Within the framework of "Amaly Program" funded by the Embassy of Canada to Lebanon and managed by Mercy Corps (NGO), the North Lebanon Local Economic Development Agency (NORTH LEDA), in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon, the Lebanese University - Institute of Social Sciences and Al Midan NGO, organized a dialogue entitled "Economic Empowerment of Women" on 9 January 2020.

The dialogue, hosted by the Institute of Social Sciences – Branch 3, included a number of topics related to gender discrimination and the challenges women and youth face to join the labor market.

Dr. Maha Kayyal (Head of the Research Center at the Institute of Social Sciences), Dr. Rodrigue Balaa, (Chair of the Agricultural Engineering Technology at Issam Fares Faculty of Technology at the University of Balamand) and Mrs. Roula El Mrad, social work and advocacy activist, spoke at the dialogue, which was moderated by Dr. Chaouki Attieh (Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences).

The dialogue started by presenting a life testimony of the two activists, Hanine Al-Hassan and Maha Shaker. Then, the discussion began between the Institute students, lecturers and activists Al-Hassan and Shaker to benefit from their advice in the empowerment of youth and women.