The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced funding of almost $80 million for 9 projects to strengthen gender equality, human rights, humanitarian assistance, social infrastructure, food security and economic growth and to reduce gender-based violence across Lebanon and Jordan.
Partner: Oxfam-Québec
Funding: $10 million (2026 to 2031)
This project aims to strengthen Lebanese civil society to increase the enjoyment of human rights by vulnerable groups in Lebanon, particularly women and girls in all their diversity, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Project activities include providing training, financial support and mentorship to human rights organizations; providing essential services, such as those related to gender-based violence and mental health, to marginalized groups; and strengthening the collective efforts of human rights organizations by building knowledge and sharing information through mentorship and networking.
Project: Building Rights, Dignity and Gender Equality in Lebanon (BRIDGE)
Partner: UN Women
Funding: $7 million (2026 to 2028)
This project aims to support women and girls in Lebanon to participate equally and meaningfully in decision making and to live free from gender-based violence. Project activities include empowering and mentoring women and girls on leadership and politics; expanding survivor-centered services to support survivors of violence against women and girls; promoting respectful and non-violent relationships among women, men, girls and boys; and working with institutions to increase their ability to support women's inclusion.
Project: Building Lebanon's Inclusive Social Safety Nets (BLISS)
Partner: World Food Programme
Funding: $16.5 million (2026 to 2027)
This intervention aims to strengthen Lebanon's social-protection system so vulnerable families can improve living conditions, build resilience and gradually reduce their reliance on assistance. By reinforcing national institutions and social safety nets, the project will help families better withstand future shocks. It will also support the institutionalization of school feeding programs, improve links with local producers and provide children from the poorest households with nutritious meals, better educational access and improved well-being.
Project: Nurturing, Advancing and Sustaining High-Potential Women-Led Microenterprises through Innovations Accelerating Growth (NASHMIA)
Partner: World University Service of Canada and ECO Consult
Funding: $10 million (2026 to 2031)
This project aims to improve the economic well-being of women entrepreneurs, including refugees and women with disabilities, by expanding their participation in Jordan's green economy. It will strengthen women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism and transport through access to green finance, training, business linkages and more-inclusive policies. The project will also help address barriers to women's economic participation through child care services, grants, safe workspaces and community-awareness activities.
Project: Women's Employment in Green Economy Enterprises (WE-GREEN)
Partner: Alinea International and Business Development Center
Funding: $9.7 million (2026 to 2031)
This project aims to improve the economic well-being of Jordanian women and youth, including Syrian refugees and persons with disabilities, through increased access to decent, green jobs. Focusing on industrial estates, it will support employers to expand employment opportunities, provide skills training and facilitate access to quality jobs in the manufacturing sector. The project will also pilot child care and transportation solutions that help address barriers to labour force participation.
Project: Transforming Agri-food Development with Circular Economy and Resilience (TADWEER)
Partner: Cowater International
Funding: $10 million (2026 to 2031)
This project aims to improve the economic well-being of marginalized women and youth by promoting green jobs, self-employment and entrepreneurship in climate-resilient agribusiness. It will support women- and youth-led businesses through training, innovation hubs, cooperatives, access to climate-smart technologies, stronger market linkages and improved financial services. The project will also work with communities and institutions to address barriers to economic participation and contribute to a more-resilient and -inclusive agrifood sector aligned with Jordan's national priorities.
Project: Growing Economic Inclusion of Women (GROW)
Partner: Canadian Bureau for International Education
Funding: $9.9 million (2026 to 2031)
This project aims to improve the economic well-being of marginalized women and youth, including refugees and persons with disabilities, by expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment in Jordan's green economy. The project will strengthen women-led enterprises, build universities' capacity to support climate-responsive entrepreneurship, equip female youths with skills to develop sustainable businesses and expand access to targeted business-support services. The initiative will help create more-inclusive and climate-smart economic opportunities for women and youths in Jordan.
Project: WFP - Jordan - 2026
Partner: World Food Programme
Funding: $3.15 million
This funding will provide targeted emergency food assistance to crisis-affected populations to reduce acute food insecurity and malnutrition and to protect livelihoods.
Project: UNHCR - Jordan - 2026
Partner: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Funding: $3.5 million
This funding will provide life-saving assistance to refugees and other people of concern, including protection, shelter and core relief items, health care services, water, sanitation and hygiene, and cash assistance.
