Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the Lebanon Export Academy Graduation Ceremony

Representatives of Government institutions,

Distinguished participants,

Colleagues,

Good afternoon,

I am very pleased to join you all today at the graduation ceremony of the Lebanon Export Academy.

Let me start by reiterating, on behalf of the UN system in Lebanon, our deep appreciation to the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon for its steady commitment and solidarity with Lebanon and its people, and for its generous contribution to the Lebanon Recovery Fund, through which the UN Productive Sectors Development Programme (PSDP) saw the light. 

I also take this opportunity to thank the Ministries of Industry, Agriculture and Economy and Trade present with us today for their unwavering support and continued collaboration, without which the Lebanon Export Academy implemented by UNIDO and UNDP in partnership with Berytech, would not have been possible. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Our support must match the scale of the needs. And the needs are unfortunately overwhelming and even becoming more compelling amid the unfolding economic and financial crisis. 

Accordingly, strengthening and promoting the productive sectors should be prioritized in Lebanon's economic policy discourse. For this reason, the Productive Sectors Development Programme (PSDP) holds significant importance and relevance. It focuses on job creation and the provision of economic opportunities in the agri-food and agriculture sectors while prioritizing women and female youth in disadvantaged areas. 

Six UN entities joined forces in implementing this program that is coordinated by my office. They consist of UNIDO, FAO, UNDP, ILO, UN WOMEN and UNICEF, and I seize this opportunity to commend their devotion to the mission and goals of this joint project and recognize their inspiring and exemplary work. 

Ever since its inception, this program succeeded in achieving some positive results that I heard firsthand from different women and men beneficiaries during my field visits, which are worth highlighting on this special occasion: 

To improve the enabling policy environment for women’s economic empowerment and active participation in the productive sector, PSDP conducted a thorough review of legislations to determine existing gender gaps. It also held a series of roundtable consultations with over 100 key stakeholders and Members of Parliament (MPs), which led to the identification of priority reforms that were submitted for adoption by the Parliament. Concurrently, a gender analysis report was also developed to address key barriers to women’s economic participation in the productive sectors, mainly in industry and agriculture. 

On improving access of women and men-led MSMEs to international markets in the productive sectors, five platforms and market intelligence tools were developed in partnership with the Ministries of Industry, Agriculture and Economy and Trade, and with IDAL and Berytech. 

Concurrently, 142 agri-food MSMEs took part in international and national fairs organized by the UN with the private sector, out of which 7% registered an increase in their export following the Business-To-Business (B2B) meetings. 

All the more, the Programme is still working on strengthening the fruits, vegetables, pulses, and nuts value chain in Northern Lebanon and has so far yielded many results. I will name a few: 

• 14 farmers’ field schools were created in Northern Lebanon, providing technical support to farmers. 
• 524 individuals received technical training on agro-food processing (87% are women), while an additional 679 farmers (59% women) benefited from training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Over 600 women received soft skills, leadership, and business management skills. 

Distinguished participants, Business leaders,

The PSDP has gathered all of us here today to celebrate you, the 50 agri-food MSMEs and cooperatives, who are graduating from the Lebanon Export Academy. This academy illustrates an excellent example of Private and Public Partnership (PPP) and of an innovative e-learning platform that is available and accessible to all. 

It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today to congratulate you on completing your training. Today, through you, I see a growing momentum for change in the productive sectors as I am sure you will put the acquired knowledge into practice, help create more jobs, and achieve great things in this sector. With your persistence and burning ambition, you will help lay the foundations for Lebanon’s economic recovery, with women at the center. 

I wish you all every success. 

Thank you, and once again: ‘Mabrouk’ – you did it!