The Lebanon Chapter of the Project Management Institute
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Lebanon Reforestation Initiative: Stronger Teams Through PMWB

How PMWB volunteers are helping LRI deliver measurable impact

  • Visit December 8, 2025
  • LRI team 65 staff
  • Seedlings planted 1.55 million+
Riam Chazbeck and Mary Jarjour with the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative team
  • PMWB
  • PMI Lebanon Chapter

The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), launched in 2010 by the USFS with USAID support and established as an NGO in 2014, works nationwide to restore and connect Lebanon’s forests through a community-based approach. Its mission is to expand, manage, and protect forests and biodiversity while strengthening climate-resilient communities. LRI has planted more than 1.55 million seedlings with a 76% survival rate, reduced 236,364 tons of CO₂, managed 4,775 hectares, and created 18,470 jobs, engaging women, youth, and 241 communities. Its programs cover restoration, green cities, climate resilience, research, education, advocacy, and sustainable tourism.

On December 8, 2025, Chapter President Ms. Riam Chazbeck and Mrs. Mary Jarjour, M.A., PMP, from our community visited LRI’s Director Dr. Maya Nehme, Human Resource Manager Ms. Cynthia Jreij, and Project and Procurement Manager Mrs. Hiba El Hachem.

Measurable Results

Through its work with Project Managers Without Borders (PMWB), the Chapter strengthened LRI’s leadership clarity and team alignment across 65 staff, while building genuine trust between the two organizations through consistent two-way communication. The PMI Estimation of Effort tool is already in limited use and will be fully integrated into all new projects from January.

LRI also reorganized its programs and portfolios for greater efficiency, based on insights from the Best Practices in Program and Portfolio Management training, whose interactive exercises were later applied in the organization’s annual strategy session to guide its priorities for the coming year. These outcomes show how Chapter volunteers help mission-driven organizations deliver measurable impact and advance key Sustainable Development Goals.

Riam Chazbeck and Mary Jarjour with the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative team
About the people

Meet the people in this story

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Ms. Dania Chaar

Chapter Engagement Specialist at PMI MENA

Ms. Dania Chaar serves as Chapter Engagement Specialist at PMI MENA, supporting collaboration and community development across regional chapters while fostering knowledge sharing and professional engagement throughout the PMI network.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Ms. Dania Chaar (opens in a new tab)

Ms. Mary Jarjour, M.A. PMP

Program Manager at Amideast/Lebanon

Mary Jarjour serves as English Language Officer at Amideast/Lebanon. Jarjour is an operations and project coordination professional with a background in supporting mission-driven initiatives, non-governmental organizations, and cultural institutions across program administration, stakeholder engagement, and donor reporting.

Jarjour holds a Master's degree in Linguistics from Radboud University and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Affairs from The George Washington University. In addition to professional credentials, Jarjour earned the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute and the Finance Management for Development Professionals (FMD Pro) certification from PM4NGOs.

Jarjour actively contributes to community-building initiatives, volunteering as a mentor with the Global Mentorship Initiative and serving as an NGO Support Volunteer with the PMI Lebanon Chapter. In this role with the Chapter, Jarjour consults with non-governmental organizations to maximize impact during crisis periods, while coordinating volunteers and delivering capacity-building training sessions.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Ms. Mary Jarjour, M.A. PMP (opens in a new tab)

Dr. Maya Nehme

EMLED Case Study Manager at Lebanon Reforestation Initiative

Dr. Maya Nehme is the Director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative.

Dr. Nehme has extensive experience in the design, management, and evaluation of ecosystem restoration and natural resource management programs, including prior work as an EMLED Case Study Manager and as a consultant with International Resources Group developing value chain analyses for the pine nut sub-sector in Lebanon.

Dr. Nehme's areas of expertise include program development, training, facilitation, and cross-cultural engagement. Dr. Nehme earned a dual-title PhD in Entomology and Comparative and International Education from Penn State University, as well as an MS in Plant Protection from the American University of Beirut.

Dr. Nehme serves as the Outreach and Alliances Unit Chair for the Lebanese Private Sector Network, an advocacy group focused on supporting formal economic growth and sustainability in Lebanon.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Dr. Maya Nehme (opens in a new tab)

Ms. Hiba El Hachem

Procurement, Grants & Compliance Manager

Hiba El Hachem serves as Procurement, Grants & Compliance Manager, overseeing the procurement of products and services, guiding program staff, negotiating vendor contracts, and ensuring grant implementation aligns with donor requirements. El Hachem also supports organizational process mapping and digitization, contributes to new project development and budgeting, and conducts coaching sessions for the procurement team.

Previously, El Hachem held positions as Procurement and Grants Manager, Procurement and Logistics Specialist, and Administrative Coordinator.

El Hachem's expertise encompasses procurement management, vendor negotiations, grant compliance, process digitization, project budgeting, and team development.

El Hachem holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from ESA Business School and a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures en Management (DESM) from ESCP.

El Hachem holds a certification in Project Management Fundamentals from Formatech.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Ms. Hiba El Hachem (opens in a new tab)
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