United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
(UNESCWA) Promotes economic and social development through regional and sub regional cooperation and integration, serving as the main socio-economic arm of the United Nations in Western Asia. As part of its work, UNESCWA formulates and promotes development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and priorities of its member countries and acts as an executing agency for relevant operational projects.
In 2001, a pilot project for post conflict reconstruction called “ESCWA Assistance for South Lebanon” (EASL) was launched as an initiative to help in the socio-economic development of the region In response to on-going crises, political tensions and conflicts facing the region, ESCWA established, as of January 2006, the Unit for Emerging and Conflict Related Issues (ECRI). The Unit aims to reduce the impact of conflict and instability on socio-economic and political development in Western Asia. The E-caravan project is one of ESCWA’s initiatives in post-conflict areas to support rehabilitation and revival of countries afflicted by crisis.
The Italian Cooperation – Ross Program, Embassy of Italy The ROSS Program “Emergency Initiative for Rehabilitation, Employment, Services and Development” is a program of the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was launched for the management and implementation of 15 million euros of the Italian pledge at the Stockholm Donors’ Conference, through a fund established locally with the Embassy of Italy in Beirut.
Thirty-eight projects are currently being financed by the ROSS Program and implemented by Italian and Lebanese NGOs in partnership with 29 local NGOs, operating in 103 locations in Lebanon and focusing on four main sectors: economic activities, socio-educational and healthcare basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian camps. Particular attention is paid to environmental and gender issues.
The Program Office carries out coordination, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation of the interventions assigned to Italian, international and local NGOs. Wherever necessary, the ROSS Program takes direct action to support and integrate projects in progress. Two of the crucial responsibilities of the Program are to identify common strategies and synergies amongst the different actors present locally, and assist them to collaborate and coordinate. This “systemic” approach enhances the impact of and guarantees real sustainability for their interventions.
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, Embassy of Canada
The Canada Fund in Lebanon is a financial assistance program administered by the Canadian Embassy in Beirut to support small projects related to poverty alleviation, civic engagement and human rights. The Canada Fund has been operating in Lebanon since the mid 80’s and has provided financial assistance to more than three hundred development projects. The Government of Canada is fully committed to assist populations that have been affected by the July-August 2006 war. Funding priorities focus on post conflict recovery linked to sustainable livelihoods, assistance to internally displaced persons, mine victims and mine risk awareness, and psycho-social support to children suffering from war trauma.
The Canada Fund in Lebanon also attaches a high priority to projects in Governance, Civil Society and
Democracy; Assistance and Protection of Refugees; Child Protection and Empowerment of Women. Protection of the environment and gender equality are cross-cutting themes and are taken into account in all projects.
Fondation Saradar
Fondation Saradar (FS) is a Lebanese NGO registered with Lebanese Ministry of Interior (December 2000). In 2002 it launched a pilot project titled ‘Saradar IT Programme’ (SITP), in the villages of displaced populations in the Cazas of Aley, Baabda, the Chouf and Jezzine, under the patronage of the Minister of the Displaced, H.E. Mr. Marwan Hamadé and former Minister of State Pierre Helou. The SITP seeks to provide IT training to disadvantaged communities in remote areas of Lebanon with the participation of the municipalities and local NGOs.
The ‘Accessibility Programme’ was initiated in 2003 to ensure the integration of physically handicapped persons in the world of IT. The caravan was equipped with demountable ramp and handrails to facilitate the access of wheelchairs.
In January 2006, Fondation Saradar launched its second Mobile Computer School, the ‘E-Caravan’, in partnership with UNESCWA. The caravan caters to clusters of villages, introducing the world of IT to communities of the formerly occupied South Lebanon region. The E-Caravan was struck by missiles and destroyed on 29 July 2006, and since then efforts were made by Fondation Saradar, supported by partners, to reactivate the project.
The ‘Adaptive Technology Programme’ was launched in July 2006 to provide IT learning opportunities to the visually impaired, in partnership with the ‘Youth Association of the Blind’ (YAB).
SPONSORS
We could not bring you this important project in the regions of South Lebanon without the help of a number of partners and sponsors. We would like to express our deepest thanks for their generous contributions and their invaluable support.
The contents of these pages are the property of Fondation Saradar. This information cannot be used partially or totally for any purpose other than related to the above-mentioned project and without the prior written approval by Fondation Saradar.
® Phœnix" PARTNERS
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
An-Nahar Newspaper sal.
