The Public Sector Senior Recruitment Mechanism was established as part of Lebanon’s public administration reform agenda, in line with Cabinet-approved decisions and applicable legal frameworks governing senior public sector appointments. Coordinated and operated by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR), in partnership with the Civil Service Board (CSB), it introduces a unified, transparent, and merit-based framework for recruiting senior leadership positions across public administrations, public institutions, regulatory authorities, and independent bodies, replacing fragmented and discretionary appointment practices.

The mechanism is grounded in successive laws and Cabinet resolutions that establish its legitimacy and evolution. It was first approved by the Council of Ministers on April 12, 2010, introducing a competency-based methodology for senior appointments, and was implemented in January 2012 under OMSAR’s leadership. This reform aimed to combat corruption and favoritism in senior public sector recruitment, establish a transparent and clearly defined appointment methodology, ensure equal opportunity for all Lebanese citizens, base candidate selection on skills and competencies, and promote equitable access to leadership positions.

In 2025, the Council of Ministers approved the final version of the Public Sector Senior Recruitment Mechanism followed by two amendments that reinstated, refined, and accelerated the mechanism, ensuring full compliance with current legal requirements while preserving the core principles and objectives of the reform.

The mechanism is founded on the principles of competence, transparency, impartiality, and integrity, ensuring that senior appointments are based on merit, equal opportunity, and clear, objective criteria. It seeks to strengthen accountability, prevent conflicts of interest, enhance leadership quality and institutional performance, promote diversity and gender balance, and restore public trust in senior public sector appointments.

Before any position is announced, job descriptions and eligibility criteria are prepared in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with institutional needs. Vacant positions are published on a dedicated Senior Recruitment portal on OMSAR’s website, where each position is announced for a specified application period. Interested candidates are required to complete and submit a predefined electronic application form exclusively through the portal within the announced timeframe.

Senior recruitment is conducted through three clearly defined phases: a First Filter, a Formal Assessment, and Interviews.