(Beirut, Lebanon –6 May 2025): With funding from the Government of Norway, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a Technical Stakeholder Workshop as part of the ongoing project “Rehabilitation and Waste Management of El-Bared Canal Irrigation System.”
The workshop convened a diverse group of experts and stakeholders from public institutions, academia, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organisations. It served as a dynamic platform to showcase the project’s achievements, share technical insights, and discuss innovative interventions implemented in the El-Bared basin. Participants engaged in technical presentations, interactive discussions and learned about successful field interventions. Highlights included case studies on the rehabilitation of the irrigation canal, solid and wastewater management solutions, and the piloting of a mobile solar-powered irrigation pump.
This workshop enhanced knowledge exchange among key technical actors, generating constructive feedback on the project’s interventions and reinforcing partnerships aimed at improving irrigation infrastructure and environmental sustainability in the region.
About the Project
The project “Rehabilitation and Waste Management of El-Bared Canal Irrigation System”, funded by the Government of Norway, aims to reduce the discharge of waste from the El-Bared system into the Mediterranean Sea. It contributes directly to improving local livelihoods through solid waste disposal, canal rehabilitation, increased agricultural productivity, and job creation.
Operating for over five years, the project addresses the deteriorated condition of the irrigation network in the El-Bared basin. Through a series of assessment studies and field investigations, FAO and its partners have developed and implemented targeted measures to mitigate pollution from solid waste and untreated wastewater. Beyond infrastructure improvements, the project also emphasizes community engagement by employing local labour and conducting awareness-raising campaigns.