Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Important Notice
Disclaimer
This document was developed for LLWB based on training materials, resources, and inputs provided by the trainers of the project “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs – Capacity Building for Sustainable Startups in Lebanon.” The views, findings, and conclusions presented in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of LLWB or its partners. LLWB assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. LLWB and its partners shall not be held responsible for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of the information presented in this document.
Lebanese League for Women in Business02
Empowering Women EntrepreneursContents
Inside This Booklet
Table of Contents
02
Disclaimer
إخلاء المسؤولية
04
Why This Program
لماذا هذا البرنامج
05
Day 1: Business Planning
تخطيط الأعمال
06
Day 2: Crisis Resilience
الصمود في الأزمات
07
Day 3: Marketing
التسويق
08
Day 4: Green Business
الأعمال الخضراء
09
Putting It Into Practice
خاتمة
Lebanese League for Women in Business03
Empowering Women EntrepreneursAbout
Why This Program
Built from real gaps,
not assumptions
Women entrepreneurs across Lebanon continue to navigate a difficult post-war economic landscape. Outside Beirut in particular, limited access to practical business support, mentorship, and growth opportunities remains a major barrier to sustaining and expanding a business. In response, the Lebanese League for Women in Business partnered with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) to design and deliver this program. Over six weeks, 45 women entrepreneurs from Shouf, Beqaa, and North completed a practical training journey built around four themes: business planning, a crisis-resilient mindset and financial recovery, marketing and brand strategy, and green business practices. This booklet gathers what they built along the way.
Graduation is not the end of this journey — it is the foundation for continued mentorship, stronger partnerships, and new opportunities ahead. Investing in women entrepreneurs means investing in more resilient businesses, stronger communities, and inclusive economic growth across Lebanon.
The Training Journey
🧭
Business Planning
تخطيط الأعمال
🛡️
Crisis Resilience
الصمود في الأزمات
🌱
Green Business
الأعمال الخضراء
لماذا هذا البرنامج
لا تزال رائدات الأعمال في لبنان يواجهن تحديات اقتصادية ما بعد الأزمة، لا سيما خارج بيروت، حيث يبقى الوصول المحدود إلى الدعم العملي والإرشاد وفرص النمو من أبرز العوائق أمام استمرارية أعمالهن وتوسعها. استجابةً لذلك، تعاونت الرابطة اللبنانية لسيدات الأعمال (LLWB) مع مؤسسة كونراد أديناور (KAS) لتصميم هذا البرنامج وتنفيذه. وعلى مدى ستة أسابيع، أكملت 45 رائدة أعمال من الشوف وراشيا-كفرمشكي وطرابلس-عكار مساراً تدريبياً عملياً تمحور حول أربعة محاور: تخطيط الأعمال، الصمود في الأزمات والتعافي المالي، التسويق واستراتيجية العلامة التجارية، والممارسات الخضراء المستدامة.
هذا التخرّج ليس نهاية المسار، بل أساس لمرافقة مستمرة وشراكات أقوى وفرص جديدة. فالاستثمار في رائدات الأعمال هو استثمار في أعمال أكثر صموداً ومجتمعات أقوى ونمو اقتصادي شامل في لبنان.
Lebanese League for Women in Business04
Empowering Women EntrepreneursDay 1 · Business Planning
🧭
Business Planning
تخطيط الأعمال
Why It Matters
A clear plan turns an idea into a structured, fundable, sustainable business. It forces you to test assumptions before investing time and money, and gives you a reference point to track progress against.
The Business Model Canvas
Value Proposition
What problem are you solving, and for whom?
Customer Segments
Who exactly are your customers?
Channels
How do customers find and reach you?
Relationships
How do you build trust and repeat business?
Revenue Streams
How does the business make money?
Key Resources
People, equipment, capital you need to operate
Key Activities
What must you do well every day?
Cost Structure
What are your major costs?
Three Numbers to Know
Startup Costs
What you need to spend before opening
Monthly Costs
What it costs to keep running each month
Break-Even Point
How much you must sell to cover costs
Setting Your Price
Cost of Goods
+
Operating Share
+
Profit Margin
=
Your Price
Registering Your Business
①
Choose the right legal structure for your size and goals
②
Register with the Ministry of Finance and Commercial Registry
③
Understand your tax and social security obligations
④
Keep basic financial records from day one
اليوم الأول: تخطيط الأعمال
لماذا يهم التخطيط للأعمال
تساعد الخطة الواضحة على تحويل الفكرة إلى مشروع منظم وقابل للتمويل والاستدامة، وتتيح لكِ اختبار الافتراضات قبل استثمار الوقت والمال.
نموذج العمل التجاري
- القيمة المقترحة، شرائح العملاء، القنوات، علاقات العملاء
- مصادر الإيرادات، الموارد الأساسية، الأنشطة الأساسية، هيكل التكاليف
ثلاثة أرقام يجب معرفتها
تكاليف الانطلاق، التكاليف التشغيلية الشهرية، ونقطة التعادل.
