Strengthening the Resilience of Smallholder Farmers, MSME and Local Communities
Lebanon faces a severe economic and financial crisis, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. With rising poverty levels and limited economic opportunities, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and the farming sector require urgent support. Farmers struggle with outdated technology, inadequate extension services, declining soil quality, and inflation, which impact production and resilience. The GIZ project Strengthening the Resilience of Smallholder Farmers, MSMEs, and Local Communities contributes to the BMZ’s Transitional Development Assistance strategy in food security and peaceful communities. Implemented by Dorsch Impact and ICRA/NATAGRI, it strengthens the agricultural sector in the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon regions by helping small-scale farmers adapt their production systems. Throughs, the project supports higher production aligned with market needs. The consortium Dorsch Impact and ICRA/NATAGRI is responsible for ensuring that selected agricultural associations adapt their production systems to meet changing market conditions caused by the crisis.
Disciplines
- Agriculture and Irrigation
- Skills and Economic Development
Companies
Dorsch Impact GmbH
Client
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Duration
From 2023 to 2025
Location
Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
Project Activities
Update value chain analyses to identify products and develop incentive systems promoting good agricultural practices.
Identify and model good agricultural practices to enhance resilience.
Identify producer associations, cooperatives, and vertical cooperation opportunities (e.g., contract farming communities) with the food industry.
Develop the skills of smallholder farmers and build the capacity of associations through:
Advisory services and training programmes linked to good agricultural practices.
Start-up financing for equipment and inputs (e.g., farmer business schools).
Technical and organisational advice for technical development and quality assurance.
Develop and implement pilot projects for innovative practices and marketing at local, regional, and international levels.
Monitoring and Outcomes
Conduct four rounds of data collection to monitor and verify targets.
Support gender-balanced agricultural MSMEs to enhance competitiveness, income stability, and employment opportunities.
Contribute to improved food security through increased local agricultural production.
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to making a positive impact and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project contributes to the following SDGs:
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