatives in Lebanon.”
Makki concluded by emphasizing that “building a modern and effective public administration is not limited to developing tools and programs, but rather requires investing in public leadership, enhancing the culture of cooperation between institutions, and linking public administration with knowledge and experience, which is directly reflected in the quality of services and citizens’ confidence in the state.”
