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Developing Lebanon’s tech sector through the Lebanese diaspora

Following the financial and economic crises in Lebanon in 2019 and 2020, high rates of skilled labour migration, business shutdowns and hyperinflation have made it difficult for businesses in Lebanon to thrive. To help counter these effects, the Lebanese diaspora in France has sought to support the development of the tech market, a priority sector for the government in recent years.

With EUDiF support, between April 2021 and April 2022, a partnership action between AFPI and Berytech has led to the development of a training manual for Lebanese SMEs on exporting tech services, a communication plan to widen AFPI’s network, and the Cedars Tech label guidelines – a quality label to position the organisation as ambassadors for domestic services in foreign markets. The model has the potential to be replicated for other export markets, or for other diasporas to do similar.

Objective
The action aims to equip the Lebanese diaspora in France with knowledge, skills and tools to support the development of the Lebanese tech sector.
Duration
12 months
SDGs

In partnership with

Programme of activities

The 12-month collaboration began with a comprehensive needs assessment to build out the programme of activities based on AFPI's initial request.

Three complementary modules were designed: the French Market Acceleration Programme; a Communication Plan for AFPI; and Cedars Tech label guidelines. Together, the modules develop the capacities of SMEs in Lebanon to export, and of AFPI to expand its support to such SMEs and promote the credibility of the Lebanese tech sector.

Training programme: French Market Acceleration Programme
Nov 2021 - Feb 22: Creation of training programme

To ease the access of Lebanese companies to the French market, five diaspora expertise tailored a training programme called the "French Market Acceleration program" (FMAP).

Jan - Feb 2022: Testing, review and finalisation of training programme

The programme includes topics such as private and public financing, trading across cultures, and access to markets. The diaspora experts piloted the programme with a small group of SMEs and adjusted it based on their feedback.

Feb - March 22: Training of trainers

Members of AFPI participated in a training on facilitation and delivery of the FMAP to SMEs. For future training rounds, the professional members of AFPI will have the soft skills to manage training sessions online.

April 22: Presentation of monitoring tool

The tool is to be used to track the milestones of future trainings conducted by AFPI.

Communication
Sep 21: Drafting and review of communication plan

The plan guides AFPI on how to promote the Lebanese tech sector locally and internationally, as well as to expand its membership in Lebanon and the diaspora.

Oct 2021: Presentation of plan and monitoring tools

During a workshop, the expert presented the communication plan along with indicators to monitor the achievement of the plan's set goals.

Cedars Tech label guidelines
Aug 21: Drafting and review of label guidelines

The guidelines frame the tech label, that AFPI and the other founding partners have created, to grant a seal of quality to Lebanese companies that uphold the label’s rules.

Sep 21: Peer learning session

An opportunity to learn from the experiences of La French Tech, Finance Innovation and Start Up Tunisia in tech labels.

Sep 21: Presentation of label guidelines and monitoring tools

The expert presented the label and the set indicators to achieve on the short term to members of AFPI.

“The collaboration with EUDiF was really strategic for us to bootstrap Cedars Tech on a solid foundation based on trust, quality and excellence with the Lebanese diaspora and the Lebanese tech ecosystem.
Besides bringing capacity building resources by recruiting the best experts in the Lebanese diaspora in Europe, the advantage of working with EUDiF lies in urging us to always focus on the long term sustainability plan instead of a short term project-based focus.”
1.3Charly_bechara
Charly Bechara
Former member of AFPI

Results

AFPI assessed their capacities at the start and end of the action, showing how the various activities have helped to accelerate their knowledge and practical skills in areas essential to achieving their long-term objectives.

EUDiF actions are designed to plug into a partner's existing vision and/or workplan, in order to help enhance, catalyse, or accelerate initiatives in a way the partner will be able to maintain beyond the end of the action. This is why the focus is on enhancing capacities, rather than providing a finished product on behalf of the partner. No partner ever begins from zero capacities, but the progress made during the course of an action can have a huge impact on its operations.

Capacity development

Growth acceleration (km/h)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Thematic skills
Tech industry
Stakeholders in Lebanon
Stakeholders in France
Lebanese market needs
Existing labels
Label guideline design & launch
Technical skills
Training activities
Communication
Forging and maintaining partnerships
Diaspora engagement
Baseline assessment (Month 1) Endline assessment ( Month 12 )
6
out of 8 experts are diaspora professionals
60
participants
100%
say their knowledge was enhanced

Updates

News • Middle East
Market acceleration with the Lebanese diaspora
Read more
Diaspora voices • Middle East
Reina Angoujard on the evolving role of the Lebanese diaspora & supporting Cedars Tech
Read more
News • Middle East
Celebrating the end of our collaboration with AFPI and Berytech
Read more

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