Research Intern On Lebanese Administration Of Public Services

Call for research internship (unpaid)   on the impact of the Lebanese governance system on public service delivery      Background   Twenty years after the end of the civil war, and years of foreign and international aid devoted to various developmental projects in Lebanon, the Lebanese state has mostly failed to put the country back on its feet with regard to the fight against poverty or the delivery of public service. For the past decade the country has been suffering from an unending series of crises, ranging from security threats, recurring political deadlocks, financial collapse, and general failure of government in management and provision of basic public services such as electricity, water, sustainable waste management, or the establishment of public transportation infrastructure.  Despite the presence of active and varied civil society actors, the public has been largely unable to hold officials accountable, and the same politicians and officials have kept their offices since the end of the civil war. Moreover, the public has remained mostly ignorant on the governance system and, specifically, decision-making levels on which to engage and hold duty bearers accountable.  Against this backdrop, NAHNOO has planned to undertake a comprehensive study on the Lebanese Governance structure and its impact on public service delivery. The study aims to evaluate the Lebanese governance system, policies and roles drawing from this to initiate a discourse with various stakeholders on reforms in line with good governance to facilitate improvement of service delivery and the  promotion of social accountability. The main research findings will then be translated into infographics that will be widely disseminated to the public.   Scope of work   To analyze the existing Lebanese governance structures and the policies establishing them, with emphasis on 4 domains (i.e. urban planning, waste management, water delivery, electricity delivery). To identify dysfunctions within the existing system and discuss how it’s affecting public service delivery To suggest governance reforms in line with good governance principles    Methodology   The research intern will work within a team and be involved in:  Doing a desk review: review of literature, especially official documents, government records, and international and open-source materials. Conduct field research: interviews with relevant stakeholders including officials, academics, civil society actors, etc. Reporting in Arabic     Duration   The first draft of the research is to be completed by September 15, and the final draft and infographics will be completed by 15 December 2016.   Applicant profile   -       Law student (alternatively, public administration or political science). -       Knowledge of the Lebanese context, especially the political and social environment and issues. -       Research and analytical skills. -       Excellent English & Arabic language writing skills.