The Lebanon Export Academy was launched under the Canada-funded Productive Sectors Development Programme (PSDP) — a multi-UN agency initiative aimed at creating jobs and empowering women and youth in Lebanon’s agriculture and agri-food sectors.
Berytech partnered with Innovety and ExpoLink to establish the Academy, which provided both online and offline training, tools, and skills for Lebanese MSMEs.
Innovety developed 10 bilingual modules organized into three export readiness packages, trained MSMEs in regular six-month cycles, and built Lebanon’s first pool of 25 certified export trainers through a structured Training-of-Trainers program, advancing objectives closely tied to our Socioeconomic Development Strategy services.
This embedded a sustainable model that not only prepared MSMEs for international markets but also created a national capacity to deliver export knowledge well beyond the project’s life.
Since 2019, Lebanon has endured a severe financial and economic downturn, during which the local currency lost 90% of its value and unemployment increased. MSMEs, the building blocks of the Lebanese economy, represented nearly 225,000 enterprises—about 90% of all businesses—yet they struggled due to shrinking local demand.
Exports emerged as a critical pathway for recovery. Globally, trade has proven its ability to generate jobs, raise productivity, and transfer skills and technology.
For Lebanon, alongside remittances, exports represented one of the few reliable sources of fresh foreign currency. For MSMEs, accessing international markets became increasingly vital to sustain operations and preserve value chains.
Key pain points
Mapping MSME needs
Innovety began by working with Berytech to review the results of an MSME needs assessment. This exercise identified gaps in compliance, branding, logistics, and digital skills. Based on these findings, Innovety structured the Academy around three export journeys: Understanding Export, Planning Export, and Commercializing Export.
Structuring the export journey
Building on our “Know / How To / Do” pedagogy, Innovety designed the Academy’s architecture. Each package was broken down into short courses with clear objectives, prerequisites, and delivery formats. Modules were tailored for both beginners and advanced exporters, ensuring MSMEs could progress step by step from theory to simulation to practice.
Developing bilingual modules and tools
Innovety authored 10 complete modules in English and Arabic, ensuring accessibility across Lebanon. The modules covered Trade Agreements, Incoterms 2020, Market Research, Export Readiness, Export Strategy, Financial Management, Food Safety & Quality, Food Packaging & Branding, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, and Negotiation & Pitching.
Each was complemented with PowerPoints, case studies, exercises, videos, and pre/post assessments to track learning. Logistics and branding received special emphasis, reflecting the barriers identified during the needs assessment.
Training MSMEs in repeated cycles
With the content finalized, Innovety trained the first batch of Lebanese companies through a blended model of online and offline delivery. Every six months, a new training cycle was launched, ensuring continuity and expansion. This cyclical design gave SMEs multiple entry points into the Academy and created a growing pool of export-ready businesses.
Building a cadre of national trainers
To institutionalize the Academy, Innovety and Berytech selected 25 Lebanese professionals with backgrounds in exports, logistics, and marketing. These candidates completed a five-day virtual Training-of-Trainers program.
Each module was delivered in 2.5–3-hour blocks, covering goals, structure, tools, and exercises. Trainers were also guided in pedagogy and simulation methods. This established Lebanon’s first certified pool of export trainers capable of sustaining the Academy long-term.
MSMEs form 90% of Lebanon’s businesses, yet many lacked the technical knowledge andskills to compete in international markets, a gap made wider by the country’s economic difficulties. Innovety helped close this gap by developing a full export curriculum built around three training packages and 10 modules covering export readiness, market research, logistics, compliance, digital marketing, and more. Delivered through their practical ‘Know–How–Do’ methodology, the program trained 70 MSMEs — including 40+ women-led enterprises — with participants reporting high satisfaction. Innovety proved to be a reliable partner in strengthening Lebanon’s export capacity.
