Founded in 1989, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is an independently managed, non-partisan, non-profit, non-governmental think tank whose mission is to produce and advocate policies that improve governance in Lebanon and the Arab region. Currently, LCPS has 5 primary research and advocacy focuses:
Improving political representation
Strengthening decentralization
Advocating for a transparent oil and gas sector
Supporting policies to create jobs
Promoting security sector reform
Influencing
As part of its mission to shape policy, LCPS has directly engaged with decision makers, including contributing to formulating the 2006 Boutros draft electoral law and the 2014 draft decentralization law. In 2013 and 2014, LCPS and the Lebanese Petroleum Administration convened roundtable discussions on the future of Lebanese oil and gas with experts and members of civil society. In 2014 and 2015, LCPS also launched a series of meetings between the Ministry of Industry and industrialists to address outstanding issues which have hampered production and exports.
Informing
To better inform policymakers and the wider public, LCPS has produced more than 66 books and more than 100 policy papers, briefs, and articles in Arabic and English on issues such as electoral laws, political parties, sectarianism, administrative reforms, rule of law, decentralization, economic growth, budget and fiscal policy, industry and trade, energy, and the environment. Additionally, LCPS has provided a platform for debate by convening over 135 conferences and workshops in Beirut and various Arab capitals to address a range of national and regional issues.
Advocating
In our quest to advocate for reform, LCPS has founded 3 NGOs: The Lebanese Conflict Resolution network in 1996, the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections in 1996, and the Lebanese Transparency Association in 1999. In 1997, LCPS led a successful campaign with more than 100 organizations calling for municipal elections. Additionally, LCPS led the civil campaign for electoral reform in 2004, which brought together over 58 organizations and in 2014 helped found the Lebanon Oil and Gas Coalition, a network which will monitor the growth and operation of Lebanon’s petroleum sector. Also in 2014, LCPS and the Natural Resource Governance Institute established the MENA Natural Resource Governance Hub, whose goal is to provide policy knowledge and build the capacity of key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
Team
LCPS is a dynamic institution led by a young, active, and highly motivated team, which regularly draws on the expertise of a large pool of research fellows and associates in Lebanon and from across the world in the academic and professional communities. LCPS is governed by a board whose members are elected for a two-year term, and are active in public policy formation and provide guidance to the center.