News

The Institut Français du Liban plans to organise in collaboration with Women in Front one media training workshop for 30 women active in political life in Lebanon.  The aim of this three day training is to develop the media skills of women engaged in political life as well as raise their awareness about the importance of their media work. The training will focus on using social media, preparing press releases and developing communication skills in conflict situations.
Source: L’Orient Le Jour

The Al Ahli Holding Group and the École Supérieure des Affaires ESA announced yesterday the winners of the International Economic Opportunities contest, namely the “ALTO for academic services” submitted by Clara Nader from Lebanon and Jamilah Soueidi from UAE.  The prize amount is USD 20,000 and is to be used towards implementing the project in both Lebanon and UAE and following a contest that was held in Lebanon and the UK some three months ago.
Some 52 young women and men from Lebanon, UAE, UK, Greece and Colombia took part in the two editions of the contest in both Lebanon and the UK where they worked on improving their skills in managing their projects.  After three months of training and marketing research, they worked in teams to present a detailed report about their respective project to a group of experts who assessed them on the basis of their financial viability, their implementation strategies and expected results.  The winning project, “ALTO for academic services”, will result in the set up of a consulting company which seeks to provide students who wish to pursue their studies outside and in the UK with a number of options and choices for academic specializations and training in addition to information about costs.  These services will provide adapted solutions to students seeking to enroll in universities abroad taking into account all the requirements.  The company’s role is therefore to help students complete registration procedure in a simple and trustworthy way.  The services include academic counseling, required degrees, transfer of funds, and provision of financial and logistical services.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 May 2013

The American University of Science and Technology organised yesterday its 12th job opportunities fair on its campus under the auspices of the Minister of Information Walid Daouk and with the attendance of AUST’s president, Hyam Sakr.  Some 130 companies representing the various sectors of tourism, industry, banking, health, ICT, printing, design, insurance, media advertising and marketing, partook in this event.

Minister Daouk noted in his keynote address that this event is important since it seeks to introduce young graduates to the opportunities available on the job market and to help them carve their professional path and develop their professional capacities.  He also insisted on the fact that the job market is in need of young talents given the ability of the youth to produce real change in mindsets especially if young people are armed with education and knowledge.  Daouk concluded by noting the importance of creating a media city in order to attract Arab and foreign media companies as this will undoubtedly create vital new employment opportunities in the media sector.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 21 May 2013

An Nahar published last Sunday the results of a population study undertaken by the Center for Development Studies and Projects (MADMA) based on official statistics, international data and various local surveys such as for instance the survey study on immigration carried out by the Saint Joseph University in 2010.  This population study explores the current demographic situation in Lebanon in relation to families, immigration, education, employment, health and social participation with a focus on youth and women between 15 to 29 years of age.

The study points out to the fact that fertility rate in Lebanon is now very low. In other words, women do not bear more than two children to replace her and her partner.  As a result, the natural population growth in Lebanon is likely to become negative in the future.  The study notes that this is mostly due to the increasing age of marriage which has now reached an average of 29 years for women and 32 years for men.  The study also indicates that the divorce rate has doubled since 1970 and has a higher impact on women than on men.  The number of women divorcees is four times that of men particularly since divorcee men tend to remarry.

The study notes that the illiteracy rate for those over 45 years of age reaches 25% divided into 44% among women and 15% among men. However, girls’ school enrolment tends to be higher than boys in middle, secondary and university levels.  With regards to employment, the study indicated that youth population (between 15 & 29 years old) accounts for 41% of the labor force , however, the participation of young women in economic activity has only increased by 20% from 1970 to 2004 and 15% between 1996 and 2004 despite the increasing enrolment of girls in education. During that period women’s share from senior posts has grown by 57% and by 100% for the expert category.  

The study indicates that all pregnant women covered by the study consult anti-natal care and all have deliveries under doctor’s supervision and in hospital.  However, post natal care remains relatively low but is steadily increasing.  In addition, most young women are aware of the mode of transmission of HIV AIDS and of the fact that practicing safe sex is the best precaution against the disease (despite some regional differences).

Source: Al-Nahar 19 May 2013

The National Comittee for the Follow up of Women's Issues CFUWI organised, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a round table discussion at the American University of Beirut entitled ‘The Quota as a tool to strengthen women’s role in political life”.  The president of CFUWI Fahmieh Charafeddine noted that women of Lebanon were not able to fully engage in political life since 1953.  Marguerite Helou, a political science teacher and an expert in electoral issues, gave an overview of women’s political participation in Lebanon from 1953 to 2013 and pointed out to the low level of women’s political participation with women accounting for only 3.13% of parliament and 4.7% of members of municipal councils as well as a quasi absence of women within the leadership of political parties.  Helou also noted that there is only one women in evangelical religious court and none in the other religious family court.  According to Helou, the challenges that women face in political representation are of social, economic and political nature.  According to the expert, the confessional system is not the key obstacle but rather the electoral laws, absence of accountability and of any form of mechanisms within political parties that ensures equality in opportunities. Thus, women are forced to run as independent candidates in an overall political and social environment in which leaders of confessional communities strongly oppose the nomination of women.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 18, 20 May 2013

