The Women Economic Empowerment Project was initiated in 2000 by the CRTD.A with the support of the British Embassy in Beirut and later on by the Global Fund for Women. Essentially operating in Lebanon, the project also includes capacity building activities in other countries of the region focusing essentially on gender and the economy and gender budgeting. The overall purpose of WEEP is to contribute to creating a positive transformation in gender relations through empowering women and building their capacities to become economically independent and form and maintain their own grassroots organizations. WEEP is also linked to CRTD.A Gender and Leadership initiative which seeks to empower women through strengthening leadership skills and practice and through facilitating access to IT training and knowledge.