Target group. The project's direct beneficiaries will be poor small farm households, with a particular focus on women-headed households, that: (i) have been directly or indirectly affected by the war in July 2006; (ii) have landholdings outside the existing irrigation schemes; and (iii) derive their livelihoods from agriculture production and agro-food processing. Project objectives. The overall goal of the project is to reduce rural poverty in neglected and war-affected hilly areas by increasing agricultural productivity, agriculture-based income and employment. The increase in agricultural productivity will be achieved by: (i) improving water management in rainfed areas through participatory agricultural development that promotes watershed-based water and soil conservation; and (iii) strengthening market linkages for smallholders through more accessible services and better organization of farmers. Project description. The project will have three components. These will be further developed during project design:
Potential cofinanciers. Discussions are under way with the Italian Development Cooperation. Photo caption 1: IFAD photo by Jon Spaull - Lebanon, Smallholder Livestock Rehabilitation Project - A shepherd pictured against a rocky landscape in the Bekaa valley. Photo caption 2: IFAD photo by Jon Spaull - Lebanon, Smallholder Livestock Rehabilitation Project - Mustafadi Souadsoukoh makes yoghurt from sheep milk from her home in Baalbek. She has attended a two-month course on preparing and preserving food hygienically. |
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Project area. The project will cover the eastern and western sides of Mount Lebanon as well as the slopes of Mount Anti-Lebanon. The exact geographic area will be defined during project design using specific technical and poverty criteria.
Important features. The agricultural sector was severely hit during the war in 2006. Loss of agricultural production worsened the living conditions and increased income disparities among the most vulnerable populations in all affected rural areas, particularly agricultural poverty pockets. In response to a request from the Government of Lebanon, IFAD is planning to resume its financing of rural development projects in Lebanon. The proposed project is consistent with the Government's strategy for reconstruction and development following the July 2006 war. It has been built around two objectives related to rural poverty reduction: (i) improved water management; and (ii) better market linkages for smallholders. The project will promote the adoption of a participatory as well as a watershed management approach.