Beirut, 5 March 2025 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) and with the generous support of the Government of Canada, has launched the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Advancing Women-Led Enterprises in Lebanon (WEE) project. Spanning three and a half years, the project aims to strengthen and enhance the economic security, stability, and prosperity of women-led and women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Lebanon. By fostering sustainable growth and supporting job creation, the project contributes to Lebanon’s broader economic growth.

The event took place at Souk el Tayeb - Mar Mikhael in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Amir Bisat, the Ambassador of Canada to Lebanon, H.E. Ms. Stefanie McCollum, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Blerta Aliko, alongside key representatives and project stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

Bringing together 45 women-led micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) from the agro-food, cosmetics, and creative industries, the event served as a platform for these businesses to showcase their products. These businesses have received grants from UNDP to sustain and expand their production and will also benefit from tailored technical support to enhance their access to national and international markets. 

In close partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNDP is working towards the goal of reaching 1,0000 enterprises, with a particular focus on women -led entrepreneurs, to foster their growth and sustainability.

“The partnership with UNDP and the Government of Canada is essential for the Ministry at this critical time, as we aim to equip small business led by women entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to grow and thrive. The establishment of the national trade help desk marks a significant milestone—not only for our Ministry in enhancing its support for small businesses but also for businesses seeking improved access to local trade and opportunities to expand into new markets,” exclaimed H.E. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade.

This initiative comes at a critical time as Lebanon continues to grapple with the repercussions of the economic and financial crises marked by triple-digit inflation, rising unemployment, and a sub-optimal business environment. This situation has been further exacerbated by the recent conflict, which has inflicted unprecedented challenges and damage to entrepreneurs and businesses alike.  

These challenges have severely disrupted MSME value chains, reduced production and sales, and ultimately affected the livelihoods of thousands of Lebanese. As the backbone of Lebanon’s economy, MSMEs account for over 50% of the labour force and contribute around 40% of economic output, making their recovery essential for economic stability and growth. Women-led and women-owned businesses have been particularly impacted by the crisis. Preliminary results from a digital survey conducted by UNDP following the end of hostilities indicate that 18% of female business owners reported complete or severe damage to their premises, compared to 15% of their male counterparts.

“Lebanese women entrepreneurs have long been at the heart of resilience, creativity, and economic vitality. They are the backbone of thriving micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises – businesses that sustain families, generate jobs, and enrich communities. Yet, despite their talent and determination, many women still face significant obstacles to growth. Canada has long championed gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in Lebanon, but this project is about more than just economic growth. It is about hope, resilience, and the promise of a better future. It is about ensuring that every woman with the ambition to lead a business, innovate, and contribute to her community has the opportunity to do so.” stated Stefanie McCollum, Ambassador of Canada to Lebanon.

UNDP aims to equip small businesses with a range of financing instruments, complemented by technical assistance, to enhance their stability, drive job creation, and foster economic growth.

"UNDP aims, to provide small businesses, especially those led by women, with access to much needed financial and technical capacities to scale their business and reach out to new markets. Productive small businesses do not only support job creation but also contribute to national economic growth. Building on the Ministry of Economy and Trade’s success in automating the Consumer Protection and Trade Directorates, UNDP aims at enhancing and streamlining business environment for enterprises including digitalisation of the industrial permit process." said Blerta Aliko, UNDP Resident Representative.

The WEE project is launching at a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s political and economic landscape, aiming to support over 1,000 MSMEs while enhancing the overall business environment. The project will play a key role in fostering sustainable growth for MSMEs by focusing on three main pillars:

Streamlining the Business Environment: The project will automate the industrial license process—a critical step in exports—and establish a Trade Help Desk in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Trade and regional chambers to provide hands-on support for MSMEs in their export journey.

Access to Financial Instruments: The initiative will ensure that MSMEs gain access to various financial instruments and products to unlock growth, addressing a significant challenge they have faced since the onset of the financial crisis.

Technical Assistance: MSMEs supported by the program will receive technical assistance to enhance product quality and improve access to local and international markets, with support from the project’s lead implementing partner UNIDO.

For more information, please contact: 

In UNDP – Lebanon       | Maryam Sweid‎ | maryam.sweid@undp.org   | +961 ‎(71) 366 212‎ 

About UNDP:

UNDP is working in Lebanon since 1986 as a development partner supporting economic recovery, including working with municipalities to deliver basic services to host communities, promoting clean energy and solid waste management, strengthening governance and rule of law, providing support to elections, and working on empowering women and youth.