Sahel Akkar and Wadi Khaled are two of the poorest clusters of villages in Akkar whose residents largely rely on agriculture for a living. Longstanding vulnerabilities in the area have been compounded by Lebanon’s ongoing socio-economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency, especially for local farmers who can no longer afford to cover rising costs of production. This has severely stunted local livelihoods and has fueled growing communal tensions over limited income-generation opportunities. In response, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP) and its local partner Rene Moawad Foundation (RMF) are implementing an income-generating labor-intensive work (LIW) activity to provide short-term work opportunities for Lebanese residents to sustainably improve the lands and livelihoods of local farmers. Following the completion of first-aid trainings by the Lebanese Red Cross to selected workers, by the end of November 2022, CSP and RMF had initiated the first cycle of site works which include clearing irrigation canals, as well as other maintenance works needed on the farming plots. This activity will support up to 254 vulnerable beneficiaries, in addition to improving the cultivation process for around 50 local farmers. CSP expects to complete the intervention in January 2023.

“This temporary financial support will help me purchase needed medication for my family. I feel proud to be assisting farmers in improving their lands, which in turn will bring a positive impact on the local economy,” stated Khaled Hakkoum, labor-intensive beneficiary worker in Qlaiaat, Sahel Akkar.