WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR LEBANON PROJECT (WEEL)

IM Fndng will evaluate business plans based on the following criteria:

• Scalability: The startup should fill a gap and/or showcase a strategy/plan that could be replicated elsewhere.
• Added value: It can add clear value to not only the business but the sector more broadly.
• Impact: The business proposal should aim to increase production, exports, quality of service or services offer filling a gap in the local, regional, or global market and employment creation. Backward and forward linkages within local value chains with potential to create also indirect employment will also be considered and monitored. Also, firms aiming to improve environmental practices through the introduction of environmental certifications/standards. Employment of women will also be taken into account.
• Innovation: The startup wants to implement innovations such as the introduction of new technologies, a new approach, or a new process that can improve processes and products/services.
• Feasibility: The startup can achieve results and finalize the implementation of the business plan within the duration of the project.
• The solution must be cost effective with an expected high return on investment and a plan for how to ensure sustainable revenue beyond the support from the project.

Additional points will be given to:

• Proposals that can empower women to create new businesses and/or have potential for increased employment of women and youth.
• Proposals that are environmentally sustainable and reduce the negative impact on natural resources or the natural environment.
• Companies with an ethos towards fair-trade, fight against climate change and protection of the environment, decent labour and anti-slavery in their supply chain, companies with corporate social responsibility.
• Companies operating with informal businesses and willing to strengthen them to scale up and formalize.
• Businesses that cannot access other sources of funding or already used other sources of funding to co-finance a business plan to scale up and are looking for additional resources to ensure the viability of financing without risking financial sustainability.
• Firms with a maximum turnover of USD 500.000 or in the event that a company has profits that can justify the need for financing, which profits are between 10 and 20 percent of the turnover.

No companies linked with political parties and religious parties will be selected.