Founded in 1997, the Social and Cultural Development Association (Inma) is a Lebanon-based, not-for-profit, non-government organization, dedicated to social and cultural development, with a focus on Lebanon’s rural villages. One of Inma’s missions is to create job opportunities in rural areas, particularly for women, through vocational training and income generating activities. Some of the income generating projects Inma has undertaken in recent years include the production of chocolate, sweet dry fruits and vegetables, rose and flower water, olive oil sap, and jams and pickles. Inma also provides computer training in rural areas through a network of computer centers, provides health services through a number of clinics, operates libraries and youth programs, and organizes environmental educational programs in different regions of Lebanon.

The Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries was founded in 1995 by industry firms in response to the need to develop this important sector by gathering the Lebanese agro-industrial companies under one organized structure. The Syndicate seeks to achieve a number of objectives through its activities, including supporting the economic and commercial development of the agro-industrial sector in Lebanon; improving product quality and standards; establishing cooperatives and productive projects; collaborating with universities to orient research and education/training to specific industry issues; supporting private research for solving technical problems; and coordinating with the government to establish a supportive policy environment. Over the past several years, the Syndicate has worked closely with SRI International under the sponsorship of USAID/Lebanon to improve several aspects of the Lebanese agro-industry, including product quality, safety, and health standards; U.S. market requirements; packaging; international marketing; and branding.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association's Educational Institute is the premier source for delivering quality hospitality education, training, and professional certification that serves the needs of hospitality schools and industries worldwide. Established in 1953, AH&LA/EI continues to meet and exceed its education and training mission by using the Internet, videos, textbooks, study guides, courseware, seminars, multi-media CD-ROM programs, and distance learning courses to train all levels of personnel. AH&LA/EI is noted for Professional Certification, the ultimate distinction of professional excellence for the lodging industry. AH&LA/EI certifies and validates competencies for 35 positions in the hospitality industry. Designations from line level to general manager, including the prestigious CHA—the Certified Hotel Administrator designation—are earned through a combination of experience and education. Professional Certification from AH&LA/EI is the ultimate distinction of professional excellence for the hospitality industry. AH&LA/EI is partnering with SRI in Lebanon to deliver hospitality skills training in growth poles throughout the country.

The Professional Computer Association (PCA) is a Lebanon-based, not-for-profit business organization. In the summer of 2001, PCA launched the Internet Point of Presence Initiative (PiPOP) (http://www.pipop.org/) to establish self-supporting Internet access centers in rural villages and towns all over Lebanon. The objectives of the initiative are to eliminate the “digital divide” in Lebanon’s rural areas, enhance computer literacy and Internet usage, and help to create jobs, through the provision of inexpensive Internet access, in a professional manner. PiPOP is a community-centered project that relies on the collaboration of the local communities to be successful. PCA provides project management, technical specifications, logistical support, and supervision of the PiPOP initiative, and collaborates with universities for education, field technical support, and monitoring. The local community is responsible for local management, operation and maintenance, and receives knowledge transfer throughout the project. Since its inception, the PiPOP project has proven to be an effective means to extend computer literacy and Internet access to the rural regions of Lebanon. The project also shows enormous potential for narrowing the information and marketing gap for Lebanon’s remote and underdeveloped regions.