The DL no. 5 granted CDR unprecedented powers to avoid any administrative routine that could slow down the reconstruction process, especially in the financial field. It also defined the scope of work and responsibilities of CDR. The main tasks can be summarized as follows:

Preparing general plan for the country, investment and implementation programs for reconstruction and development projects.

Mobilizing external financing for priority projects within the investment plans.

Implementing projects by appointment from the Council for Ministers.

Taking action in rehabilitating the public administration and reconstruction of the infrastructure and negotiating foreign financing agreements.

Since 1991, with security and peace recovered, CDR has become more and more active: it has prepared and is currently updating the "Horizon 2000" Plan, that calls for 18 B.$. of public investment through 2007 in coordination with all line ministries, it has mobilized over 3 B.$. of external financing, mostly from Arab countries, Europe and the World Bank, and is more and more involved in monitoring, tendering and implementing priority reconstruction and development projects in basic infrastructure, social and productive sectors. Projects for more than 3 B.$. have been awarded until now, mostly in sectors including Power, Health, Education, Water and Waste Water, Telecommunications, Transportation, Roads and Highways.

Targeted sectors for investment planned for 1997 include social sectors, such as Education, Health, Solid Waste Treatment and Water Supply and Waste Water.

Tendering procedure and award of contracts is according to bidding procedures of the Lebanese Government, taking into consideration procurement conditions of foreign funding agencies, and bilateral governmental agreements.