ILO Brief

Sowing the seeds of change through private sector partnerships

For years, Lebanon’s cherry farmers have seen a high-value crop trapped in low-value, informal trade. The ILO’s Sida funded BOUZOUR project tested a new model: connecting farmers with commercial exporters through structured sourcing, certification and better working conditions. Even after a severe 2025 frost cut production by over 90%, the model held: exporters stayed engaged, farmers earned more and a pathway emerged to scale the approach across Lebanon’s stone fruit sector.