Programs

Working in eight fields of competences – Education, Information Technology, Civic Engagement and Governance, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Women Empowerment, Agriculture, Environment, and Relief Services – the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development Projects provide the opportunity to tackle specific challenges and to seek innovative solutions to major/minor development bottlenecks.

Our belief both in knowledge exchange at the grassroots level and in the academic knowledge have helped us design an efficient method of project implementation and project sustainability.

The process of implementation we have reached illustrates a move away from top-down, centrist approaches to an approach based on the identified needs of communities and grassroots implementers. Our methodology focuses at building local capacity at the grassroots level for implementation of effective interventions through participatory approach for eventual devolution of responsibility and local ownerships.

Over the past thirty years, the Foundation has implemented around 70 projects with more than 30 local, regional, and international partners. The Foundation’s spirit and added-value in project implementation has gained the trust of major international and regional organizations.

Women Empowerment

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development views gender not only from an equity perspective, but also from an efficiency perspective because gender inequality not only perpetuates economic and social imbalances, but it is also an obstacle to reaching developmental objectives especially the Millennium Development Goals and the country’s own national goals. The adoption of this concept of gender in economics calls for the need to account for how gender relations shape economic and social relations.

Hence, the “Women Empowerment Program” has been constructed around this radical approach to gender acknowledging the fact that men and women participate on unequal terms in markets because of social and legal constraints on Lebanese women’s participation. The Program aims at both empowering the women socially, legally and economically and creating gender sensitive institutions and public opinion.

"Khede Kasra" Campaign

"Khede Kassra" is an integrated campaign initiated by Hariri Foundation, which serves to encourage women to take things in control, and believe that they can make a change with a small move, with the change of an accent mark; it pushes women to make society hear them when it comes to their responsibilities, their rights and their will.

As a part of the campaign, stickers of the accent mark were distributed nationwide, and the area's women were asked to apply them onto signage, thereby implying an empowering gesture.

Even though the road is long to reach a point where men and women are equal in the Arab world, this campaign is a start, an innovative step forward, which received very positive feedback and responses.

The campaign was such a success that the Kuwaiti newspaper, "Al Qabas", openly asked to "steal" it and apply it to their society, hoping to make a change and get women to be involved in the elections of their country, as stated in "Al Qabas", Thursday 30th April, 2009.

"Khede Kasra" Awards (2009)

o CANNES International Advertising Festival

- PR Gold Lion

o GOLDEN DRUM Awards

- Media Grand Prix

- Outdoor Grand Prix

- PR Gold

o LOERIE Awards

Silver:

- Integrated Campaign

o EPICA Awards

-EPICA Print

o DUBAI LYNX International Advertising Festival

Gold:

- Integrated Campaign

- Direct Event/ Field Marketing

- Non- Profit Organization Media

- Best Use of Ambient Media

- Best Use of Mixed Media

Silver:

- Best Use of Newspapers/Magazines

- Radio

o MENA CRISTAL AWARDS

- Festival Grand Prix

- Integrated Grand Prix

- Corporate - Social Prize

Projects in Women Empowerment

Social & Legal Empowerment of Women in Lebanon

Anamilouna

Summits and Forums

Agriculture

In spirit of the "Right to Food", The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development has structured/developed its Sustainable Agriculture Program around improving the farmers’ socio-economic conditions and enhancing their knowledge by introducing new agricultural technologies and farming strategies.

Considering that the economic progress in the agricultural sector is crucial to raising incomes of the poor and increasing food supplies, the Agriculture Program at the Foundation works at providing the small-scale Lebanese farmer with technical assistance and advice to help them meet the challenges of increasing production on land already in use. Also by avoiding further encroachment on land that is only marginally suitable for cultivation.

The Foundation addresses the following obstacles that hinder the development of the agricultural sector in Lebanon:

High costs of production
Absence of standards, norms and quality controls
Lack of commercial structures and support of existing farmer coops
Lack of agricultural extension services for technical assistance services (especially, banana, vegetables, avocado, citrus, and cut flowers)
Absence of effective communication among the farmers
Absence of irrigation systems and the usage of inefficient means of irrigation
Lack of qualified workers
Absence of tree nurseries specialized in the cultivation of fruit trees and producing virus-free, disease-free, and true-to-type fruit trees

The Agriculture Program at the Hariri Foundation assists regional producers and farmers in realizing their financial objectives as well as quality products by providing free consultation and education services, research and expositions.

