NNA - Minister of International Development of Canada Harjit S. Sajjan today met with FAO project beneficiaries of the Beit Chama women informal group in their facility in Baalbek.Ambassador of Canada to Lebanon, Chantal Chastenay and FAO Representative in Lebanon, Nora Ourabah Haddad took part in thevisit.

Funded by the Government of Canada, FAO implements the project "Support to Women’s cooperatives and associations in the agrifood sector of Lebanon" in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Cooperatives. The project aims to empower rural women in Lebanon and improve their livelihoods through capacity building, grants, and cash for work.

Minister Sajjan discussed with members of the informal group the positive impact of the project on their livelihoods. Thanks toCanada’s support, including through cash grants, the members of the Beit Chama informal group were able to buy machinery and utensils for Kishk production in addition to installing solar panels to increasethe yield and enhance the marketing of their products.

The Beit Chama informal group is one of 150 women groups selected by the project to receive cash or in-kind grants. Since its launch in 2019, the FAO project has contributed to building the capacities of 255 women groups (cooperatives, associations, and informal groups) by enrolling its members in Cooperative Business School, and has supported them to develop professional and sustainable business plans.

In partnership with Canada, FAO is implementing a separate projectthat strengthens the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farm families affected by the economic crisis and on restoring the livelihoods and productive capacity of 4 600 vulnerable smallholder farmers, including at least 2 320 women. -- FAO Lebanon

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