The Forum considers the House of the Parliament as the most important institution in the civil society, since the members of the parliament represent the lebanese people and their opinions. Consequently, the Forum strived to open channels of communication with the Parliament through the office of the Parliament (Bureau), the deputies and the parliamentary commissions. The Following is the Forum's most distinctive achievements: 1-Getting the members of the parliament acquainted with the lebanese non-governmental organizations methods of work. 2- Identifying decision-making processes and legislation procedures in the parliament, and determining ways NGOs could influence policy-making processes.
3- Developing a constructive relationship with a group of different parliamentarians to consolidate the NGO concept within the parliament. 4- Reinforcing non-governmental organizations stand in defending and promoting their causes. On March 26, 1997, the Forum launched a program of Canadian support, "the Canada-Lebanon policy dialogue", which will be developed later to become The Lebanese Parliamentary Center, through which a proper framework can be set for the exchange of experiences, information and findings among members of parliament and non-governmental organizations, in an effort to revise and assess national policies on certain basic issues that concerns every citizen, such as, the environment, development, human rights and the social environment. The primary step of this project started by organizing and implementing special training programs for the staff of the parliament with the purpose of getting them acquainted with the non-governmental organizations and the civil society.This project, approved by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Nabih Berri, and supported by a large number of deputies from different coalitions and political tendencies is expected to be carried out during 1997. 4.1. "The Canada-Lebanon Policy Dialogue Workshops: (supported by canadian funds) *10-12 February 1998: first policy workshop on "Developing working models of deliberation and consultation in public policy-making". This workshop represents the first activity of this project, which aims at strengthening frameworks, instruments and mechanisms of public policy dialogue between the Lebanese Parliament and the Non-Governmental Organizations, in order to enhance civil society participation in public policy-making. * 8-9 July 1998: second policy workshop on "Developing a Parliamentary Institute in Lebanon", at the Parliament Building (8 July). This workshop followed by a roundtable (9 July, at LNF offices) will solicit views and ideas of Parliamentarians, advisors and representatives of NGOs and CSOs on the nature and mandate of a Lebanese Parliamentary Institute. 4.2.Training Seminars at the Parliament: (supported by Canadian funds and in collaboration with the International Management and Training Institute) *8 November 1997: first training seminar on "the role and functions of the secretary-generals of parliamentary committees. *20 December & 20 February 1997: second training seminar on "Time management". *21 May 1997 & 12 August 1997: third training session on "Administrative management". 5. Training Seminars in the Regions: (supported by the European Commission and in collaboration with the International Management and Training Institute) *Na'aoura, Tripoli, 26-27 February 1998:(and completed during a one-day session in April 1998) first training session on "the activation of frameworks and mechanisms of decentralization for public participation in policy-making in Lebanon". *Chtaura, Bekaa, 26-27 August 1998: (and completed in a one-day session in September 1998) second training session on "the activation of frameworks and mechanisms of decentralization for public participation in policy-making in Lebanon". *Tyre, South Lebanon, 2-3 October 1998: (and completed in a one-day session in November 1998) third training session on "the activation of frameworks and mechanisms of decentralization for public participation in policy-making in Lebanon". * Hazmieh, Mount Lebanon, 5-6 March 1999: (and completed in a one-day sesion on April 10, 1999) fourth training session on "the activation of frameworks and mechanisms of decentralization for public participation in policy-making in Lebanon". * 6. Workshop: (supported by the European Commission Delegation in Lebanon) on "The Feasibility and Relevency of Opinion Polls in Lebanon". * 7. National Conference: (supported by the European Commission Delegation in Lebanon) on "Public Participation in Policy-Making".