Do you want to know more details on the component of our Sustainable Agriculture Program?

The Hariri Foundation agriculture specialists advise on irrigation and fertilization operations, crop production (new techniques), horticulture, and farm management. The consultation and development programs are at our primary focus:

Aiding farmers to reduce their costs by:

- Supporting their cooperatives and associations
- Providing services and agricultural equipment at reduced price
- Improving their products’ quality and productivity

Informing and training farmers through:

- Technical assistance from agricultural engineers present in the region
- Training on the importance of the preservation of natural resources

Linking farmers to international and local markets by:

- Involving them in direct contacts with exporters and buyers
- Informing them about market trends and channels

Projects in Agriculture

Improve Banana Production in the South

Develop Flower Production and Marketing

Improve Vegetable Production in Greenhouses in the South

School Gardens

Roof Gardens

Develop Blossom and Rose Water Production in Maghdoucheh

Establish Subtropical Fruit Tree Nursery

Develop the Olive Oil Sector in South Lebanon

Improve the Agro-food Production by Ahlouna Organization

Up-Grade Agro-food Production Industry for Moassat Organization

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) on Grapes and Olives

Cultural Heritage and Tourism

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development greatly values the rich cultural legacy Lebanon has inherited from past civilizations with five World Heritage Sites designated by UNESCO and considers safeguarding this distinguished culture among its top priorities. Founded at a time when Lebanon’s cultural heritage faced many threatening and destructive factors, this Programme has taken upon duty the mission to conserve and provide innovative management strategies of rich legacy. Moreover, the Programme carries projects to enable the local community to discover means on how to economically benefit from the rich … that will actively feed into cultural tourism.

"Hand in hand with the local residents, we have been successful in portraying the additional economic value of our cultural fortunes."

Projects in Cultural Heritage and Tourism

Empowering the Tourism and Handicraft Sector in Old Saida

Education

Originally founded to support in building human capital, the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development shares the view that education is the key for sustainable social and economic development, and that all children should have an opportunity to learn, achieve, and reach their full potential, regardless of their economic conditions. Throughout decades, the Foundation has carried projects aimed at supporting and extending the work of educators; in particular, educators involved in public schools.

Hariri Schools

Projects in Education

Our Right to Succeed

The National Project for Community Service and Conflict Resolution

LEARN

Combating Child Labor

Healing By Art

Kitab fi Jarida

Hariri Schools

Environment

Recognizing the unfortunate fact that the impact of human activity on the global environment threatens the survival of the biosphere and the future generations; the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development aims to give a human face to the environmental issues by developing further its "environmental program", engaging the local community on environmentally-challenging issues such s water efficiency, energy conservation, and forestation, believing that we each make a difference for our environment.

The programs primary objective is to achieve sustainable conservation of natural resources by raising the awareness of the community on future implications of its actions, builds its capacity for adopting a green life that improves the quality of their lives without compromising that of future generations and empower people to become active agents of sustainable development.

Projects in Environment

"Reforestation & Environmental Awareness" Activity

Water and Energy conservation

Sewage System Rehabilitation Project in Al Taameer / Al Villat region

Governance and Civic Engagement

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development strongly emphasizes the role of citizens in the process of development where behind a healthy society lies a vibrant citizen sector and citizens - individuals, families and communities that dedicate their efforts to the public realm. For years, the “Governance and Civic Engagement” Programme at the Foundation has developed unprecedented and successful civic networks that reflect active civic engagement aimed at voicing the needs of the community towards an accountable government and a responsive private sector in the ultimate aim of creating a positive social change. The Programme takes upon itself the mission of strengthening the relationship between civil society, the state and the private sector by designing capacity building workshops and activities that equip the citizens with active tools to positively intervene and achieve good governance and sustained development.

