The Rene Moawad Foundation (RMF) and Saint Joseph university (USJ) signed Monday a memorandum of understanding to promote sustainable development projects in Akkar and north Lebanon.

The MoU was signed by USJ President Salim Daccache and Nayla Moawad, RMF President and former Social Affairs Minister.

The signing ceremony, which was held at the university’s headquarters in Achrafieh, was also attended by a large number of university officials and members of the foundation.

Moawad stressed that the foundation aims through its activities across Lebanon to bolster sustainable development in a bid to improve people’s living conditions.

“A project will only succeed with the support of local authorities and civil society groups,” Moawad said, adding that she believed in universities as a key partner in promoting a culture of freedom, coexistence and democracy.

For his part, Daccache highlighted the importance of cooperation between the academic sector and non-governmental organizations in promoting human development and social cohesion.