LocationsProductive Sector Development Project (PSDP)
Productive Sector Development Project (PSDP)
Summary
The Productive Sectors Development Programme (PSDP), is a United Nations (UN) joint initiative that is being implemented by 6 agencies – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Women (UNWomen) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) – and aims to support gender-responsive job creation and economic opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sectors, prioritizing women and female youth in disadvantaged areas.
The Productive Sector Development Programme (PSDP) sits within the United Nations Strategic Framework’s (UNSF) Outcome 3.1, which stipulates that the Government of Lebanon shall be assisted in “strengthening Lebanon productive sectors of the economy to promote inclusive growth and local development especially in most disadvantaged areas”
Background
Lebanon is passing through one of its worst economic crises in its modern history. Since October 2019, the country’s GDP has fallen by more than 58%, dropping from US$55 billion in 2018 to an estimated US$20.5 billion in 2021, while real GDP per capita falling by 37.1 percent. Latest World Bank Enterprise Survey in 2020 has shown that one in five workers had lost their jobs since the onset of the uprisings in October 17 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Women and youth have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis as they were already facing high level of unemployment prior to the crisis.
With a contraction of the economy and the collapse of the traditional drivers of the Lebanese economy (banking and tourism sectors), there is a need to support the productive sectors especially the Agri-food and Agriculture sectors as they are the main employers for vulnerable women and men especially in disadvantaged areas and are a major generator of high-added value jobs for the skilled labor force. By supporting these sectors through policy reforms, access to markets and capacity building, we ensure an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery for Lebanon.
Major achievements
- Increased capacity to the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) to support small and medium men and women-led businesses looking to export with market intelligence and promotion support through a newly developed export promotion portal www.lebanonexports.gov.lb
- Increased capacity to the Ministry of Agriculture to support farmers and agri-food producers to understand local food safety standards and regulations through a user-friendly web application that summarizes key legislations issued by the Ministry. Visit the platform on this link: www.regulations.agriculture.gov.lb
- Increased capacity of the Ministry of Economy and Trade to provide market information to agri-food producers on key products with high export potential in specific promising markets and guidance on export procedures from Lebanon through an Export Guide.
- New Online Export Academy launched–with more than 70 MSMEs in the agriculture and agri-food sectors provided with the needed training to become export ready.
- More than 100 small and medium enterprises from the productive sectors surveyed to understand trainings needs in terms of export preparedness.
- More than 40 SMEs including 5 women SMEs in the agri-food sector supported to access the US and UK markets through marketing and promotional activities (B2B meetings, fairs participation, coaching, business development consultants).
- More than 40 women and men-led MSMEs provided with trainings on environmental sustainability and eco-friendly production techniques, technologies and tools.
- More than 10 women and men-led MSMEs provided with in-kind grants to support them in adopting environmental-friendly solutions for their production
Project outcome
The project aims to:
- Improve the enabling environment to support women economic participation in the agri-food and agriculture sectors through policy and legislative reforms.
- Increase access to markets of men and women led SMEs through institutional capacity building as well as marketing and promotion support.
- Increase capacity of women farmers, women cooperatives and women-led micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as male-led entities to create and sustain gender equitable job opportunities and adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
GESI Component:
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The PSDP has been designed primarily to support increase women and youth economic participation in productive sectors. The project focuses on supporting the creation of job opportunities in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged areas.
- In all the project activities, women and youth female farmers, entrepreneurs and cooperatives especially from rural disadvantaged areas of Lebanon are prioritized. Moreover, awareness campaigns on women economic empowerment in the agriculture and agri-food sectors were conducted as well as promotional campaigns to showcase women economic leadership in accessing international markets.