In Lebanon, the need for administrative decentralization and the development of municipal institutions is no less acute than in other countries; administrative decentralization has been recognized as a priority by the Taif Agreement and a special ministry has been set up to galvanize municipal development.

The LCPS has also taken the lead in this field by organizing two detailed studies on administrative decentralization and municipal government. The studies involve field surveys, legal and constitutional reports, fiscal analysis, workshops, conferences, and other activities. They bring together practitioners, policy-makers, scholars, and administrative experts in an atmosphere of constructive interchange in order to explore new orientations and new policies in these important areas. The reports and recom mendations of these studies are also published with support from the Ford Foundation, and form part of an ongoing interest and research activity in municipal affairs.