· Shape developmental agenda

· Learn how to voice your needs

Civil Networks

Training Capacity Building

Democracy

Urban Development

Information Technology

This program aims to incorporate the ICT element to almost all of the operating projects aimed at building the technical and computer-networking abilities and skills of the Lebanese; in particular, teachers, youth and women in order to provide them with the opportunity to actively benefit from the emerging knowledge societies.

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development has been selected by the Ministry of Education as a partner in effectively integrating the usage of Information Technology into the classroom for better teaching and learning.

Projects in Information Technology

Achieving E-quality

ICT Education in Lebanon

ISEF

Intel - Teach to the Future

iEARN

Cisco IT Essentials

Cisco Certified Network Associate(CCNA)

LebNEN( Lebanese National Education Network)

Relief Services

Outreach and Leadership Academy

OLA-Outreach & Leadership Academy- in Saida, was inaugurated on February 20, 2015 and is in partnership with the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development. A newly restored 18th century premises, OLA, located in Old Downtown Sidon, is the South of Lebanon headquarters for LAU and HFSHD which acts as a beacon for civic engagement and an open space for all parents, students, teachers and practitioners to learn more about LAU and to engage in all its leadership and civic engagement initiatives. With its motto “Educate, Empower, Engage”, OLA aims at establishing a culture of civic engagement, social awareness, leadership formation and citizenship reinforcement with the ultimate objective of strengthening human development through enhancing social peace, building human capacity and promoting economic opportunities.

Objectives:

- Educate, empower and engage the local communities in South Lebanon

- Build human capacities and promote economic opportunities

- Contribute in poverty alleviation in the old city of Saida and other marginalized areas

Results (till present):

- 2640 certifications were so far provided for trainees who completed the following programs:

English Training Program (2015- present)
Model of Arab League “MAL” program (2015 and 2016)
Student Centered Teaching certified program (2016)
Life Skills program (2015- 2016)
Governorate training program (2015 and 2016)
Entrepreneurship & Employability workshop
“We Care” program
“Awaken the strategic leader in you” program

- Participants enrolled in Ola also participated in the following awareness and capacity-building events, of such:

· the Educational Forum

· the Consultation Meeting “World Bank”

· the Central Bank “Global Money Week event”

. the Breast Cancer Awareness Day

The School Network of Saida and Neighboring Towns

The School Network of Saida and Neighboring Towns was initially established as an assembly of schools in 2001. The initiative to connect the schools was taken by her Excellency MP Bahia Hariri, the head of Parliamentarian Committee for Education and Culture. Mrs. Hariri had observed that the family unit in Saida was becoming less and less connected due to many factors with education being a major one.

Mrs. Hariri had observed that families, in Saida and around the country, have to struggle to make ends meet particularly when it came to educating their children. Education in Lebanon is becoming increasingly unaffordable. The burden is exacerbated amongst families of three or more children. One of the solutions that many families have adopted is choosing different schools for their children ; sending some to public schools, others to free-of-charge schools and one, if possible, to a private school. This solution, while it grants access to education for the children in a financially manageable manner, is negatively impacting the family unit. It is causing dismantling of the family unit as the children bring in to their homes different sets of values and norms from their different schools. Add to that, the different levels of education depending on the resources of every school.

This observation troubled her so she decided to take action. She shared this observation with a group of school principals in the area of Saida and discovered that this was also realized by many of them. She initiated a discussion to find common grounds, values and ways to unify some aspects of the schools. The goal was to seek ways to ensure that all the children, no matter what school they attended, own a sense of harmony in what they bring home; be it values, projects or anything pertaining to school. Equity of quality education was identified as one of the major ways to achieve the goal. The principals, with the support of Mrs.Hariri, established a forum where they meet once a month and discuss different issues in order to develop unified strategic plans to meet these goals and implement them in their different schools. This forum was named “The Saida and Zahrani Assembly of Schools.”

With time, and after the completion of the initial common project of developing a unified parents and students’ handbook for the member schools, the forum decided to move this assembly into a network. They also extended the membership to schools in the neighboring towns, to vocational and technical schools, as well as to the UNERWA schools. The Network as it exists today was established in 2004 and membership expanded from 68 schools to 110. The schools are represented by their principals who meet monthly in Saida. The Network is supported by Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development (HFSHD) logistically and financially.