Watch this roundup documentary about MASAR strategic objectives and some of the demonstration projects in Iraq and Lebanon.
Iraq
MASAR Programme
Funded by the European Union through the Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, Maintaining Strength and Resilience for Local Governments (MASAR) Project has supported local governments’ capacities, host populations and refugees suffering from the effects of the civil war in Syria. The project has worked in Ninawa and Duhok in Iraq, and in Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel and Tripoli in Lebanon, specifically on municipal strategic planning, improvement of public services and local economic development.
MASAR has worked on:
Land Use & Infrastructure Planning
Analysing the public sector taking into account the living conditions of the population and identifying priorities in enhancing infrastructure and public services, aiming at economic improvements for the local communities.
Geographic Information Systems
Making maps, collecting information related to infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.) providing vital information for the local communities.
Solid Waste Management
Helping local governments in improving their solid waste management, through public awareness campaigns aiming at waste reduction, sorting at source and developing waste collection plans and procedures.
Irrigation
Achieving sustainable management of water resources by building and improving infrastructure such as irrigation systems, water pipes, and improving the operation of these public services.
Road Safety
Helping local governments elaborating road safety action plans by designing and implementing infrastructure improvements such as traffic lights, walking paths, safer road intersections and awareness programmes.
Crisis Response Planning
Working with local governments and communities on improving their crisis response.
Agriculture
Supporting communities working in the agri-food industry with a value-chain analysis and doing pilot projects leading to innovative products and technologies.
Tourism
Identifying important tourist sites and promoting cultural and eco-tourism.
Water Management
Availability and access to water and working with local government on improving water management.
Featured activities
The MASAR systematic approach for the Geographic Information System's implementation proved to be effective and paved the way towards sustainability. The unmatched passion of the Geographic Information System Technical Unit staff played a major role in reaching this advanced level in the system.
Dr. Amal Iaaly
Director of the GIS Centre, MASAR National GIS Consultant, Assistant Professor University of Balamand
All the villagers benefit from Btedii lake. If this lake is gone, no one will stay in the village. Thus the importance of MASAR hill-lakes project in our region.
Samir Fakhry
Btedii Deputy Mayor (Union Of Municipalities of Deir Al Ahmar, Lebanon)
The highlight of MASAR in Arsal Municipality & Union of Municipalities of Deir el Ahmar was the community engagement. In spite of the economic crisis, youth have been deeply engaged as volunteers in all municipal activities. They believe that their time and efforts will not have been in vain and have resulted in empowerment and progress in their communities.
Malaz Kawas
MASAR Front Officer in Bekaa - Lebanon
With sufficient data and participatory planning local governments can deliver better public services and facilitate local economic initiatives. Working on governance and adopting selected technologies is as important as securing financial resources to ensure development in a context of crisis.
Enric Ibarz
MASAR Area Manager for North Tripoli - Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD)
I joined the beekeeping progamme to learn more about it to be able to create eventually my own business and support my family.
Nour Taleb Daher
Trainee – Beekeeping Programme
"In the MASAR we work for and with local governments. We talk about sustainable economic development of places and we apply sophisticated tools to facilitate the process. In fact, what we really do is always the same: we support people in need to live better lives."
Jarosław Zarychta
PCPM Representative - Iraq MASAR for Local Governments - Municipal Front Officer
"MASAR came in Duhok at the right time, and the results will stay".
Rawshan Atrooshi
VNG International, Iraq office - Country Director