J.8_-_LIM_Fact_Sheet.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development January 2014 http://www.usaid.gov/lebanon

FACT SHEET

Microenterprise Assistance/ Lebanon Investment in Microfinance Program

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s “Lebanon Investment in Microfinance” (LIM) program works to expand the supply of loans to individuals, micro and small enterprises, and farmers. With USAID grants, local micro-finance institutions (MFIs) disburse funds for loans and services to micro and small enterprises that do not normally have access to capital in order to establish new income-generating businesses or enhance existing ones by increasing sales and creating jobs.

This six-year program, started in 2009, greatly assists qualified micro and small enterprises by maximizing the availability of loans for borrowers in sectors and areas that have traditionally had difficulty accessing business finance, especially the agribusiness, tourism, and Information and Technology value chains, as well as women and youth entrepreneurs.

The USAID implementer, Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance/ International Executive Service Corps (VEGA/IESC), works with local MFIs to increase their capacity to profitably serve micro and small enterprises. VEGA/IESC provides training and technical assistance to MFI managers, supervisors, and loan officers on the creation of appropriate loan products, improvement of the quality of application information, establishment of policies and procedures, and loan monitoring.

The LIM project currently supports nine MFIs covering a large part of the microfinance sector in the country. VEGA/IESC signed agreements and provided sub-grants to nine MFIs:

• Association of Rural Development (ADR)

• Association d’Entraide Professionnelle (AEP);

• AlMajmoua

• Ameen

• Emkan

• IBDA’A

• Lebanese Cooperative for Development (CLD), and

• Makhzoumi Foundation

• Entrepreneurial Development Foundation (EDF)

The program will continue to expand to reach the most deprived rural areas and communities, increase access to finance for small enterprises, develop new products, provide larger MFI loans , and improve the capacities of MFIs and coordination within the microfinance sector in Lebanon.

For more information, please contact VEGA/IESC at 961-1-990234 / 239.

Micro-loan beneficiary in Nabatieh purchased an electrical sewing machine to expand her tailoring business.

http://www.usaid.gov/lebanon