Objectives

The office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Lebanon was established in 1968 and maintained its work during the civil war (1975-1990).

The FES Lebanon is dedicated to develop and strengthen democratic structures and processes at the political and social level in Lebanon by means of consulting, training and advanced training courses, as well as providing information and resources. Special attention is paid to the integration of civil society in the context of a local, regional and international socio-political dialogue.

Furthermore, the FES aims at implementing the principles of good governance, especially within the field of municipal politics, and improve the work and rights of trade unions. Concerned about the integration of women and youth in political decision-making processes, the FES is emphasizing the organisation and support of Gender and Youth-Projects. Besides strengthening equality of man and women, the FES concentrates on supporting and training women in municipal politics.

For Lebanese Youth, the FES is organizing various workshops during which topics such as political participation, identity or workers’ rights are discussed. Furthermore it is the aim to train mainly the young generation in techniques of conflict resolution and non-violent communication.

With its presence in Lebanon the FES also focuses on contributing to the development of socio-economic policies and improving environmental awareness. Methods The activities of FES Lebanon include the following methods: Organising conferences, seminars, workshops and training courses Supporting research projects and publications Financing short-term experts as well as visiting and consulting programmes.