Lebanese Transparency Association

Throughout the years, LTA, as part of its mission, associated itself with many organizations amongst which Transparency International (TI), the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption (ARPAC), the Global Integrity Alliance (GIA), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and takes pride it its achievements.

Moreover, LTA belongs to many organizations, both national and regional, to promote democracy and advance the principles of good governance.

At the occasion of the end of the July war on Lebanon, LTA was part of a relief team in the South and undertook many activities such as the Civic Education and the campaign on transparency in post war reconstruction – mentioned in the 4th section of the report.

The 2006 – 2007 phase was another phenomenally successful year where LTA, in partnership with those organizations, achieved many goals.

Below is a description of the abovementioned organizations LTA is in partnership with.

Transparency International (TI)

Transparency International, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world.

TI’s mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption.

Transparency International challenges the inevitability of corruption, and offers hope to its victims. TI plays a lead role in improving the lives of millions around the world, by building momentum for the anti-corruption movement, raising awareness and diminishing apathy and tolerance of corruption, as well as devising and implementing practical actions to address it.

Transparency International is a global network including more than 90 locally established national chapters and chapters-in-formation. These bodies fight corruption in the national arena in a number of ways. They bring together relevant players from government, civil society, business and the media to promote transparency in elections, in public administration, in procurement and in business. TI’s global network of chapters and contacts also use advocacy campaigns to lobby governments to implement anti-corruption reforms.

Politically non-partisan, TI does not undertake investigations of alleged corruption or expose individual cases, but at times will work in coalition with organisations that do.

TI has the skills, tools, experience, expertise and broad participation to fight corruption on the ground, as well as through global and regional initiatives.

Now in its second decade, Transparency International is maturing, intensifying and diversifying its fight against corruption.

LTA is TI’s national chapter in Lebanon.

Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption (ARPAC)

The Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption (ARPAC) - the Arab Chapter of GOPAC – was established in Beirut in November 2004 during a meeting entitled “Parliamentarians against Corruption: Improving Transparency and Accountability in the Arab Region.” This meeting was attended by 40 Parliamentarians representing 11 Parliaments: Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Palestine, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen and Lebanon.

ARPAC’s main objectives consist of encouraging founding members to establish national chapters, persuading national chapters to build coalitions with the media, civil society movements and academics, and calling on the Arab governments to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In addition, ARPAC arranges for national and regional workshops to promote methods for fighting corruption and to build the capacity of members of Arab parliaments to be better equipped to fight corruption and to promote transparency and accountability in the Arab region.

ARPAC is registered in Beirut and is located in the LTA offices. LTA serves as the association’s executive office and coordinates all of ARPAC’s projects.

LTA strongly believes in partnership, networking and increasing cooperation’s to reach success. The association’s main objective is to always excel in its activities. LTA is looking forward to next year’s equally impressive achievements.

Global Integrity Alliance (GIA)

LTA has been coordinating since 2007 all activities of the Global Integrity Alliance (GIA) for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The GIA is an innovative initiative established in Oxford in April 2006 in the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The GIA's mission is to promote ethical, accountable, and effective leadership by placing integrity at the center of efforts to improve human life. The GIA is an International Organization with the objective to operate on the international, regional, national, and local levels.

Friedrich Naumann Foundation

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation is the Foundation for liberal politics. Established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, it promotes individual freedom and liberalism.

The Foundation follows the ideals of the protestant theologian, Friedrich Naumann, who fought for civic education. Moreover, Naumann believed that a functioning democracy needs politically informed and educated citizens. According to him, civic education is a prerequisite for political participation and thus for democracy.

In this regard, the Foundation is an agent of organized liberalism. It promotes this through civic education, international political dialogues, and political counselling. The Foundation has numerous offices in Europe, Africa, America and Asia.

While the Foundation’s activities in the field of civic education consist of seminars, conferences and publications aimed at promoting liberal values and principles, the international political dialogue program provides a discussion forum for a wide range of liberal issues. The Foundation’s counselling programs focus on candidates for political office, liberal political parties and other democratic organization.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy.

CIPE has supported more than 1,000 local initiatives in over 100 developing countries, involving the private sector in policy advocacy and institutional reform, improving governance, and building understanding of market-based democratic systems.

CIPE provides management assistance, practical experience, and financial support to local organizations to strengthen their capacity to implement democratic and economic reforms. CIPE programs are also supported through the United States Agency for International Development.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is an international organization whose mission is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives.

IFC has established the Private Enterprise Partnership for the Middle East and North Africa Region (IFC PEP-MENA), a multi-donor facility, with the purpose of fostering private sector development in the Region including Lebanon.

Under this facility IFC has initiated the Lebanon Corporate Governance Project (LCGP).