الرحلة التقنية التدريبية إلى إيطاليا

أيلول 2011

• Consultation activities for establishing the NOWARA legislative framework: resulted from intensive consultations with the decision makers and experts concerned. In early October, the Official Decree to establish NOWARA was signed by the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Elias Skaf, and is now going through the procedure to be officially enacted.

• The Establishing of a Database for rural entrepreneurs. Information and data were collected utilizing a special questionnaire, based on which main constraints and priority areas were defined. A primary list of women entrepreneurs was created including women both in cooperatives or in informal sectors who wish to improve and develop their economic activities. The list is posted on NOWARA website on the SHOWCASE section and will be regularly up-dated.

• TheCreation of a portal that providesseveral services to the users, mainly: showcase for entrepreneurs, information on how to establish business, registration procedure, how to establish a cooperative, how to access credits and loans, list of funding agencies, service providers, market information, local standards and norms, quality aspects. In addition, the portal also includes several articles and feasibility studies on many agricultural , agro-food and traditional crafts, as well as a  review of the national legislation on women employment, and the related international conventions.

• The organization of several activities (technical assistance, training course, institutional events) during 2007-2008: NOWARA aimed at sharing experiences between Lebanese and Italian producers, experts and decision makers, in addition to technical training in quality and management skills.

• The establishment of the National award for best rural women economic initiative in agriculture/agro food for individuals or as a group of producers. A committee has been formed setting the award criteria and conditions for participation. The award will be presented annually starting as from 2009.  NOWARA will announce the criteria for participation and the date to submit applications early 2009.