Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsLebanon
Location
-
€ 1,238,829
Committed
Committed
€ 743,297
Used
Used
Description
The project aims at strengthening socioeconomic development and promoting social cohesion in the governorates of Mount Lebanon and Baalbek-Hermel, particularly in villages where Christian communities represent a minority thus are more likely to be vulnerable on a socioeconomic level. The underlying premise of the project is the recognition that the Christian community is a minority in the targeted areas, thus being involved in social tensions and instability with other religious groups. Therefore, the project prioritizes an intervention aiming at both the socioeconomic inclusion of members of the Christian community (R1) and the social cohesion among the different communities (R2) living in the selected areas. By improving the socioeconomic conditions of Christian minorities through capacity-building and peacebuilding methods, the project intends to enhance the overall well-being of the entire community. The direct beneficiaries of the project are 110 individuals residing in the two governorates, including 60 owners of micro-agricultural enterprises and/or home-based businesses, the cooperative Souhoulouna, and the Jabbouleh convent (R1). Additionally, 440 members of the representative communities, including local authorities and civil society, will benefit from the project's efforts to foster social cohesion (R2). Given the unique combination of inter-sectarian tensions, social instability, and economic challenges in these areas, the project adopts an integrated approach combining economic inclusion, social protection, and intercommunity peacebuilding. This approach combines training cycles on agricultural techniques and innovative financial instruments with interfaith dialogue tables, in order to improve the living conditions of Christian communities but also foster peaceful and non-discriminatory coexistence among the different social groups. More specifically, the project is structured around two main Pillars. The first Pillar, coordinated by ARCS, focuses on the training of individuals and businesses from the target communities engaged in agriculture. It also involves their engagement in the mechanism of Social Revolving Funds, namely financial instruments aimed at supporting businesses in a particular socioeconomic context and directed towards the development of the entire receiving community. The principle behind this practice involves a revolving mechanism of social return, wherein the beneficiary businesses commit to implementing social initiatives for the benefit of their communities. The second Pillar, coordinated by UPP, aims to develop the peacebuilding and social cohesion component in a complementary manner to the first line of action, involving representatives of all communities residing in the target areas, including local authorities and civil society. The added value of the partnership with UPP and the Lebanese NGO Permanent Peace Movement (PPM) lies in their expertise in capacity-building for peaceful coexistence and non-violence within polarized communities. UPP's staff will conduct a systematic analysis of conflicts, followed by open forums on interreligious coexistence and workshops, targeting youth in particular. These workshops will cover topics such as leadership, conflict resolution, and creative-collaborative activities, such as sports events and artistic-cultural activities.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | € 1,238,829 | € 743,297 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| National NGO | ARCS - ARCI CULTURE SOLIDALI ONLUS | 22000 |
Project data
Sectors
Policy markers
SDGs
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