Assessing municipalities management practices in response to COVID-19 outbreak - evidence from Lebanon

Abstract

Objectives: This research seeks to: (1) evaluate the measures undertaken by unions of municipalities and municipalities of Lebanon to contain COVID-19, including their capacities and challenges, and (3) provide the whole country a framework of synchronized actions specific to the pandemic of COVID-19 that should be implemented through tight coordination at all levels. Methods: The assessment involves 25 unions of municipalities in Lebanon in addition to 5 individual municipalities selected based on a combination of the size of the municipality and its exposure to COVID-19 at the time of selection. Data collection is performed through a telephone structured interview of mayors, vice mayors and or municipal council members directly involved in the COVID-19 response. The collected qualitative data is analyzed via using the Nvivo software. Results: The majority of unions are guiding the response in full synchronization with their related municipalities, counting completely on measures being carried out at the level of individual municipalities regardless of their size, knowledge and limited human and financial capital. A modest variation in policy responses by areas and regions is depicted. This difference reveals characteristics of Lebanese cultural geography. A framework to guide municipalities is then deduced. Conclusion: Recognizing the various variables that outline similarities and dissimilarities in municipal public policies is a significant area of extent research. In this note, this research shed the light on the key role for COVID-19 research as part of a bigger investigation on the determinants of Lebanese municipal public policy.