Agriculture and Rural Empowerment - ARE Program

Through the USAID-funded ARE Activity, impactful interventions are breathing new life into the dairy sector in Akkar, tackling key challenges and creating new opportunities for growth.

As part of these efforts, ARE partnered with the Committee of Employees of Women Union (CEWU) to deliver targeted support. Recent initiatives included training sessions led by Dr. Chadi Hosri, focusing on enhancing dairy processing techniques and achieving significant results.

This partnership with CEWU is projected to create four full-time jobs, introduce three new dairy products, establish approximately 33 new market linkages, boost production volume at the firm level by 35%, and increase farm-level sales by $152,000.

By equipping farmers and producers with essential skills and tools for sustainable growth, ARE is strengthening food security in Lebanon while empowering rural communities to build a brighter future.

In a year full of challenges, ARE supported over 6,000 farmers and 554 herders in adopting better practices, boosting productivity by 140% at farms and 22% at firms. Together, we’re building a stronger agricultural sector for Lebanon!

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re proud to share the incredible milestones achieved under the USAID-funded Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) activity!

🌟 Highlights of FY24:
💰 $4.5M in private sector investments
💼 265 full-time equivalent jobs created
🚀 $10.1M in MSME sales with 10% export growth
🌾 $7.6M in farm-level sales

Through resilience, innovation, and collaboration, ARE continues to empower Lebanon’s agriculture sector and strengthen communities. We’re ready to build on these achievements in Year 5!

In Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city, MSMEs are navigating severe financial challenges. To support their resilience and growth, USAID’s ARE program, in collaboration with BIAT, is helping businesses reduce costs, enhance sales, and improve operations.
During the past weeks, ARE delivered solar energy equipment to 23 MSMEs, boosting their efficiency and sustainability. This is part of a broader effort to support 191 businesses with tailored technical and in-kind assistance, driving innovation and resilience in non-agricultural sectors across urban and peri-urban areas.

The USAID-funded ARE activity is empowering farmers in Akkar by addressing challenges in the dairy and corn silage value chains. within this initiative, ARE delivered a spraying tank to Akkar COOP, enabling farmers to improve crop health and yields by efficiently managing pests and weeds.

This intervention aims to boost corn silage production by 100%, create 4.38 FTE jobs, improve incomes for 142 people, and establish 163 new market linkages—all while enhancing food security and rural livelihoods.