The Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Advancing Women-Led Enterprises in Lebanon (WEE) is a new project generously funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project aims at supporting gender-responsive job creation and generating economic opportunities for women-led MSMEs across various productive sectors with high growth potential.  

The outbreak of the war in October has resulted in an additional layer of complexity to the already profound and multifaceted crisis that Lebanon has been struggling with, adding yet another layer of vulnerability to local businesses. A Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) survey conducted by UNDP over the course of the hostilities has shown that more than 70% of businesses can’t sustain their operation if not provided with immediate financial support.  

With MSMEs forming the backbone of Lebanon’s economy, supporting them during times of crisis is crucial for maintaining and improving economic resilience and sustaining livelihoods opportunities across the country.  

Through the Grant Component, UNDP will ensure that businesses, particularly those led by women have access to financing opportunities to sustain and grow their operation. 

Objective

The primary objective of this call is to provide grants to micro and small-sized businesses that were affected by the 2024 conflict, to enable them to maintain and sustain their operation as a first step towards recovery. The grants aim to:

• Maintain ongoing production and business continuity.
• Promote job retention and economic stability.  
• Enable innovation to meet changing market needs.
• Support the integration of energy-efficient practices to support in cost reduction.
• Expand market access and explore new distribution channels to sustain sales.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Businesses formally registered with relevant authorities and compliant with legal requirements;
• Businesses employing less or equal to 20 registered employees and have an annual turnover of less or equal to 1 million USD;
• Businesses operating within the Agro-Food (food processing and beverages), Cosmetics & Cleaning Products (Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic and Soap, organic surface-active agents, detergents and washing and cleaning preparations) or Creative Industries (high-end crafts, jewellery designed products and textile-based products.) sectors;
• Businesses producing goods locally, with export activity accounting for less than 20% of total sales;
• Businesses demonstrating ongoing business activity and provide evidence of sustained operations.

Priority will be given for the micro and small-sized enterprises which support women economic empowerment and livelihood while adhering to sustainable environmental practices.  

Benefits

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can benefit from a grant ranging from 10,000 USD to 12,000 USD to sustain your business operations and ensure its continuity. Eligible activities covered by the grant are listed below:  

• Purchase of Essential Materials
• Support for Workers’ Wages
• Logistics-Related Costs
• Purchase of Equipment or Machinery
• Product Innovation
• Purchase of Energy-efficient Equipment
• E-commerce and Marketing Activities

Refer to the “Grant Eligible Activities” for the grant types, modality and eligibility.  

Selected beneficiaries who receive the grant will also be provided with additional technical assistance for quality enhancement and access to markets. 

Application Process

Step 1: Determine the grant amount and identify the specific activities to be funded (Refer to Annex I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII).  

Step 2: Complete the Grant Application Form and compile the required documents, including additional documents specific to the selected activity (Refer to Annex IX).

Step 3: Complete the Low Value Grant Proposal Form and outline proposed activities, performance targets, and budget using the provided templates (Refer to Annex X).

Step 4: Submit your inquiries via email (sme.support@undp.org) and make sure to attend the scheduled information session to learn more about the call, eligibility criteria, and application guidelines. Register for the Information Session Here.

Step 5: Submit the completed application package online through the Google Form. Ensure all required fields are completed and supporting documents are uploaded.

Proposals will undergo a thorough evaluation process, and results will be communicated to applicants via email. If any clarification or additional documents are needed, UNDP will be reaching out to you via email or phone. 

Timeline

Application Opening Date: December 2,2024  
Application Deadline: December 23, 2024
Grant Proposal Review: January 8, 2025
Announcement of Selected Grantees: January 31, 2025  
Implementation Period: 6 to 8 months starting from grant disbursement.

Important: Applications must be submitted by December 23, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Evaluation Process

The evaluation process is carried out by a dedicated Grant Selection Committee with expertise in MSME development. Proposals will be assessed based on:

• Justification and relevance of proposed activities.
• Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget and timeline.
• Innovativeness and alignment with market needs.
• Financial stability and operational capacity of the business.
• Economic, social, and environmental impacts, including gender equality.
• Detailed scoring sheet and evaluation process can be found in the Annex section below.

Templates and Annexes

• Annex I,II,III,IV, V, VI, VII, VIII: Grant Eligible Activities  
• Annex IX: Grant Application Form
• Annex X: Low Value Grant Proposal Form
• Grant selection/scoring criteria
• Terms of Reference

     Submission Form      .     

     Info Sessions      .