Promoting Women Participation in the economic and public sectors in Lebanon
(project)
The National Nature Park project for Akkar
In 2009, the project supported the initiation of women's committees in five pilot villages (Akkar el Attika, Ain Yacoub, Fneideq, Muchmuch and Qobayat), located in the perimeter of the future National Natural Park in Upper Akkar.
In 2010, the process was continued with five other villages (Andaquet, Bezbina, Hrar, Rahbe et Tikrit).
One of the objectives was to involve the women of these villages in the dialogue on the project of the Park that, until then, had mostly concerned the municipal councils in the villages, which are mainly composed out of men.
In the first phase, the concerned women participated in awareness sessions on crucial environmental issues of the area (water, waste management), after which they were able to define the environmental priorities for their own village. They had the occasion to initiate preliminary contacts with the person in charge at the municipality and discussed potential ideas of cooperation.
In the second phase, most of the women got involved in the preparation of a territorial plan for the Park (elements of a charter for the National Park). They produced a synthetic document on their vision, priority axes and potential projects and continued their discussion with the municipalities and the Technical Park Committee.
The women's groups were also involved in the production of a mobile exhibition on the nature richness of Upper Akkar and on the threats the area is facing. The mobile exhibition is circulating in 15 villages concerned by the Park to be created.
The women's committees had also the opportunity to visit nature reserves in order to exchange experiences and initiate a Park network. Furthermore, they are now discussing with the municipalities on the opportunity to integrate the municipalities' technical committees.
....