Project Overview

This project aims to enhance the economic security, stability, and prosperity of women-led and women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Lebanon — ultimately supporting their livelihoods and overall well-being.

It seeks to address the limited economic participation of women in productive sectors by tackling institutional and structural barriers that restrict their engagement, while also confronting entrenched gender inequalities.

With generous funding from the Government of Canada, UNDP Lebanon in partnership with UNIDO is implementing a comprehensive approach to ensure women’s equal access to key resources, tools, and economic opportunities, enabling them to grow their businesses in a sustainable and resilient way.

In parallel, the project works with public and private institutions to equip them with the systems and tools needed to improve their responsiveness to business needs. This dual approach helps ensure that women become primary drivers of their own economic success and empowerment.

Project Objective

To strengthen the economic security and prosperity of women-led and women-owned MSMEs in Lebanon by:

• Enhancing the capacity of trade support organizations to better respond to women entrepreneurs’ needs in local and international markets.
• Promoting the use of digital solutions by trade support organizations and women-led SMEs to facilitate their trade journeys.
• Enabling financial institutions to design and offer tools that meet women entrepreneurs’ needs and support business growth.
• Equipping women-led SMEs with the skills and resources to access finance and expand their operations.
• Supporting women-led SMEs in improving product competitiveness to enter and thrive in new markets.

Key achievements 

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion):