Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
The United Nations Development Programme is inviting applications to support economic recovery in Lebanon by strengthening MSMEs and cooperatives through integrated livelihoods support. The project will provide business development services, access to finance facilitation, and conditional productive grants ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 10,000 per entity. Eligible applicants must be legally registered NGO or CSO entities authorized to operate in Lebanon with strong experience in livelihoods, MSME, cooperative, and farmer support projects.
Overview
The United Nations Development Programme is inviting applications to promote economic recovery and local economic revitalization in Lebanon.
The project supports micro, small, and medium enterprises and cooperatives through an integrated package of business development services, access to finance facilitation, and conditional productive grants.
The initiative is part of UNDP Lebanon’s priority intervention under the LHSP framework and aims to help targeted businesses and cooperatives resume, stabilize, and improve their operations.
Key Focus Areas
The project focuses on livelihoods recovery, business continuity, and cooperative development.
Key focus areas include:
- Livelihoods recovery
- Local economic revitalization
- MSME support
- Cooperative development
- Business development services
- Access to finance facilitation
- Conditional productive grants
- Needs assessment
- Capacity building
- Operational performance improvement
- Business continuity
- Market access
- Governance strengthening
- Collective marketing support
- Value chain linkages
- Post-grant monitoring
- Market linkage support
- Economic recovery in Lebanon
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project is to strengthen MSMEs and cooperatives so they can recover, stabilize, and contribute to local economic activity.
The project aims to provide targeted technical and financial support that helps businesses improve performance, access markets, and maintain continuity.
It also supports cooperatives by strengthening governance, collective marketing, and linkages to value chains.
Funding and Grant Support
The project includes conditional productive grants for selected MSMEs and cooperatives.
Grant amounts range from:
- Minimum grant: USD 5,000 per entity
- Maximum grant: USD 10,000 per entity
Grant disbursement will be based on approved business plans and linked to the needs and recovery priorities of each supported entity.
Implementation Period
The implementation period for all project activities must not exceed six months.
This six-month period includes all activities and final reporting.
Applicants should present a realistic work plan that can be completed within the required timeframe.
Target Beneficiaries
The programme targets a minimum of 50 to 80 MSMEs and cooperative entities within the assigned area.
Beneficiaries will receive integrated support that may include needs assessments, business development services, access to finance support, productive grants, post-grant monitoring, and market linkage assistance.
Support for MSMEs
MSMEs supported under the programme will receive structured and tailored assistance.
Support for MSMEs includes:
- Needs assessments
- Diagnostic reporting
- Individualized business development plans
- Business development services coaching
- Financial management support
- Marketing support
- Operations support
- Access to finance support
- Conditional grant disbursement
- Post-grant monitoring
- Market linkage support
This support is designed to help MSMEs resume or stabilize business operations and improve long-term performance.
Support for Cooperatives
Cooperatives will receive the core support package along with additional measures designed to strengthen collective structures and market opportunities.
Support for cooperatives includes:
- Needs assessments
- Diagnostic reporting
- Business development planning
- Capacity building
- Access to finance facilitation
- Conditional productive grants
- Governance strengthening
- Collective marketing support
- Value chain linkages
- Post-grant monitoring
- Market linkage support
The cooperative support component aims to improve organizational performance, strengthen internal systems, and expand market access.
Main Implementation Activities
Applicants will be expected to deliver a complete package of support to MSMEs and cooperatives.
Key implementation activities include:
- Conducting needs assessments
- Preparing diagnostic reports
- Developing tailored business development plans
- Delivering business development services
- Providing coaching and capacity building
- Facilitating access to finance
- Managing conditional grant disbursement
- Supporting governance strengthening for cooperatives
- Supporting collective marketing
- Creating value chain linkages
- Conducting post-grant monitoring
- Supporting market linkage activities
- Preparing final reports
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be legally registered NGO or CSO entities authorized to operate in Lebanon.
Applicants must demonstrate relevant technical, operational, and financial capacity to implement livelihoods and economic recovery projects.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a legally registered NGO or CSO
- Be authorized to operate in Lebanon
- Have at least three years of relevant experience in development and livelihoods projects
- Demonstrate experience implementing at least three projects supporting farmers, MSMEs, and cooperatives
- Meet the required financial turnover threshold
- Submit required audited financial statements
- Apply as a single legal entity
Joint ventures, consortia, and associations of entities are not eligible under this call.
Experience Requirements
Applicants must show strong experience in implementing livelihoods and economic recovery projects.
Required experience includes:
- At least three years of relevant experience in development and livelihoods programming
- Experience implementing at least three projects supporting farmers, MSMEs, and cooperatives
- Project experience with a value of USD 700,000 for the respective lot
- Demonstrated capacity to deliver business development and economic recovery support
Applicants should provide clear evidence of past project performance, sector knowledge, implementation capacity, and experience working with targeted beneficiaries.
Financial Requirements
Applicants must meet the financial eligibility requirements for the relevant lot.
Organisations are required to submit audited financial statements for:
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
Applicants must also demonstrate a minimum annual turnover of USD 700,000 in at least three of the last four years for the relevant lot.
These requirements help ensure that applicants have the financial capacity to manage and implement the project.
Lot Application Rules
Applicants may apply for one or multiple lots.
However, separate technical and financial proposals must be submitted for each lot.
Only one lot may be awarded to a single entity.
Applicants should carefully assess their capacity before applying for multiple lots and ensure that each proposal is complete and tailored to the specific lot requirements.
HACT Micro-Assessment Requirement
Organisations that have completed a HACT micro-assessment within the last five years are requested to submit their most recent assessment with the application.
Assessments older than five years will not be considered valid.
Shortlisted applicants may be required to undergo a new HACT micro-assessment before award.
