- Lebanon Enterprise and Employment Programme (LEEP) is a business support fund that provides matching grants and Business Development Services (BDS) to micro, small and medium businesses that are ready to grow and hire new employees.
- Yes, LEEP has a national support, across all sectors (except alcohol and tobacco production) and regions in Lebanon with a focus on rural and remote communities. LEEP will cover all regions with the branches of the partner financial institutions.
- The business is Lebanese owned, with operations in Lebanon
- The business have taken a loan ranging between $5,000 and $75,000 from a financial institution since December 1, 2018 onwards, or have made a private investment (self-financing or equity-financing1) starting January 2020 onwards
- The business has clear plans to hire new employees for a period of at least 3 months
- The business loan or private investment is issued to implement a growth-oriented business plan (example: start a new product/service, expand to new markets, or improve business operations)
- The business does not work in the alcohol and tobacco production ( grant budget will not be spent on luxury items, tobacco, alcohol, drugs not on the WHO list, and pesticides)
- The business encourages an inclusive recruitment process for all individuals (Youth, women, and people with special needs )
- The business promotes decent work conditions and gender equality in the workplace
- The business is willing to receive business advisory services
- Yes, LEEP supports both informal and formal businesses.
- LEEP will be paying for the BDS provider during the initial stage of the programme.
- According to LEEP definition, a Small or Medium Enterprise is an enterprise registered or unregistered, that employs less than 50 people with annual turnover of under LBP 5 billion.
- Start-ups can apply if they meet LEEP’s eligibility criteria.
- BDS is a compulsory service to the SMEs enrolled in LEEP and will be provided after signing the LEEP Grant Agreement.
- If the SME does not create and sustain any jobs within 6 months from the time of receiving the loan amount, the SME will forfeit any claims to the Employment Grant.
- No, LEEP is an SME support package that includes a matching grant and business development services. These are provided in parallel with business loans provided by the banks or MFIs partnering with LEEP, or in parallel to private investments supported by bank statements of accounts as proof of source of money
A valid job is when the hired employee works at least 40 hours per week for 6 weeks; or 20 hours per week for 12 weeks; or equivalent to 30 full working days over a 3-month period under conditions meeting LEEP’s decent work criteria.
- USD or LBP loans and investments are eligible for matching coverage by LEEP.
- No. LEEP matching grant funds are to be used in productive investments to grow or improve the business.
- No, LEEP can only finance assets that are purchased after the SME signs the grant agreement with LEEP.
- 15. Will the employee know about this whole process of the employment grant that the SME is getting?Yes, the LEEP Team and partners will be contacting them to verify their employment and assess working conditions.