Increase the Resilience of Olive Farmers and Improve the Livelihoods Opportunities for the Conflict-affected Populations in Idleb Governorate The proposed project aims to build community capacity to contribute to and benefit from this new economy, which will increase resilience of people in NWS to ongoing shocks of conflict, displacement, or the medium-term economic uncertainty. The project focuses on critical analysis of Olive Value Chain (OVC), supports livelihoods by increasing households' ability to meet the needs, and encourages self-reliance. 

The project will be based in Maaret Tamsrin sub-district (Maaret Tamsrin, Haranbush, Kafr Jales, Kafr Nabi), Harim sub-district (Harim, Besnaya), and Kafr Takharim sub-district (Kafr Takharim). The project will achieve its aspired objective by supporting (OVC), in line with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines, through following package of activities:

1) 1,600 male and female olive farmers (owning between 1 to 4 dunums of land each) will receive agricultural inputs and services, extension sessions, olive harvesting and water harvesting support based on their olive orchards size to contribute to decreasing the cost of production the package of support will be:

   a. Distribution of cash voucher (25$/dunum) to support the olive farmers the voucher will cover the cost of pest management, pressing, packaging, and transportation. Approx. 4,800 dunums will be covered - on average 3 dunums per farmer.
   b. Provision of pruning tools including a hand saw, a small ax, and scissors for all selected farmers.
   c. Supporting targeted farmers with weeding amp water harvesting around olive trees and olive harvesting services through two rounds of CFW (refer to component #3).
   d. Distribution of GAP booklets to farmers

2) 40 focal points/group leaders from farmers (10% female) will receive four extension sessions about GAP and presentation skills, and will transfer the knowledge and strengthen the capacity of at least 1000 olive farmers from above target (1600 farmers). Each group leader will deliver sessions to 25 farmers. The group leaders will receive stipends - 5$ per session - to cover their transportation and launch. 

3) 2300 workers/HHs will benefit from temporary income-generating activities through CFW activities for one round of 20 days. Workers will be divided into 2 groups: the 1st group (550 workers: 500 unskilled and 50 skilled) will be for weeding and water harvesting and the 2nd (1750 workers: 1600 unskilled and 150 skilled) for olive harvesting. Approx. 60% are female, 40% are IDPs, 5% PwD and chronic illnesses. 

4) 90 participants/HHs (50% women) will benefit from small business grants the beneficiaries will be trained through six sessions about business skills. After reviewing the submitted business plans from 100 participants, selected beneficiaries (90) who meet the eligibility criteria will receive 300$ to start/restart their businesses related to the olive value chain. The business can include but not limited to food processing and olive by-products (soap and coal). The beneficiaries can submit individual or group business plans.

5) 42 technicians will benefit from a 3-month technical training program through CFW and Cash for Training (CFT) modalities as follows:
 - 30 unskilled trainees (new or undergraduate agronomists and technicians) will receive training about olive pruning, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and GAP the trainees will be paid unskilled-worker wages (6$ daily) over three rounds (60 days) and
 - 12 skilled agriculture experts/trainers (agro pharmacies owners and expert agronomists) will deliver the theoretical and practical training for the above 30 unskilled trainees for a period of three months (60 training days) including field days, site visits, coaching in agro-pharmacies. The trainers will be paid skilled-worker wages (7$ daily).

Also, distribution of soap (for COVID-19 prevention) will be conducted for the farmers and CFW workers (4 pieces per person).

In total, the project will target 4072 unique HHs, 20360 individuals: M 4479, W 4886, B 5701,G 5294