From Dreams to Reality: How Women Entrepreneurs are Fostering Peace in Southern Libya

Maryam is one of 67 entrepreneurs supported through a peacebuilding project that trained nearly 3,000 youth, empowered over 90 women in peace-positive entrepreneurship and strengthened local peacebuilding structures.

Despite years of limited access to finance, a weakened private sector and deep economic pressures, women in the south of Libya are stepping forward as engines of change. Their businesses are not only sustaining families, but also strengthening community bonds and contributing to long-term peace and stability.

Maryam, 20, is one of these young pioneers. From Ubari, an oasis town in Southeastern Libya, she finished high school eager to work, but opportunities for women were scarce. High unemployment, limited recognition of women’s economic contributions and persistent stereotypes left her vulnerable.

When Maryam heard from a neighbour about a UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-supported project offering vocational and entrepreneurship training, she immediately asked her parents for permission to join.

Her decision to enroll in a cookery training school, she said, was driven by “a long-standing desire to start my own business… and to learn how to establish it. I was motivated by my desire for self-improvement.”

Peacebuilding Through Livelihoods

Funded by the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund and implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP), this initiative of $5 million is the first peacebuilding and livelihoods development project of its kind in Southern Libya. The project established Local Peacebuilding and Development Committees and expanded sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and young people.

Members of the Local Peacebuilding and Development Committees noted that the project demonstrated “extensive knowledge in several key areas, most notably youth empowerment and job creation… achieving community peace and promoting social cohesion… and a clear focus on economic development, indicating a comprehensive vision of sustainable development.”

Across Sebha, Ghat and Ubari municipalities, more than 400 people were trained on agro-food-related skills and received two months of cash-transfer support. Of these, 200 were selected for entrepreneurship training, which also included modules to support women and youth in navigating the complex social and economic dynamics within their communities. For example, participants learned how certain business practices can either fuel tensions or help ease them, through concrete examples that demonstrated how to manage tensions and promote inclusive and equitable access to markets and resources.

67 people received in-kind grants to launch their own businesses. Maryam was among them.

With her new skills and equipment, Maryam opened a small bakery selling savoury pastries, a business that is already generating income and confidence.

“As a result of this project, I feel a greater sense of security,” she said. “It met the needs of women and youth and promoted stability. With improved living conditions and more people employed, there is a sense of safety and comfort in the community.”

Growing Impact Across Southern Libya

Beyond individual stories like Maryam’s, the project is driving measurable progress across the region.

• 2,879 youth and adolescents were trained, 44 per cent of them young women.
• 92 women completed vocational and business skills training and received toolkits to begin income-generating activities.
• The project expanded entrepreneurship ecosystems by hosting awareness sessions (218 participants), start-up weekends (98 youth, 60 women) and hackathons (15 youth, 13 women).
• 58 small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups received training, and 30 of these secured financial support to grow.
• To strengthen long-term employability and vocational quality, 32 technical instructors were trained as “trainers of trainers.”
• 43 staff from technical and vocational training centres, 30 per cent of them women, received management and leadership training to bolster service delivery.

These investments are supporting young people and women to generate income, reduce community tensions and build confidence in local institutions, essential elements for sustaining peace.

Maryam is proud of the managerial, creative and professional skills she has gained — and of the broader benefits she sees around her. Her business supports the local agricultural economy, increases the availability of quality local products and helps preserve food heritage by revitalising traditional culinary practices.

“The training has contributed to enhancing economic stability and cooperation among community members,” she said. “It has created job opportunities, reduced social tensions and strengthened community identity — all of which contribute to peace and stability.” 

This story was originally published by the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Please visit the UN team's website for more information about the UN's work in Libya.