 Background and Introduction
In November 2002, SRI International signed a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development in Lebanon (USAID) to implement a three year ‘Expanding Economic Opportunities Project’ in rural Lebanon. SRI was one of five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to receive grants under this project, the others being the YMCA, Mercy Corps, World Vision, and the Cooperative Housing Foundation.
SRI’s goal in this project is to support efforts to revive economic development in rural Lebanon by helping create, in a sustainable manner, opportunities for increased employment and income for people living outside the main urban areas of the country, and in so doing help create conditions for reducing the undesirable trend of emigration from these areas to the cities and overseas.
Since commencing work, SRI has adopted in its first year a multi-dimensional implementation strategy:
First, we are concentrating on initiatives in three specific sectors of the economy that offer growth
potential for rural Lebanon – Tourism, Agribusiness, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Second, we are focusing on specific ‘growth pole’ areas of rural Lebanon that we have determined possess the current or potential combination of human, physical, and natural resources for sustainable economic growth in each particular sector.
Third, SRI is working at the national level with industry syndicates and NGO’s such as the Professional Computer Association (PCA), Social and Cultural Development Association (INMA), and the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI). Our objective is to encourage more cooperation within and between sectors, the formulation of better policies and programs that will facilitate and enable the private sector to expand its operations and services to rural Lebanon, and more openness and transparency between rural and urban businesses.
Fourth, SRI is engaging experienced private sector expert economists to identify and articulate the demand for Lebanese products in the world economy- specifically Europe and North America – and to assist in marketing the three sectors at trade shows and other venues where buyers and sellers can establish connections.
Fifth, we are working closely with international and local experts to provide value-added insights, ideas, training, and direction in each of the three sectors. This includes the internationally recognized American Hotel and Lodging Association for training, a highly respected and experienced Lebanese tourism expert for overall counsel and guidance, several local eco-tourist operators for new tourism products in rural Lebanon, member companies of the Professional Computer Association for sophisticated website development, and experienced, international olive oil production experts to raise awareness and train local growers and producers how to implement economically sensible, quality improvement practices.
Sixth, and extremely important, SRI is committed to develop baseline economic data in each of the sectors and growth poles where we are working, to understand the current status of people and sectors vis-ŕ-vis employment, income, number of businesses, and other relevant data. This will be monitored throughout the life of the project, and used as the basis for objectively evaluating any changes in the sectors and target areas in which we are working.
Some specific examples of SRI activities in each of the three sectors are described below:
 Agribusiness
Market Assessments – 1. SRI consultants carried out studies of the Olive Oil Markets in Europe and North America respectively in early 2003, the results of which were presented in Beirut in early July at a national olive oil workshop. These assessments assessed the demand for olive oil, what countries and companies are participating currently, the requirements for entry into the market, and the names of companies and individuals now in the business. 2. Studies of the Herb and Spice Markets in the same regions have been carried out, and the information will be disseminated at a national workshop in early October. 3. A similar study of the Organic Food Market is currently underway and is targeted for completion and dissemination at concurrent with the herbs and spices studies. Olive Oil Venture – Based on the above-mentioned studies, SRI began in March to organize, coordinate, and facilitate the creation of a multi-member olive export marketing venture to North America during 2003. Over fourteen separate groups, companies, and cooperatives from almost every olive oil producing area of Lebanon have indicated their interest. For its part, SRI is coordinating contacts with specific buyers in the United States and Canada, is helping organize the testing, bottling, labeling and shipping of test shipments, and is supporting awareness-raising training about quality control for farmers, growers and producers of olive oil.
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Launch of "Traditions du Liban"
Lebanon Opportunities
July Issue
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Social and Cultural Development Association (INMA) – SRI is working in close collaboration with the Lebanese NGO – INMA - in all three sectors of its project. In agriculture, SRI is supporting three specific projects – the creation of an oregano nursery, a kiwi fruit farm, the planting of artichokes in selected farms. The goal of these projects is to provide new, sustainable, market-driven economic opportunities for farmers looking to expand their products and markets.
Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI) – SRI is supporting efforts to build the institutional capacity of SLFI, attend specific international food marketing expositions such as the recently-held New York Fancy Food Show (where several Lebanese food companies successfully found an expanding market for their products in North America), upgrading Lebanese capacity in food technology, building awareness of international standards and requirements for food exports into specific markets, and support specific sectors such as the dairy industry as it works to establish better, more transparent market regulations and procedures.
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Tourism
Rural and Eco-Tourism and Growth Pole Development
– Support has begun and will continue to be given to the growth of eco-tourism throughout the country. New product development, marketing within Lebanon and internationally, developing expanded website access, and close support to communities and local organizations in our growth poles areas will continue to be the main thrust of SRI’s tourism sector activities. Growth poles are now being developed in the Chouf, Tannourine/Duma, and Tyre. Hospitality Industry Training - SRI contracted the American Hotel and Lodging Association to conduct a range of training activities for people working primarily in the Chouf, Tyre, Tannourine, and Tripoli growth pole areas of rural Lebanon. In 2003, workshops have been held for training of hospitality trainers and supervisors, training in Skills for Success for line employees in hotels and restaurants, and entrepreneurship training (under contract with the International Management Training Institute – IMTI) for small business owners in rural Lebanon. As new growth poles are identified and training materials and courses are more closely adapted to the needs and conditions of rural Lebanon, training will expand and become more focused to support growth pole economic development and, in some cases revival, of eco-tourism and traditional tourism such as the summer festivals in rural Lebanon. Social and Cultural Development Association (INMA)
– Through its national network, and using its organizational talents and expertise, in 2003 INMA used the resources of SRI to develop a highly-popular set of brochures about the four main summer festival regions in Lebanon – Tyre, Chouf, Baalbeck, and Byblos.
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Information Communication Technology (ICT)
PiPOP (Internet Sites) - Through a contract with the Professional Computer Association, SRI is supporting the expansion of
PiPOP centers (PIPOP : PCA Internet Point Of Presence) throughout rural Lebanon, building awareness-building about computer and internet uses, supporting agribusiness and tourism development in rural Lebanon. In 2003, six new centers – each with a bank of computers, a printer, internet access, local management, cost-sharing from the communities, and each receiving regular training from PCA – have been constructed and will be fully operational by the end of September. Promotion of Lebanon’s ICT Industry – PCA will be participating in two large, Regional information technology industry trade shows in September and October, with partial support from SRI. The first is in Lebanon – Termium, and the second in Dubai in October. These shows provide the opportunity for the Lebanon ICT industry to demonstrate its talents and products to a large, growing, and potentially very lucrative audience. ICT Sector Policy Reform – Several constraints still exist in Lebanon preventing the potential of Lebanon’s ICT industry from fully developing. SRI is working with PCA to identify key issues that can be properly, thoroughly, and successfully addressed and improved upon, thus benefiting the ICT industry specifically, and importantly the people of Lebanon, urban and rural.
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