The Bekaa Valley has a breathtaking landscape characterized by its fertile land and rich natural resources. The valley encompasses the highest percentage of cultivated areas in Lebanon at 39 per cent and the country’s highest percentage of irrigated cultivation at 68 per cent.

The agricultural nature of Bekaa has enormous potential for further investment and development due to its fertile fields and its abundant water resources. Although only 12.7 per cent of Lebanon’s population lives in the Bekaa, they constitute a significant 17.2 per cent of the country’s extremely poor. Compared with the national average for extreme poverty at 7.9 per cent, the Lebanese in the Bekaa Valley face an alarming 10.8 per cent of extreme poverty. Ranking third poorest population in Lebanon, the overall average prevalence of poverty in Bekaa is 29 per cent.

Many villages in Bekaa suffer from inadequate irrigation mechanisms and insufficient storage facilities for their cultivated produce. The projects identified for LIVE LEBANON focus on investing in the abilities of the people of Bekaa, allowing them the opportunity to improve their social and economic conditions.

For the first phase of LIVE LEBANON, projects will be implemented in the following villages: Barqa, Beit Jaafar/Feesan, Daher El Ahmar, Deir El Ahmar, Nabi Shiit, Shaat, and Sultan Yaacoub. Below you can find more information, read news, and see pictures for LIVE LEBANON projects in the Bekaa.

Want to know more about villages located in the Bekaa? Check out data and start a discussion about your village on Baldati.org