With the partnership of the Italian Research Institute and under the auspices of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine, represented by AFKAR program manager, Mrs. Youmna Chacar Ghorayeb, the closure event of the Lebanon Family Planning Association for Development and Family Empowerment (LFPADE) project, was held in the Municipality of Saida on 15 November. It aimed to enhance the economic and social status of women in South Lebanon. Official figures and the beneficiaries of the project attended the ceremony.

This project is implemented within the framework of AFKAR 3 program, and funded by the European Union, under the management of the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform. It falls within the context of the work on the development of rural areas in the framework of the program's orientation in the economic and social sector.

This event is the result of the efforts made by the Association during the past two years. It purpose was to build the capacity of 180 women from the targeted villages in the project on food processing and safety, as well as strengthening the capacities of two women's cooperatives in the region, in Kawkaba and Hasbaya. As well, the project developed a brand for the marketing of products registered in the Ministry of Economy. The ceremony included a presentation of a documentary about the achievements, and a website was launched to market the products.

In his speech, the mayor of Saida Mohammed Al Saoud, welcomed the participants, especially the women, who represent the majority of the population. He also congratulated the Lebanese people on the occasion of the 75th Independence day.

Mrs. Noha Abu Hamdan, from Ain Keny, representing the beneficiaries of the project, talked about the efforts made and called for the implementation of development projects, in order to enhance the situation of the region in general and especially the situation of women.

LFPADE Executive Director, Mrs. Najla el Bizri, highlighted the role played by the association in the development of rural areas through enhancing the capacities of women and increasing their income, as well as its impact on the situation of the family as a whole, stressing on the role played by the association targeting the human being in Lebanon.

Finally, AFKAR program manager, Mrs. Youmna Chacar Ghorayeb, underlined the importance of building an effective partnership between the public sector and the municipalities. She added that the program implemented a bridge between the public sector and the civil society organizations, as well as a platform including representatives of ministries and organizations, in order to promote the dialogue and the partnership between them.
At the end of the ceremony,  the attendees visited an exhibition of food products made by women from the cooperatives of Kawkaba and Hasbaya.