Within the framework of the AFKAR II program for strengthening the Lebanese civil society managed by OMSAR and funded by the EU, an information session was held in the OMSAR conference room on Wednesday 27 June 2007, in the presence of the persons in charge of the program at OMSAR and the EU Delegation as well as representatives from the 24 selected NGOs.

The aim of this session was to explain the work procedures of the program on the administrative, financial, technical, and informative levels, in addition to the European contractual procedures in the execution of the contracts signed between OMSAR and the NGOs.

AFKAR program coordinator Mrs.Youmna Chacar Ghorayeb began the session with a presentation about the roles of all the parties involved in the program. She highlighted the tasks performed by the AFKAR team during the first phase: evaluation of the proposals, selection of the NGOs, and signature of contracts. She also informed the audience that the execution of the projects will be monitored by the European NGO Emergences, which was selected after a call for proposals held as per EU procedures. Mrs. Ghorayeb clarified the role of Emergences and its future activities, which include follow-up and monitoring, training, round tables, analyses, and studies.  

The Head of the Procurement Department at OMSAR Mr. Youssef Saad then launched into a detailed explanation about the contractual clauses related to the project execution, as well as the EU procedures that must be complied with. He highlighted the importance of project execution according to the contracts signed between the NGOs and OMSAR, stressing that OMSAR must be notified of any crucial change that might arise. Moreover, he explained the cases that necessitate a signed addendum by the Minister of State for Administrative Reform with the approval of the EU, as well as the type of cases about which notification must be sent to OMSAR.   

Mr. Saad’s presentation also dealt with all financial matters, such as funding and payment methods, VAT exemptions, calls for bids and procurement procedures. Mr. Saad declared that auditing of accounts is an essential condition for specifying the actual expenses made by the NGOs during their project execution and completing payment according to eligible and non-eligible costs.  

Furthermore, the session highlighted the importance of coordination and visibility in showing the support of the EU and OMSAR in publications and media events.

The information session also included further explanatory interventions pertaining to EU procedures by the Head of the Contract, Finance, and Audit Department at the EU Delegation Mr. Olivier Marie Louis, and ended with a Q&A session.