Beit El Baraka, founded by Maya Ibrahimchah, is a social support endeavor with a primary focus on assisting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals lacking adequate support systems, throughout Lebanon.
In 2020, Beit El Baraka launched Kanz, a Lebanese brand aimed at supporting local farmers and mouneh producers, while showcasing their products and establishing a value chain from farm to fork. The brand’s identity combines modern and authentic elements, reflecting the essence of pure products and the rich culinary heritage of Lebanon in every detail.
Impacting 120 Farmers and Small Producers
Under the Food System Challenge Program, Beit El Baraka has devised a model that promotes homegrown Lebanese terroir products, emphasizing high-quality branding to enhance the image and expand the category of ‘High-Quality Lebanese Mouneh’.
The project’s impact starts with the role Beit El Baraka SARL plays as a processor and distributor of Lebanese mouneh products. Local farming communities engaged with Beit El Baraka, which mounts up to 100, are the first to gain from this initiative as the project supports the livelihoods of low-income workers employed by farmers, ensuring their sustained employment and business continuity amid challenging times marked by increased raw material costs.
The project also secures the jobs of Beit El Baraka’s existing 14 employees while providing capacity-building opportunities, and creates employment for eight new individuals.
With its implementation, the project will increase the mouneh production by Beit El Baraka, generating additional income and empowering approximately 120 small to medium-sized farmers. Additionally, the implementation of energy-saving measures is expected to reduce the company’s energy bill by 50%, enhancing its overall business resiliency.
The Food System Challenge
The Food System Challenge is implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Berytech through support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The program’s main outcomes are enhanced food security, a well-functioning local food system, enhanced efficiency and resilience of cooperatives and SMEs working across different streams of the food systems, and increased employment opportunities, especially for women and vulnerable individuals.