Fair Trade Lebanon and the Agence Française de Développement in North Lebanon for a Sustainable Blue Economy: The Nassim Al Baher Project in Action.
North Lebanon, May 26, 2026 – On the occasion of the visit of Mr. Yves Guicquéro, Regional Director for the Middle East at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), , Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL) organized a field visit around the Nassim Al Baher project, in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Dr. Tamara El Zein. Fishers, local cooperatives, women beneficiaries, community representatives, and partners gathered to witness realities on the ground. The day highlighted shared ambitions: preserving Lebanon’s marine and coastal ecosystems, promoting more responsible fishing practices, and strengthening the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Led by Fair Trade Lebanon and funded by the AFD, the project brings together Tabitha for Relief and Development, Lebanese Developers, and the National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR) and the National Center for Marine Sciences (NCMS). Nassim Al Baher offers an integrated approach to the blue economy, combining environmental protection, reduction of marine pollution, income diversification, and the valorization of local know-how.
The visit opened with a welcome note from Fair Trade Lebanon, followed by institutional interventions and a presentation of the project. It continued with a direct exchange with fishers, women from the Bebnine cooperative, fishing cooperatives, and implementing partners. Discussions focused on field realities: depleting resources, economic pressure on fishing livelihoods, the need for training, and new income opportunities.
Dr. Tamara El Zein emphasized, “Protecting the marine environment is a priority for the Ministry of Environment, essential for the sustainability of our resources, the fight against plastic pollution, and raising awareness among our citizens. Lebanon has translated this into action through the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement on marine biodiversity in international waters, adherence to the Nice Call for a global plastics treaty, joining the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, launching a national blue economy strategy, and establishing a dedicated marine environment department within the Ministry. Our role is primarily regulatory, but we exercise it with determination to protect marine biodiversity, promote sustainable management of fishery resources, and reduce pressures on our coastal ecosystems. Projects like Nassim Al Baher are the operational arm of this ambition, which is why we support them.”
A technical session led by NCSR/NCMS on shrimp cages was also held to strengthen fishermen’s skills and support income diversification. This activity reflects the project’s commitment to offering practical solutions adapted to the realities of the Lebanon’s northern coast.
For the Agence Française de Développement, Nassim Al Baher is part of a broader sustainable development strategy that combines environmental action, social inclusion, and economic resilience. Yves Guicquéro noted, “With Nassim Al Baher, the AFD supports concrete solutions implemented alongside fishermen to improve fishing practices, preserve marine resources, and enable coastal communities to sustain and grow their incomes over the long term.”
As the lead implementing partner, Fair Trade Lebanon highlighted the importance of community-based work, built with local actors and economic stakeholders.
According to Philippe Adaime, CEO and co-founder of Fair Trade Lebanon, “Since its creation, Fair Trade Lebanon has worked closely with communities to turn local challenges into sustainable opportunities. With Nassim Al Baher, we putting our expertise at the service of coastal communities in North Lebanon, forging concrete links between marine ecosystem protection, knowledge transfer, and local economic development. We deeply believe that the most sustainable solutions emerge from the ground, driven by the people directly concerned. This conviction guides all our actions.”
Ultimately, Nassim Al Baher aims to support 150 fishermen organized into five cooperatives, promote income diversification for fishers, women, and youth, raise awareness among 500 people in coastal areas on the preservation of marine and coastal ecosystems, and develop two responsible coastal tourism initiatives in the intervention area.
Through this visit, Fair Trade Lebanon reaffirms its role as a pillar of a territory-rooted blue economy driven by communities in the service of the sea and those who depend on it. Alongside the AFD and its partners, Fair Trade Lebanon continues to build bridges between environmental commitment, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
About Nassim Al Baher
Nassim Al Baher is a project funded by the Agence Française de Développement and implemented by Fair Trade Lebanon, in partnership with Tabitha for Relief and Development, Lebanese Developers, and NCSR/NCMS. It aims to preserve Lebanon’s marine and coastal ecosystems, promote sustainable fishing and coastal tourism practices, reduce plastic pollution, and strengthen the economic resilience of coastal communities in North Lebanon. The project covers the area from Okaibeh to Abdeh and spans 36 months, from May 2025 to April 2028.
About the Agence Française de Développement
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements France’s policy on sustainable investment and international solidarity. Through its public sector financing and NGO activities, research and publications (AFD Editions), sustainable development training (AFD Campus), and awareness-raising in France, it finances, supports, and accelerates transitions toward a more just and resilient world. It builds sustainable solutions with and for people, alongside its partners. Its teams are engaged in more than 2,700 projects worldwide, in France’s overseas territories and across more than 115 countries, addressing climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, and global health. In complementarity with Proparco and Expertise France, the AFD contributes to France’s and the French people’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“For a world in common.”
About Fair Trade Lebanon
Founded in 2006, Fair Trade Lebanon is a Lebanese organization committed to local economic development, the promotion of fair trade, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities. Since its creation, the organization has supported producers, cooperatives, women, youth, and local economic actors through projects combining sustainable development, market access, capacity building, and valorization of local know-how. A pioneer in Lebanon’s blue economy, Fair Trade Lebanon leverages its territorial presence and field expertise to contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems, the resilience of coastal communities, and the building of a more inclusive and sustainable development model in North Lebanon.
