'Training of Trainers' program launched in North Lebanon

Baladiyat program supports the Lebanese people through enabling effective, democratic, and empowered municipalities. The 3 year capacity building program helps municipalities empower their citizens as partners to create an enabling environment for sustained local-level economic development.

The 1st Training of Trainers (TOT) session was conducted in Tripoli, July 21 and 22. The two-day intensive training hosted nine participants representing different areas of Akkar. The training was conducted by Dr. Nedra Huggins-Williams. Appointed by IRG, Dr. Huggins-Williams has over three decades of international experience, including 23 years with USAID. She brings extensive experience in professional training, training of trainers, adult education, and program management across four continents.

The Baladiyat program will provide eight more Training of Trainers sessions for each of the eight municipal clusters spread across Akkar and Jezzine regions. RI and IRG have thus far planned six TOT sessions for the months of July and August, and will follow up with more TOT sessions and economic development trainings. The planned training sessions are:
Tripoli: July 21-22
Akkar - Fneideq: July 24-25
Akkar - Beino: July 28-29
Jezzine: July 31, Aug 1
Akkar - Halba: Aug 4-5
Jezzine - Al-Rihan: Aug 7-8

The Training of Trainers is designed to maximize program impact and ensure sustainability. The Baladiyat program will train 64 mid-level municipal officials as master trainers in the basics of economic development, program design, and strategic planning.

The training focuses on training municipal officials in order to ensure skills are retained by the municipalities after the 2009 elections. The master trainers will be selected by the municipal councils, including mayors. The municipal councils can also designate active and professional members of the communities to participate in the Training of Trainers sessions. These master trainers in coordination with the mayors will provide key economic development training to the remaining municipal officials.