Mechanism

The mechanism of scoring the candidates’ lists has two phases:

Evaluating Competing Opposition Lists:

Evaluation is based on the following 4 criteria:

1- The list includes candidates from several parties or political change groups, and this is an evidence of the intention of uniting the ranks to fight the electoral battle and the willingness to cooperate with others.

اللائحة تتضمن مرشحين من عدة احزاب او مجموعات سياسية تغييرية و ذلك دليل على نية توحيد الصفوف لخوض المعركة الانتخابية و الاستعداد للتعاون مع الآخرين.

2- The list includes candidates with experience in electoral work in order to provide the necessary expertise for field work.

اللائحة تتضمن مرشحين ذوي تجربة في العمل الانتخابي و ذلك لتوفير الخبرة اللازمة للعمل الميداني.

3- The list includes women, unless no women have applied for candidacy.

اللائحة تتضمن نساء إلا في حال عدم تقدم اي نساء إلى الترشح.

4- The list includes at least one candidate who has proven his ability to serve public affairs

اللائحة تتضمن مرشح على الاقل اثبت قدرته على خدمة الشأن العام

In phase 2, TLDN will evaluate the performance of the selected lists and scores will be given on May 3 based on the following indices:

• Candidates’ engagement with voters in their constituency;
• Candidates’ engagement with multiple media outlets, suggesting transparency and willingness to be grilled over their stances;
• Candidates’ offer clear solutions they will propose in parliament to tackle aspects of the Lebanese crisis.
• Candidates’ engagement with diaspora voters.

List performance will be assessed holistically; meaning, while some candidates may be stronger in media engagement others may perform better with engagement with voters.

Disclaimer:

Some lists* include candidates that are not endorsed by TLDN. Those lists were kept to give a fair chance for the other candidates on the list given the complexity of the electoral law.

تتضمن بعض القوائم* مرشحين غير معتمدين من شبكة الاغتراب اللبناني. تم ادراج هذه القوائم لإعطاء فرصة عادلة للمرشحين الآخرين في القائمة نظرًا لمتطلبات قانون الانتخابات المعقّد 

Initiatives are task-oriented projects created to serve the network’s immediate strategies 

The Lebanese Diaspora Network defined 3 immediate strategies that consist of task-oriented projects referred to as “initiatives”.

How to launch an initiative?

A group of at least 3 members suggests an initiative under an immediate strategy, in line with the vision and mission of the network.

The launching team should present an overview of the initiative to the members of the network.

To be adopted by the network, the initiative has to be approved by consensus or by the following voting mechanism if consensus is not reached:

• online
• within a limited timeframe (decided on by consensus depending on the emergency of the decision)
• approved by a simple majority of the members.

What happens once the initiative is approved and launched?

Once the initiative is approved and launched, the members who had proposed the initiative can form a team of experts from the network’s members (if needed).

The active members of the initiative make decisions by consensus or simple majority voting when consensus is not reached.

Active members of the initiative have the right to bring onboard Lebanon-based activists or experts to join the initiative where their expertise or input is needed.

How an initiative team communicates?

Considering the nature of the network, the initiatives are managed through ad-hoc communication channels created to accommodate the geographic position of the members.

Today, we are a diverse team from across the globe bringing a unique perspective to everything we do for our country. We are policymakers, electoral experts, architects, bankers, consultants, tech enthusiasts, communication strategists, doctors, media entrepreneurs, lawyers, marketers, engineers, … gathered from the 4 corners of the globe on 1 platform: The Lebanese Diaspora Network.

Our Network’s Cities

17 weeks after October 17, 2019,
110 days after the 1st Diaspora protest,
a group of Lebanese expatriates connected through social media platforms, created a WhatsApp group that organically grew by inviting like-minded people to join. What had started as a chatroom, quickly developed into some sort of a discussions and debates forum. The energy we wanted to express in the street and our yearning for change were transformed into a process of reimagining Lebanon, our nation. In the process, many questions were answered, and facts were built through knowledge sharing and informative webinars organized with experts.  A network of Lebanese expatriates was born and started expanding worldwide. Relations were being established with the change movement forces from political parties to grassroots, activists and experts in Lebanon and across the globe.

