rural development

The team of the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project has completed the set up of new oregano production units in Akkar following field visits to 16 villages in the area.  This effort was conducted within the framework of the Afkaar 3 programme implemented by the Safadi foundation in collaboration with AIDA, a Spanish NGO, with financial support from the European Union, and managed by OMSAR. The project director, Dr. Ghassan Sroor, clarified that this stage of the project was conducted by engineers and included the set up of irrigation systems, distribution of seedling, and provision of instructions on planting and caring for the oregano seedling in addition to providing the needed care and technical advice to beneficiaries.  Sroor added that women participating in this project have shown commitment to the project activities especially after they started to benefit economically through marketing some of their products to restaurant as well as drying the oregano and selling it later.
To be reminded that the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project will continue over a two year period.  The project will contribute to creating work opportunities for more than 80 women in different villages in Akkar.  It also seeks to strengthen the economic value of natural resources as well as facilitate the participation of women in agricultural activities which will help them find a new source of income. Also to be recalled that WEEPortal covered last week one related news entitled:  "Safadi Foundation’s thyme growing project in Akkar to empower women".

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 September 2014
 

Kferselwan hosted over one week an exhibition of 10 development projects designed by students of the Lebanese Amercican University.  These ten projects were graduation projects prepared under the supervision of engineer Hala Younes.  The projects address the problematic of the relation between urbanization and the changing space in Mount Lebanon through a study of the village of Kfarselwan in the upper Metn.  These projects were designed in such a way that they are in harmony with the local rural environment and its environmental characteristics.  The project are based on the intersections of the mountain scenery, the historical genesis of the place and its social and economic conditions with emphasis on agricultural transformation, construction and the proximity of forests and the rampant quarries.
Source: Al-Nahar 4 July 2014

The new Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, stressed the importance of monitoring and control of any forest exploitation and development project. The Minister was speaking yesterday with the project team during the presentation of the "project to support local development in North Lebanon" (ADELNORD), which covers the areas of Akkar, Dennyeh highlands and Hermel. The project which is implemented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and with grant funding amounting to 18 million Euros, from the European Union, includes several components namely: the construction of a 130 kilometer long agricultural road, 80 kilometer meter long irrigation canals as well as one sand pond.  The project will also entail the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructures in collaboration with local municipalities, cooperatives, local agricultural centers and the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute.  Other components include the setting up of local community organisations for water users/consumers in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Water and the water directorates in the Beqaa and the North as well as supporting municipalities to develop and implement local development plans.
After presenting the project, emphasis was placed on its environmental component as Chehayeb noted the importance of putting in place strict control mechanisms to make use of forests so that the project does not allow indiscriminate tree cutting.  He also emphasized the importance of environmental awareness in order to preserve Lebanon’s natural wealth and encourage environmental tourism.  He also spoke of the need to set up management systems that regulate investments in forests while preserving and protecting them from fire.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 20 March 2014

The Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the American University of Beirut announced that it will be launching, before the end of the current year, a new higher degree program in Rural Development.  The program is entitled Masters of Sciences in Rural Communities Development and will enable students to build their capacities in community development and so as to be able to better plan and implement local development projects in both the private and public sectors and in both Lebanon, the region and beyond.  The program will include a number of axis namely the cooperative and multidisciplinary approaches so as to enable students to acquire knowledge and skills and to help organizations and communities in planning various programmes.  The program also will seek to enable students to bear responsibilities as planners and also qualify them for further education, or as experts in economic development in addition to being decision makers, practitioners, and administrators whether locally, regionally or globally.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 24 February 2014
 

BBAC won the award for the “rural development” category of the third edition of the Social and Economic Awards offered to the bank for its contribution to the “Live Lebanon” initiative which is implemented by the Bank with financial support of the UNDP and within the framework of the CDR programme entitled Local Social Development for a Better Lebanon. It is to be noted the initiative has implemented, during 2013, some 15 development projects located in remote rural areas of Lebanon.
The award was granted during a ceremony organised by First Protocol in collaboration with the Central Bank, Association of Banks in Lebanon, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the Franchise association, the Federation of Lebanese business people, as well as a number of private sector companies.
Source: Al-Diyar 27 November 2013