2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The Children's Municipal Council (CMC) Jounieh consists of a youth-led initiative aimed at integrating children, particularly those aged 15-17, into local governance, ensuring that their voices are heard in decision-making processes. Established in 2023, the council represents the youth of Jounieh, Lebanon, and works in collaboration with the municipality and NGOs, such as Himaya, to actively engage young citizens in shaping public policy and community development. The council aims to promote inclusivity, empowerment, and civic engagement by providing youth with hands-on leadership and governance experience, creating a platform for them to voice their concerns, and developing actionable solutions to improve their communities.

The methodology follows a constructivist approach, where youth engage in reflection-action-participation dynamics. Through a structured process of recruitment, capacity-building training, and strategic planning, the council members have contributed to impactful projects such as the development of a Child Protection Policy (CPP), public park construction in underprivileged areas, and organizing events like Christmas festivals, inter-school competitions, and environmental initiatives.

The practice's innovative approach has allowed youth to directly influence municipal governance, providing them with opportunities to draft policies, organize events, and engage in public discussions. Furthermore, it has ensured gender equality and diverse representation, as council members come from various backgrounds and equal male and female participation is prioritized. Importantly, this initiative is one of the firsts in Lebanon to institutionalize youth participation, setting an example that has inspired other municipalities to replicate it.

Through this practice, youth empowerment and participatory governance have taken center stage in Jounieh, fostering better public management, more inclusive decision-making, and collaborative community development. The ongoing work of the CMC has led to significant benefits for the local population, enhancing public policy engagement, promoting youth-driven solutions, and contributing to a more inclusive municipal administration.

For more information: http://www.jounieh.gov.lb/ (External link)