‘Project on You and Funding on Us’ to support women’s business

In cooperation with Al Jinan University, the Arab Union for the Specialized Woman, led by Nariman Jamal Ghanem, organized last Friday a workshop entitled, ‘the project on you and the funding on us’ specialized for women producers and their access to capacity building and funding opportunities for their undertakings. The event was held at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and the North, in the presence of heads and members of various community and women associations from across Lebanon, and the participation of banking institutions, as well as Arab and international donor organizations. In her opening address, Ghanem stressed that similar initiatives will eventually have a foundational legal framework through which they will function. Likewise, Al Jinan Vice President, Dr. Aisha Yakan, expounded on the title of the workshop and the comprehensive mechanism that help translate a simple idea into a productive venture. This, Yakan maintained, involves the following: a brief description of the scheme; defining the product and its underlying benefits, followed by an analysis of the markets and development of relevant marketing, operational, development and financial plans; a management in terms of identifying the organizational structure of the project and the role of respective key parties; funding in line with set of conditions by international donors and partners, entailing innovation, creativity and competitiveness. Also covered during the workshop were: illustrations of the role of microfinance organization, Ibdaa Lebanon, supported by Prince Walid Bin Talal Foundation to enhance capacities of owners of productive enterprises, particularly women; a detailed presentation of the supportive role of Mercy Corps; outline of the package of services provided by BLC Bank aimed at women’s empowerment and finally, the services offered by Al Baraka Bank from an Islamic microfinance perspective. Towards the end of the workshop, participants shared round tables to train on how to prepare a feasibility study and the associated methodology for developing projects to be selected by the donor parties. (Al Mustaqbal, August 6, 2016)