Lebanese League for Women in Business05
Empowering Women EntrepreneursDay 2 · Crisis Resilience
🛡️
Crisis Resilience
الصمود في الأزمات
Four Resilience Traits
Adaptability
Adjusting quickly to changing conditions
Proactivity
Planning and preparing ahead of time
Emotional Intelligence
Recognizing and managing emotions effectively
Problem-Solving
Identifying issues, developing real solutions
The VUCA Framework
V
Volatility: adapting to rapid, unexpected changes
U
Uncertainty: deciding despite incomplete information
C
Complexity: managing interconnected, shifting factors
A
Ambiguity: operating effectively in unclear situations
Green Hat vs. Black Hat
🟢 Green Hat: Creative
Search for new opportunities. Ask: how can I improve this? What bold ideas could help?
⚫ Black Hat: Critical
Evaluate realistically. Ask: what risks or weaknesses need addressing?
Strengthening Cash Flow
Review Expenses
→
Track Costs
→
Find Savings
→
Estimate Results
Example
Electricity costs $500/month → switch to efficient equipment → bill drops to $400/month = $100 saved monthly
Growth Strategies
Supply Chain
Long-term supplier deals cut costs up to 15%
Workshops
Monthly workshops attract ~20 new customers each
Go Digital
Online ordering can raise orders up to 30%
New Products
Demand-driven lines raise revenue up to 20%
اليوم الثاني: الصمود في الأزمات
إطار VUCA
التقلب، عدم اليقين، التعقيد، الغموض: أربعة أبعاد للتفكير في البيئات غير المستقرة.
القبعة الخضراء والسوداء
القبعة الخضراء تمثل التفكير الإبداعي وإيجاد فرص جديدة. القبعة السوداء تمثل التفكير النقدي وتقييم المشروع بواقعية.
Lebanese League for Women in Business06
Empowering Women EntrepreneursDay 3 · Marketing
The 9 Ps Framework
Product
Natural soap, free of chemicals
Price
Cost 10,000 LBP + profit 5,000 = 15,000 LBP
Place
Instagram, weekly market
Promotion
Posts, videos, special offers
People
Your team and your customers
Process
Ordering, payment, delivery
Physical Evidence
Packaging and product appearance
Positioning
Natural, handmade, local
Performance
Are customers satisfied? Are sales consistent?
Know Your Market
①
Ideal customer: who benefits most? E.g. a working woman with little time to bake
②
Competitor research: who else sells this? Higher or lower prices?
③
Competitive advantage: what do you offer that no one else does?
Brand Identity
Colors
Green = nature & health · Blue = trust & professionalism
Logo & Values
Simple, memorable, honest, quality-driven, sustainable
Telling Your Story
The Beginning
→
The Challenges
→
The Success
Real Example
"I started sewing masks during COVID to support my family… today I sell dresses to order."
اليوم الثالث: التسويق
العناصر التسويقية التسعة
المنتج، السعر، المكان، الترويج، الناس، العمليات، الدليل المادي، التموضع، الأداء.
رواية قصة مشروعك
البداية: لماذا بدأتِ؟ التحديات: ما الصعوبات؟ النجاح: ماذا حققتِ؟
Lebanese League for Women in Business07
Empowering Women EntrepreneursDay 4 · Green Business
🌱
Green Business
الأعمال الخضراء
The Triple Benefit
Economic
Lower costs, higher resilience
Environmental
Responsible resource use
Social
Stronger customer trust
Linear → Circular Economy
Reduce
→
Reuse
→
Recover
→
Regenerate
Waste Hierarchy
1
Reduce: most effective, lowest cost
Solar Energy
☀️ Sunlight
→
🔲 Panels
→
🔌 Inverter
→
⚡ Electricity
Avoid Greenwashing
✗ Weak Claim
"Eco-friendly" without evidence
✓ Strong Claim
"Reduced food waste by 30%"
Practices Checklist
✓
Efficient energy and water use
✓
Proper waste segregation & recycling
اليوم الرابع: الأعمال الخضراء
هرم إدارة النفايات
التقليل، إعادة الاستخدام، الاستعادة، إعادة التدوير، التخلص (الملاذ الأخير).
تجنب الادعاءات البيئية الكاذبة
ادعمي كل ادعاء بالاستدامة بدليل ملموس وأرقام حقيقية.
Lebanese League for Women in Business08
Before You Go
Putting it
into practice
Across four days, you explored tools for business planning, crisis resilience, marketing, and sustainable green practices. The real impact begins now.
1
What is the one action I will implement first, and why?
2
Which framework applies most directly to my current challenge?
3
Who in my network can support me as I apply these tools?
"In partnership, we inspire… in action, we transform."
بالشراكة، نُلهم… وبالعمل، نُحدث التغيير