Since the formation of the Ministry of Environment in 1992, Lebanon has ratified several international agreements regarding the preservation of natural resources. For instance, in December 1994, the country adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in November 2006 it acceded to the Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been operating in this matter since the early 1970s and environment issues can raise women’s interest and become an opportunity for their access to employment and the labor market.

The Donia for Sustainable Development association has chosen, through the realization of a diagnosis, to analyze the role of women in preserving the environment and natural resources in the district of Tripoli in North Lebanon. In this context, the diagnosis will examine the role of women in associations that protect environment and their challenges, as well as the perceptions of women leaders (members of municipal and elective councils) and their knowledge of laws and policies related to the environment. Recommendations will be issued to encourage women to be actors for positive change related to environmental issues. A university, a syndicate, several municipalities of the district of Tripoli, the media and other fellow associations will be involved in the implementation of a diagnosis. These entities constitute the nucleus of the local cluster of gender equality actors© that will be mobilized by Donia for Sustainable Development in the first semester of 2018.

Several activities are planned, such as a survey of environmental departments in universities in the North Governorate, the holding of meetings and focus groups and the organization of a seminar to discuss the study and to design the field project.

The Donia for Sustainable Development association was selected following a call for applications launched by the Foundation in 2017 to mobilize the actors of gender equality at a local level (3rd edition) in 2018. The diagnosis on women’s role in preserving the environment in Tripoli will be published in the documentary center of the platform and widely disseminated at a Euro-Mediterranean level. Donia for Sustainable Development’s action is part of the project "Strengthening the capacity of equality actors" funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and coordinated by the IEMed in synergy with the FFEM.

This action also falls under the framework of the project "Developing women’s empowerment", labelled by the Union for the Mediterranean.

For more information on the local clusters of gender equality actors set up by the Foundation, click here.