LEBANON - Lebanon’s Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement an $18.5 million agricultural matching grants initiative.
The initiative falls under the Green Agri-Food Transformation for Economic Recovery (GATE) project. The World Bank funds the project through a loan to the Lebanese Republic.
The program will support farmers, cooperatives and farmers’ associations. It aims to help them restore productive capacity, reduce production costs and adopt climate-smart technologies.
The initiative will also seek to improve product quality and competitiveness. Another key goal is to strengthen producers’ access to markets.
Supporting Agricultural Recovery
Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani said the agreement marks a practical step toward supporting farmers and reviving investment in the sector.
He said the initiative would focus particularly on rural communities and areas heavily affected by the recent war.
“The recent war caused significant damage to farmers and the productive capacity of the agricultural sector,” Hani said. He added that the sector was already facing challenges from the economic crisis, rising production costs and climate change.
Minister Hani said the grants should not simply finance equipment purchases. Instead, they should deliver measurable results.
These include higher productivity and incomes, more efficient use of water and energy, lower losses and better access to markets.
The Ministry of Agriculture will provide technical leadership for the program. It will work with the General Directorate of Cooperatives and other partners to oversee implementation.
CDR President Mohammad Ali Kabbani said sustainable economic recovery requires stronger productive sectors that can grow and create jobs.
He described the agri-food sector as a key pillar of Lebanon’s economy. It supports the livelihoods of thousands of families, contributes to food security and drives economic activity across the country.
Grant Amounts and Eligible Investments
The initiative will offer matching grants of up to $35,000 to cooperatives and farmers’ associations.
Individual farmers will be eligible for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000. The final amount will depend on eligibility criteria and the proposed investment.
Eligible investments include irrigation and water-management systems. They also cover renewable energy, protected agriculture and climate-smart solutions.
Farmers may also seek support for agricultural machinery and equipment. Other areas include sorting, cooling, storage and post-harvest management.
The grants can also support food safety, quality and traceability. Packaging, marketing and agro-processing projects are also eligible.
The initiative will additionally help rehabilitate damaged agricultural equipment and facilities.
Farmers will contribute 20% of the total investment cost. The required contribution for women farmers will be reduced to 10%.
The lower rate aims to improve women’s access to financing, investment and growth opportunities in agriculture.
Grants to Include Technical Assistance
The program will provide more than financial support. Beneficiaries will also receive specialized technical assistance.
This will include help preparing simplified, climate-smart business plans. Participants will also receive guidance on identifying investment needs and using funding effectively.
The goal is to direct investments toward activities that improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability.
UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon Blerta Aliko said beneficiaries would receive technical support alongside financing.
She said the program would also apply transparent and fair mechanisms for evaluating and selecting applicants. The process will aim to reach eligible beneficiaries across Lebanon, with particular attention to small producers and women.
The World Bank said the initiative would help producers invest in technologies and practices that increase productivity and efficiency. It also aims to strengthen their ability to adapt to climate change.
The wider GATE project combines productive investments with infrastructure development, natural-resource management and institutional capacity-building.
Applications to Open Next Month
Applications are expected to open next month.
The call will be announced publicly through official channels and approved communication platforms. The aim is to reach eligible farmers, women farmers, cooperatives and farmers’ associations across Lebanon.
The initiative is expected to help maintain agricultural production and improve rural household incomes.
It could also create jobs and investment opportunities, strengthen food security and support the development of agricultural and food value chains.
The agreement brings together the Ministry of Agriculture, CDR, UNDP and the World Bank. The partners aim to turn agricultural recovery into long-term investment and build a more productive, competitive and climate-resilient agri-food sector.
