Tourism promotion activities conducted under MASAR aimed at ensuring inclusion of local communities and raising their awareness while facilitating local economic development of Dreib area.
Lebanon
MASAR Programme
Funded by the European Union through the European Trust Fund "Madad", MASAR supports sub-government’s capacities, host populations and refugees in response to the Syrian crisis. The project is implemented in the Iraqi regions of Ninawa and Dohuk and in Lebanon, specifically in Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel and Tripoli. It focuses on municipal strategic planning, improvement of public services and local economic development.
Activities of MASAR fall into the following thematic areas
Land Use & Infrastructure Planning
A process that analyses public sectors and living conditions of population to identify priorities to enhance the infrastructure and public services, aiming at an economic improvement of the local communities.
Geographic Information System
Allows the development of geographic maps, collects information related to infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.) and produces multi-layered maps providing vital information for the local communities.
Solid Waste Management
The MASAR programme helps local governments in terms of improving Solid Waste Management, through public awareness campaigns of waste reduction, sorting at source and development of waste collection plans and procedures.
Water Infrastructure (Irrigation)
MASAR works to achieve sustainable management of water resources by building and improving infrastructure such as irrigation systems, water pipes, and supporting the operation of the public services.
Road Safety
MASAR helps Unions of Municipalities in elaborating action plans to improve road safety such as designing and implementing infrastructure mechanism (intersections, traffic lights, walking paths, awareness programs).
Preparedness & Response Planning
MASAR works with Unions of Municipalities to organize workshops, and training sessions for local communities to manage crises and disasters.
Agriculture
MASAR focuses on supporting sectors in regions such as agriculture and supporting the agri-food industry by analyzing the value of products and undertaking pilot projects for innovative products and technologies.
Tourism
MASAR tackles as well tourism, one of the most important sectors. In cooperation with UoMs, it identified important tourist sites in the targeted regions and supports the promotion of cultural and eco-tourism.
Water & Sanitation
Availability and access to water, sanitation and hygiene was an essential need for MASAR beneficiaries and targeted geographical locations. Hence many activities under this project where initiated for this purpose.
Featured activities
The MASAR systematic approach for the Geographic Information System's implementation proved to be effective and paved the way towards sustainability. The unmatched passion of the Geographic Information System Technical Unit staff played a major role in reaching this advanced level in the system.
Dr. Amal Iaaly
Director of the GIS Center, MASAR National GIS Consultant, Assistant Professor University of Balamand
All the villagers benefit from Btedii lake. If this lake is gone, no one will stay in the village. Thus the importance of MASAR hill-lakes project in our region.
Samir Fakhry
Btedii Deputy Mayor
The highlight of MASAR programme in Arsal Municipality & Union of Municipalities of Deir el Ahmar was the community engagement. In spite of the economic crisis, youth are deeply engaged as volunteers in all municipal activities. They believe that their time & efforts will not be in vain and will reap empowerment & progress in their communities.
Malaz Kawas
Project Front Officer-Bekaa MASAR for Local Governments - VNG International
With sufficient data and participatory planning local governments can deliver better public services and facilitate local economic initiatives. Working on governance and adopting selected technologies is as important as securing financial resources to ensure development in a context of crisis.
Enric Ibarz
MASAR Area Manager North Tripoli - Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD)
I joined the beekeeping progamme to learn more about it to be able to create eventually my own business and support my family.
Nour Taleb Daher
Trainee – Beekeeping Programme