Seeds of Hope: Salma Khawla and Equality in Lebanon’s Agribusiness

Under the Productive Sector Development Programme, UN Women and the Lebanese League for Women in Business provided support to 25 micro and small businesses in the agrifood sector to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles, principles which guide businesses on empowering women in the workplace, the marketplace and the community.

These businesses have since recruited 33 new women employees, of whom eleven (34 per cent) are women with disabilities. Boustan Salma is a working farm. But it also educates children about day-to-day farming life, including ploughing, harvesting, caring for livestock, and making pasta and other food. Salma believes that implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles in her business has contributed to its success.

 “Including women spurs creativity and problem-solving, and increases innovation”, she says. “Being a part of the Women’s Empowerment Principles has reinforced a workplace culture that promotes gender equality, contributing to overall business performance, sustainability, and long-term success.”

 The Productive Sector Development Programme is a three-year programme implemented by UN Women, FAO, UNIDO, UNDP, UNICEF, and the ILO and funded by the Government of Canada through the Lebanon Recovery Fund. It focuses on gender-responsive job creation and economic opportunities in the agriculture and agrifood sectors, prioritizing women and female youth in disadvantaged areas.