About Us:

Al Tamkeen is a Lebanese Non Profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) officially registered in 2002 under notification no. 159/AD. Al Tamkeen aims at improving the social, cultural, and economical and health livelihood of rural Lebanese citizens through providing various types of assistance programs and development projects.
Studying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and strengths of rural Lebanon. Al Tamkeen discovered that 86% of enterprises in Lebanon are small and medium scale. Al Tamkeen also concluded that productive economic activity in rural areas is often limited by the inability of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals to obtain loans, a significant engine for growth and source of employment in rural areas. Al Tamkeen also realized that economic stagnation is more prominent in districts where residents were displaced during the devastating Lebanese civil war or forced to migrate to urban centers seeking job opportunity. Al Tamkeen also noted that specific measurement of unemployment rate is not available; however, it is estimated that 25% of the Lebanese labor force is currently unemployed, and especially concentrated in deprived, remote, and rural areas. Consequently,Al Tamkeen designed and implemented a rural enterprise development program that includes the provision of micro and small loans to start-up or develop businesses in rural Lebanon coupled with capacity building for rural enterprises. This program aims at creating jobs and increasing the income of rural families, and thus promotes economic incentives to enhance return of the displaced and reduce migration of rural residents to urban areas.

Working with several local and international financial institutions mainly (Byblos Bank and Banca di Roma, City Group Bank and YMCA),Al Tamkeen provides micro and small loans (Up to $5000 per loan for commercial enterprise and up to 8000 USD per loan for agriculture or agro-industrial enterprise). Al Tamkeen initiated is activities in the districts of Baabda, Aley, and Chouf in 2003 then expanded its targeted geographic area to include West Bekaa, Rashaya, and Hasbaya districts in 2005; future plans include further expansion to cover all Lebanese districts. To date, Al Tamkeen has succeeded in providing loans valued USD 5,940,128 in total by the end of 2017, to start and develop 2060 new businesses in six different sects; Agricultural (108 projects), Industrial (278 projects), Commercial (508 projects), Transportation (147 projects), Craft (7 projects), Services (469 projects). In addition to offering 543 personal loans.

Organization Structure:

Al Tamkeen currently has30 members and abides by the Lebanese laws and regulations for Non-Governmental Organization.

A five-member Board of Directors is democratically elected by the General Assembly every three years.

Al Tamkeen employs 7 full time staff dedicated to ensure excellence in achieving Al Tamkeen mission of improving the livelihood of rural Lebanese citizens.

Further Al Tamkeen employed to date two short-term technical consultants to implement its capacity building program.

Reports:

  and for enterprises in the districts of Alley, Chouf, and Rashaya. 682 projects with 682 loans valued at $1,813,698 were owned and managed by women. As a result, Al Tamkeen loan program contributed in supporting 2060 businesses and increased their income by at least 30% to 40% per year.

The distribution of micro and small loans by sector till the end of 2017 is as follows:

-       Trade: 508 loans in total value of $ 1,520,200

-       Transportation: 147 loans in total value of $ 474,000

-       Services: 469 loans in total value of $ 1,443,078

-       Industrial: 278 loans in total value of $ 810,250

-       Artisanal: 7 loans  in total value of $ 23000

- Personal loans: 543 in total value of $ 1,206,600