“We Started Again”: The Women Reviving Haris

July 3, 2026

This story reflects the recovery of Al-Imad Cooperative following the conflict and was originally documented in 2025.

In Haris, a village in Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district, the conflict devastated the Al-Imad Cooperative, affecting 26 local women members and around 15 seasonal workers. Raw materials were lost, equipment was severely damaged, and the cooperative's workspace remained unusable for more than four months. For many, this meant not only losing their income, but also their ability to provide for their families and support their community.

"We returned to our cooperative and found everything gone," recalls Nawal Jawad, Head of Al-Imad Cooperative.

Despite the devastation, the women refused to give up. Using whatever resources remained, they resumed processing Haris' seasonal produce, including eggplant, olives, pomegranate, za'atar, and their signature kammouneh blend.

Their turning point came when UNDP, with funding from the Government of Denmark, supported the cooperative's recovery. The workspace was rehabilitated, and damaged equipment was repaired or replaced.

Person in a green hijab washing items at a processing table with blue buckets.

Small utility room with arched window, sink, notices, and a vending machine on the right.

"With the support we received, we were able to fully restore our cooperative," says Nawal.

"UNDP rehabilitated the entire center, repaired the windows and doors, restored the ventilation system, and upgraded the solar power system so we could work without interruption. They also repaired our jam cooking units and replaced damaged parts so we could safely restart production.

We received essential equipment, including an olive press, a gas oven, a freezer, scales, shelves, fire extinguishers, and hundreds of glass jars and kitchen tools that we use every day to prepare and package our products. This support allowed us to restart our work and secure our livelihoods once again."

The support enabled Al-Imad Cooperative to regain its productive capacity and restore a vital source of income for its members, seasonal workers, and many local and displaced families who depend on it.

Al-Imad Cooperative is one of 13 cooperatives and one agricultural service center rehabilitated under this initiative.

Through partnerships such as this, UNDP, with funding from the Government of Denmark, continues to support communities across Lebanon by restoring livelihoods, strengthening resilience, and helping people rebuild after crisis.