Undoubtedly, October 17, 2019, was a turning point in the social and political history of Lebanon. Undeniably, it was a starting point for the diaspora to unite around a Lebanese national narrative and identity.

This passion for making a difference in our country had to be translated into actions. Something had to be done! The Lebanese diasporic society had to be engaged and get involved! However, self-designation is very important to be able to move forward. So, a dozen of us decided to take the first step by drafting a social contract, and explicitly writing our ambition, the role we want to play, the responsibilities we are ready to take on our shoulders. The social contract was and still is essential; it is a pact between the signatories to serve our country from a civic stand based on diplomatic guidelines and democratic practice.

Today, we are a diverse team from across the globe bringing a unique perspective to everything we do for our country. We are policymakers, electoral experts, architects, bankers, consultants, tech enthusiasts, communication strategists, doctors, media entrepreneurs, lawyers, marketers, engineers, … gathered from the 4 corners of the globe on 1 platform: The Lebanese Diaspora Network.

We, the Lebanese patriots, aspire to attain a collective vision for a Lebanon in which ineptitude, injustice, inequality, impunity are no longer the norm.

We, members of The Lebanese Diaspora Network are committed to achieving our mission by advocating for change.

We believe democracy starts with dialogue and invite you to take part in it.

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The administrative committee is formed by five members referred to as “admins” who volunteer at the launching of the network to do the following tasks:

1. disseminate information to members
2. add/remove members to The Network
3. organize zoom meetings and voting polls
4. keep record of the members and initiatives
5. conflict resolution role within the network
6. act as speakers or assign ones to promote initiatives

Admins do not have any power beyond the above tasks. When The Network reaches 100 members, the administrative committee will be elected via an online poll for a term of 6 months.

Members are individuals or representatives of groups from the Lebanese diaspora, expatriates or immigrants of Lebanese descent, who support The Vision and are willing to participate in achieving it. Honesty, integrity, transparency, non-sectarianism are shared values among members, and any violation will result in expulsion from the network. New members are added by referral and endorsement.

Members sign a social contract before joining the network.
Members are eligible:

1. To join “The Lebanese Diaspora Network” workspace
2. To propose, vote on and join Initiatives
3. To join general and informative meetings organised by the network

Members who join an initiative, are referred to as “Active Members” and are eligible to vote on decisions within their initiative.

The Lebanese Diaspora network aims to achieve its mission and vision by engaging the greatest number of Lebanese to stand united against corruption, political clientelism, violation of Human Rights, and to promote the Rule of Law, within 3 immediate strategies that consist of task-oriented projects referred to as “initiatives”.

The immediate strategies are:

1. Raising the Voice
   • 1.1 Lobbying and pressuring the International Community
   • 1.2 Lobbying and pressuring the Lebanese government, Lebanese public, Lebanese organizations and institutions
   • 1.3 Creating awareness and defending Human Rights, Civic Education, Citizenship, Equality, Right of Access to Information, Freedom of Speech, Good Governance, Rule of Law and Democracy, etc
2. Engaging the Lebanese abroad in the Elections
   • 2.1 Coordinating with the change movement candidates
   • 2.2 Reviewing and supporting electoral programs and reform plans
   • 2.3 Fundraising
   • 2.4 Mobilizing resources
3. Support the development, sustainability and prosperity of Lebanon on the level of:
   • 3.1 Economy
   • 3.2 Environment
   • 3.3 Education
   • 3.4 Humanitarian aid

Our Vision

Our Mission

The Lebanese Diaspora Network enables Lebanese abroad to communicate, coordinate, collaborate, and cooperate. Our mission is to engage, activate and influence Lebanon and its diasporic community to work, efficiently and effectively, on specific missions. The sole objective of the missions is reestablishing a sovereign and democratic state where citizens’ rights are valued and protected.

We are determined to fight corruption, political clientelism, violation of Human Rights, and to enforce the Rule of Law.

Our Values