Launching LED Grants Program

The Lebanon Enterprise Development (LED) project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking concept papers for activities that will serve as catalysts for investments that will substantially increase the competitiveness of Lebanese firms and industry sectors with the objective of creating new jobs supported by increased revenue.

LED is a three-year (October 2017-September 2020) project with a possible two-year extension to September 2022. LED’s goal is to increase private sector employment opportunities (jobs) for Lebanese citizens, measured a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs. To achieve this, LED provides technical assistance and grants focused on two objectives:

  1.  Create jobs by increasing competitiveness and enhancing growth of Lebanese client firms

LED offers customized technical assistance, i.e. expert consulting, business advisory services, coaching and mentoring, training, etc. to Lebanese businesses to help them overcome obstacles to growth that will increase sales and that will lead to new jobs for Lebanese citizens. Customized technical assistance is delivered principally by Lebanese business service providers and consultants or, as needed, by international consultants.

LED’s technical assistance may be company-specific or benefit a group of firms that share common challenges or face similar business development opportunities. LED-supported solutions may address constraints that are common to many firms or that are shared by a sector, subsector, or market niche. Examples include overcoming deficiencies in the quality and quantity of the workforce; difficulty accessing new buyer/s or market/s or expanding sales (domestic or export) to existing ones; or other challenges that inhibit enterprise growth and employment for Lebanese citizens. 

  2.  Improve Lebanon’s business enabling environment to catalyze private sector investment and enable growth of enterprises and industry sectors

LED will work through private sector associations, syndicates, or other non-government organizations to identify, analyses, propose,and advocate for solutions to problems that are affecting the business enabling environment and that will lead to positive impacts such as reducing the cost of doing business, promoting exports, or improved access to finance.

The full Annual Program Statement, including all terms, and conditions is available by downloading the APS attached. This APS is valid until September 30, 2019.