Alfanar Completes SEED Cycle in Lebanon
Positive news from Lebanon, where our partner Alfanar have concluded a first round of incubation and capacity building for local impact-driven enterprises within the EU-funded Impact Together project. It's a step that marks a significant milestone in their commitment to supporting the social economy.
Alfanar's approach to guiding social enterprises is a tiered one. Entrepreneurs who are starting their journey can apply to the SEED program, which aims at sharing crucial knowledge and making social enterprises investment-ready through a structured approach of tailored capacity building. Upon successful conclusion of the SEED program, there is the option to graduate to the SUSTAIN program and eventually join the extended alumni program offered by Alfanar.
The enterprises mentioned in this article were a part of Alfanar's SEED portfolio in Lebanon. While they have done similar recruiting rounds before in partnership with GIZ, this was the first batch of social enterprises that was recruited under the umbrella of the EU-funded Impact Together project. In May 2024, a pitching event was held to make the first selection. From there, the selected social enterprises underwent an intensive capacity-building program tailored to their unique needs. Through a varied offering of one-on-one and group trainings, they received detailed knowledge on the following topics:
- Setting a Theory of Change
- Financial Management
- Business Model Canvas
- Impact Modelling and Measurement
- Governance
This structured approach ensured that each enterprise received the right mix of training, mentorship, and financial backing to strengthen their operations and scale their impact.
1. Climberspace
Founded by three passionate brothers, Climberspace was born out of a frustration with the lack of access to quality climbing shoes. Their journey began with fixing their own shoes, which has since evolved into a mission-driven enterprise focused on providing sustainable solutions for the climbing community. In doing so, they are also promoting outdoor culture and offering a unique perspective on Lebanese nature and tourism.
2. Ardi Ardak
This initiative aims to revive Lebanon’s food security sector by supporting small-scale farmers, with a special focus on rural women. Ardi Ardak bridges the gap between urban consumers and local farmers by providing access to healthy, locally sourced food. In addition to this, they offer educational programs to students to increase interest and knowledge of topics like sustainability and eco-friendly farming.
3. WaveBike
A social enterprise dedicated to sustainable transportation, WaveBike offers access to e-bikes that provide both recreational and practical mobility solutions while promoting eco-friendly tourism and commuting. By doing this, they are democratising the traffic of persons in cities like Beirut, that are particularly dense and have limited public transportation availabe.
4. GreenMountRecycling
This enterprise is leading the way in sustainable waste management by recycling and repurposing waste materials into valuable products, reducing environmental harm and creating new economic opportunities. GreenMountRecycling collaborates with more than 17 local municipalities, 200 businesses, and 2,000 households, making a sizeable contribution to a greener Lebanon.
5. Sustainable Design Hub
Aiming to redefine sustainable architecture, this enterprise integrates eco-friendly materials and circular economy principles into the design and construction of buildings and spaces.
The value added for these social enterprises has been large, with testimonials lauding the "key role of the technical support" and the "importance of the financial assistance, especially in very challenging times of war and conflict". Both WaveBike and GreenMountRecycling indicate that the program has helped them not only sustain their operations, but to survive a very difficult period in their development.
The successful conclusion of the first SEED cycle goes along with financial support in the form of grants, reaffirming Alfanar's commitment to fostering a thriving social enterprise ecosystem in Lebanon. As they gear up for the next cycle, they remain dedicated to equipping impact-driven ventures with the tools, knowledge, and financial resources they need to scale their solutions and drive meaningful change.
And so far, the Alfanar approach has proven successful. 52% of their overall portfolio (not just in Lebanon, but across different MENA-countries) has achieved sustainable growth or reached financial break-even. On average, they report to have driven an average 37% increase in social impact and 34% rise in self-generated revenue among the social enterprises they have supported.