Anchors of Hope: Women driving recovery and resilience

11/06/2025

Dalhamieh, Lebanon – May 2025

Lebanon’s overlapping crises, including economic collapse, currency devaluation, rising food prices, and regional instability, have left millions in a state of deep uncertainty. In rural areas, where agriculture is a primary source of income and services are limited, women are often the first to feel the impact. The escalation of conflict in late 2024 added a new layer of hardship, displacing families and halting recovery efforts. Yet in the midst of this fragile environment, rural women continue to demonstrate extraordinary strength and leadership.

In the village of Dalhamieh in Lebanon’s Bekaa Governorate, Mirna Soleh, a mother and active community member, faced the collapse of a promising new venture. She and a group of women had recently established a fruit and vegetable drying unit through FAO’s project: Support to women’s cooperatives and associations in the agrifood sector of Lebanon funded by the Government of Canada and implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. With training, equipment, and a grant, provided through the project, they began transforming local produce into dried goods, creating a new source of income for their families and supporting local food systems. The initiative brought a sense of pride and possibility. LINK HERE

When conflict erupted, everything changed. Markets closed, movement was restricted, and the drying unit fell silent. But Mirna was determined by drawing on the skills and organization they had built through the project, she reached out to a local association working on humanitarian relief. Together, they repurposed the facility into a community kitchen.

Each day, Mirna and the women of Dalhamieh prepare and distribute over 1 250 hot meals to displaced families and vulnerable households. For their work, each woman receives a small daily stipend, providing both income and a sense of dignity.

“The FAO project gave us more than just equipment. It gave us confidence and a sense of responsibility,” Mirna said. “This initiative has helped us not only survive but reclaim our role in our community. We are not victims. We are agents of change.”

“Over the past five years alone, and with the generous funding of the Government of Canada, we've empowered 255 women's groups through capacity-building initiatives and 143 of those groups received grants to help them grow and thrive. At FAO, we see women farmers and cooperatives as key economic and social players. They are vital pillars of the economy, especially in empowering rural communities and building sustainable livelihoods.” said Veronica Quattrola, FAO Representative in Lebanon.

Mirna’s journey reflects the resilience of many rural women in Lebanon. Through crisis, she has become more than a participant in a development project. She is a leader, a provider, and a source of strength in her village.