Ineligible Applicants
Certain applicants are not eligible under this call.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Joint ventures
- Consortia
- Associations of entities
- Entities not legally registered in Lebanon
- Organisations not authorized to operate in Lebanon
- Applicants that do not meet the required experience criteria
- Applicants that do not meet the required financial turnover criteria
- Applicants unable to submit the required audited financial statements
Only single legal entities are eligible for award.
Why It Matters
MSMEs and cooperatives are important drivers of local employment, livelihoods, and community-level economic activity in Lebanon.
Economic instability can weaken business continuity, reduce income opportunities, and limit access to markets and finance.
This project matters because it provides practical support to help MSMEs and cooperatives recover, stabilize, and improve their operations.
By combining business development services, access to finance facilitation, productive grants, and market linkage support, the project can contribute to local economic revitalization and more resilient livelihoods.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear technical and financial proposal that demonstrates eligibility, experience, implementation capacity, and a strong understanding of MSME and cooperative support.
Step 1: Confirm Legal Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are legally registered NGO or CSO entities authorized to operate in Lebanon.
They should also confirm that they are applying as a single legal entity, not as a consortium, joint venture, or association.
Step 2: Demonstrate Relevant Experience
The application should clearly show experience in livelihoods and development programming.
Applicants should highlight:
- Experience supporting MSMEs
- Experience supporting cooperatives
- Experience supporting farmers
- Business development services experience
- Livelihoods recovery experience
- Access to finance facilitation
- Grant management experience
- Market linkage support experience
Step 3: Present a Strong Beneficiary Support Model
Applicants should explain how they will identify, assess, support, and monitor 50 to 80 MSMEs and cooperatives.
The support model should include:
- Selection approach
- Needs assessment methodology
- Diagnostic reporting process
- Business development plan preparation
- Coaching and capacity-building activities
- Grant disbursement process
- Post-grant monitoring
- Market linkage support
Step 4: Explain Grant Management Processes
The proposal should clearly explain how conditional productive grants will be managed.
Applicants should describe:
- Grant eligibility criteria for beneficiaries
- Business plan approval process
- Disbursement procedures
- Financial controls
- Monitoring mechanisms
- Risk mitigation measures
- Documentation and reporting systems
Step 5: Include Cooperative-Specific Support
For cooperatives, applicants should explain how they will strengthen governance, collective marketing, and value chain linkages.
The proposal should describe practical actions to improve cooperative performance, internal coordination, and market opportunities.
Step 6: Prepare Complete Financial Documentation
Applicants must prepare and submit audited financial statements for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
They should also demonstrate the required minimum annual turnover of USD 700,000 in at least three of the last four years for the relevant lot.
Step 7: Submit Separate Proposals for Multiple Lots
Applicants applying for more than one lot must submit separate technical and financial proposals for each lot.
Since only one lot may be awarded to a single entity, each proposal should be strong, complete, and independently viable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting incomplete or ineligible proposals.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying as a consortium or joint venture
- Not proving legal registration in Lebanon
- Not showing authorization to operate in Lebanon
- Failing to demonstrate three years of relevant experience
- Not providing evidence of at least three relevant projects
- Not meeting the USD 700,000 project experience requirement for the respective lot
- Not submitting audited financial statements for all required years
- Not meeting the minimum turnover requirement
- Submitting one proposal for multiple lots instead of separate proposals
- Providing a weak grant disbursement plan
- Not explaining post-grant monitoring
- Ignoring cooperative governance and value chain needs
- Proposing activities that cannot be completed within six months
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be practical, evidence-based, and implementation-ready.
Useful tips include:
- Clearly prove legal and operational eligibility.
- Highlight strong experience in livelihoods and economic recovery.
- Provide specific examples of MSME, farmer, and cooperative support projects.
- Present a clear method for selecting and assessing beneficiaries.
- Include tailored support for both MSMEs and cooperatives.
- Explain how business development services will be delivered.
- Show strong financial controls for conditional grant disbursement.
- Include a realistic six-month work plan.
- Demonstrate capacity to support 50 to 80 entities.
- Include practical market linkage and post-grant monitoring plans.
- Provide all required audited financial statements.
- Submit the most recent valid HACT micro-assessment if available.
FAQ
1. What is this UNDP Lebanon project about?
The project supports economic recovery in Lebanon by helping MSMEs and cooperatives resume, stabilize, and improve business operations through business development services, access to finance facilitation, and conditional productive grants.
2. How much grant support will beneficiaries receive?
Selected MSMEs and cooperatives may receive conditional productive grants ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 10,000 per entity.
3. How many entities will be supported?
The programme targets a minimum of 50 to 80 MSMEs and cooperative entities within the assigned area.
4. Who can apply?
Legally registered NGO or CSO entities authorized to operate in Lebanon may apply, provided they meet the experience, financial, and documentation requirements.
5. Are consortia eligible?
No. Joint ventures, consortia, and associations of entities are not eligible. Only single legal entities may be awarded under this call.
6. What financial documents are required?
Applicants must submit audited financial statements for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
7. What is the implementation period?
All project activities, including final reporting, must be completed within six months.
Conclusion
The UNDP Lebanon project provides targeted support to MSMEs and cooperatives as part of broader economic recovery and local revitalization efforts.
Through needs assessments, business development services, access to finance facilitation, conditional productive grants, cooperative governance support, market linkages, and post-grant monitoring, the project aims to strengthen business continuity and livelihoods. Strong applications should demonstrate legal eligibility, strong livelihoods experience, financial capacity, grant management systems, practical implementation planning, and the ability to support 50 to 80 MSMEs and cooperatives within the six-month period.
For more information, visit UNDP.