The ILO organised last Friday May 17th , a round table discussion on ways to address the recurrent problems facing migrant workers especially in relation to trafficking, exploitation, illegal recruitment, low wages and inhumane working conditions. The round table also focused on ways to enforce laws and conventions ratified by the Lebanese state and how to raise migrant workers’ awareness about their rights.  The Deputy Regional Director/DWT Director Mr. Frank Hagemann participated in this event which was organized within the framework of the Action Programme for Protecting the Rights of Women Migrant Domestic Workers and which is funded by the EU ane the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and which was attended by diplomatic representations of the Egyptian, Sudanese, Philippine and Indonesian embassies, and representatives from the media and human rights organizations.

Hagemann pointed out to the fact that the ILO presented to Lebanon a law proposal which, if endorsed will contribute to protecting the rights of women migrant domestic workers and regulating employment through employment offices in order to ensure transparency and fairness to both employees and employers.

The National Project Coordinator of the Action Programme for Protecting the Rights of Women Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon noted that the embassies who took part in this event agreed to sharing information with the ILO on complaints originating from migrant workers which she noted will shed more lights on this problem.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Mustaqbal 18 May 2013

The Daily Star newspaper published a report on the recently inaugurated Agro Food Development Center and Laboratories at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida. According to Joelle Ojeil, the technical manager of the AFCDL, the centre hosts two types of laboratories namely a micro-biological foods laboratory that provides tests for agricultural products and baked goods, and a laboratory equipped to examine the physical and chemical properties of food products. These tests are requested either by the Consumer Protection Department or from company owners who wish to examine their own products or are in the product development process, according to Ojeil.
In addition, AFDCL hosts a fully equipped pilot plant set up with the financial support of USAID.  The plant is available for lease by beneficiaries seeking to develop new products as well as to experiment new processes, products and equipment.
AFDCL had recently earned the ISO (International Standard Operation) 17025 certification and is also certified by the Ministry of Economy and Trade t receive items for testing from consumer safety departments in Nabatieh and Saida, thus decentralizing food quality management services, most of which are located in the capital.
Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/May-16/217267-new-lab-seeks-to-improve-food-quality-in-the-south.ashx#ixzz2TR5PIUt5">The Daily Star 16 May 2013

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida organised in its premises yesterday a seminar entitled “Together for the financing of small and medium enterprises in Saida and South Lebanon”.  The event was held in collaboration with the Al Baraka bank within the framework of the “Economic dialogue” programme which is produced and hosted by Ghada Ballout from Arab Women TV.
The president of the Chamber, Mohammed Saleh, noted during that seminar that the collaboration between Al Baraka bank and the Chamber for the financing of small and medium enterprises seeks to support the Chamber’s various development programmes especially those targeting the agricultural sector.  These programmes include for instance the hydroponic programme financed by USAID and which seeks to create hydroponics in Lebanon and especially in South Lebanon in order to produce high quality vegetables, fruits, and flowers and thus enable producers to market internationally and raise their income.
Saleh added that a comprehensive study is being prepared with USAID support in order to identify priority needs and to create a model industrial city for light and medium production in South Lebanon.  The model industrial city will enjoy a complete infrastructure. The Chamber also seeks to organise trade exhibitions while pointing out in that context that the Chamber is organising next month a trade exhibition for agro-industry of the South.  
Source: Al-Diyar 16 May 2013

The Beirut Traders Association held a press conference in its premises yesterday in order to kick off the third round of its “grow my business” competition.  This competition aims at developing the comparative advantage of small and medium businesses improve the professional standards of the trade sector and contribute to the sustainable economic growth of the country.  The initiative focuses on existing businesses which owners seek to develop through creative ideas and plans.
The first round of competition was launched in February 2011 in collaboration with the MIT Enterprise Forum for the Arab world and with the participation of Audi Bank – Audi Saradar group. A year later, the second round was released with an increase to 80 million LBP in the size of prizes to creative ideas presented by young entrepreneurs.
Interested participants may access the participation form through http://www.growmybusiness.me. ; A jury composed of key figures from the Beirut Traders associations as well as from MIT Enterprise Forum and Audi Bank who will select the first 25 winners on July 9th 2013.  The selected candidates will then take part in a workshop organised by a number of specialists and experts and which will focus on developing sound business plans.  Following this, the jury will select the best 12 projects.  The finalist will be selected by the end of September and will receive a cash prize of 50 million LBP from Audi Bank.
Source: Al-Nahar 15 May 2013