Resident Coordinator’s Opening Remarks at Conference on "Evaluation and Reform: Youth Trust, Governance, and Transformational Change in Lebanon"

Distinguished guests, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning to all, 

I am very happy to be here with you today and privileged to open this conference hosted by the Observatory of Civil Service and Good Governance at this prestigious University (Saint Joseph University), a key actor in Lebanon’s evaluation ecosystem.

The youth of Lebanon are essential in driving the necessary reforms to steer Lebanon back on the development track. Your energy, innovation, and dedication are vital for the country’s transformational change. You are not just the future; you are the present, with the power to influence and shape decisions. 

By actively engaging in the evaluation processes, providing feedback, and holding institutions accountable, you can ensure that reforms are not only implemented but are effective and sustainable. Your involvement is essential to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability that will lead to meaningful progress toward reforms and a brighter future for Lebanon.

We cannot advance without proper evaluation, without assessing the strengths and needs of national programs and policies. This is particularly important for Lebanon, given its rich history, massive decline in trust in institutions, and the ongoing demand for reforms and progress toward sustainable development. 

Since 2015, the UN has adopted numerous resolutions on building capacity for the evaluation of development activities at the country level and strengthening Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) through country-led evaluations. While these are important resolutions, unless we are properly implementing and following through on them, they will not have the intended impact.

We all agree, that strong national evaluation systems are fundamental to transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making in development efforts. These evaluations allow Governments to identify what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements are absolutely necessary for lasting change. 

With timely and quality official statistics as a foundation, evaluations can provide an accurate and comprehensive snapshot of progress and areas needing attention in Lebanon. This is crucial, especially considering the current challenges Lebanon faces. By evaluating institutional performance, we can identify areas for improvement and ultimately enhance the well-being of the people living in Lebanon. That is why evaluation is very important for the country, particularly at this critical juncture.

This event marks a significant first step towards institutionalizing the evaluation function in Lebanon. While we are at the early stages of this journey, today’s event demonstrates that considerable efforts are underway. The presence of various national partners here signals a commitment to fostering effective development evaluations. 

The United Nations in Lebanon is firmly committed to bolstering Lebanon's national evaluation systems. UNICEF and relevant UN agencies will play a key role, ensuring our steadfast support throughout the process to contribute to a strong and sustainable evaluation capacity in Lebanon that supports evidence-based decision-making and improved development outcomes. 

Together, let us join forces and build a future where transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making are the norm. 

Thank you.