Project Overview 

The “GATE SMART – Small Matching Agriculture Grant for Resilient Transformation” is implemented under the broader GATE Project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The grant aims to support the short- to medium-term recovery of Lebanon’s agrifood sector while promoting a more sustainable and resilient transformation pathway for eligible cooperatives, farmers’ associations, and individual farmers, and supporting them in addressing priority production needs, enhancing climate resilience, improving productivity, and strengthening market-oriented growth. 

Key Messages 

• The Lebanese Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Cooperatives, is offering grants to cooperatives and farmers to invest in climate-smart initiatives.  Funded by the World Bank, the program is implemented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) in partnership with UNDP. 
• Grants for Cooperatives and Farmers Associations range between 10,000 and 35,000 USD, and for farmers between 500 and 5,000 USD 
• Grants will help cover climate-smart infrastructure, irrigation, renewable energy, greenhouses, processing equipment, storage facilities, agricultural machinery, dairy equipment, livestock and poultry, beekeeping, planting material, certification, packaging, rehabilitation of damaged assets, raw materials (up to 15% of grant value), and marketing activities (up to 10% of grant value) 
• The initiative promotes a climate-smart recovery model by financing investments that improve productivity, reduce resource inefficiencies, and strengthen resilience to climate-related shock 
• Grant beneficiaries will also receive training to help them develop climate-informed business plans, better understand their financial statements and balance sheets, and strengthen their awareness of environmental standards. This initiative supports inclusive local economic development by strengthening cooperative structures, improving governance and financial literacy, and creating opportunities for women, youth, farmers, and rural communities. 
• The matching grant approach promotes ownership and sustainability by encouraging beneficiaries to co-invest in priority needs identified through climate-informed business plans. Matching contributions apply at 20 per cent as standard, and reduced to 10 per cent for women-owned or women-led applicants.  
• Specific to Farmers: Eligible applicants are Lebanese smallholders, active within the last two years, whose farm size is below the defined thresholds in specific value chain mainly Protected vegetables (greenhouses), Open-field vegetables, Small ruminants, Poultry, and Beekeeping ; unregistered eligible farmers will be referred to Ministry of Agriculture service centres to register. 
• Specific to Cooperatives: Eligible applicants must be formally registered, operating in the agriculture or agrifood sectors and have submitted audited balance sheets to the General Directorate of Cooperatives for 2 years of operations 
• Specific to Farmers Associations: Eligible applicants must be legally registered farmers' associations with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, with at least 2 years of active experience working directly with farmers and producer groups, and have demonstrated capacity to fund the matching contribution. Applicants also need to demonstrate average turnover of no more than USD 100,000 over the last 2 years, validated through audited financial statement 

GESI Component (Gender Equality & Social Inclusion) 

The initiative will prioritize the meaningful participation of women-led and women-inclusive cooperatives, while encouraging the inclusion of youth, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable rural groups where relevant. Training, coaching, and technical assistance will be delivered in a gender-responsive and inclusive manner, ensuring that both women and men can participate equally and benefit from improved skills, access to resources, and market opportunities. By strengthening cooperative governance, financial literacy, and inclusive participation in agricultural value chains, the project will contribute to more equitable livelihoods, improved local economic opportunities, and stronger resilience among rural communities.