$600,000 in Facebook aid
to small and medium firms

Cash, advertising credit and free webinars on offer

Facebook has launched an initiative to support Lebanese Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), suffering from the effects of the Port Explosion and Covid-19.

The ‘#LoveLocal Lebanon SMB Programme’, will contribute $600,000 in cash and Facebook ad credits to businesses. The contribution includes a cash donation of $300,000 to LIFE, a not-for-profit Lebanese Diaspora organization. LIFE will leverage its experience and network on the ground to allocate donations to SMEs.

Facebook has also partnered with Beirut-based e-commerce platform Ecomz, and media and marketing services company Mindshare, to launch Ecommerce Start – Lebanon, a bootcamp program developed to support 100 SMEs that look to build their e-commerce presence and expand internationally. Selected SMEs will also receive an ad credit coupon.

In collaboration with Seedstars, a series of free webinars will also be made available to SMEs through Boost with Facebook that covers various facets of digital marketing on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

Facebook has also teamed with the Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) in Beirut to support outreach to the SMEs. The CoE is an initiative jointly run by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). ICC and ESCWA’s network of local businesses and chambers of commerce will help SMEs access the #LoveLocal Lebanon SMB Programme.

“Facebook is committed to help SMEs react, recover and rebound – from improving online presence, reaching new customers across borders, adopting new tools and developing skills to drive and scale commercial growth online and beyond,” said Ramez Shehadi, Managing Director of Facebook MENA.