On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Lebanon took an important step toward a more sustainable future with the Lebanon Green Forward Conference 2025. Organised by the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT), in partnership with SPARK, the conference was part of the Green Forward programme’s meso-level intervention, funded by the European Union, and was hosted at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli (CCIAT).

As part of the Green Forward programme (meso level) in Lebanon, the conference became a pivotal space for shaping the country’s green economy transition and strengthening collaboration among key actors.

About 100 participants gathered, including Business Support Organisations (BSOs), SMEs, policymakers, experts from Lebanon, and the wider Southern Neighbourhood, as well as many stakeholders committed to Lebanon’s economic and environmental development. The event served as a hub for knowledge exchange, partnership-building, and the launch of a national roadmap to guide the transition toward a green and circular economy.

Green Forward in Lebanon and the Southern Mediterranean region 

Funded by the European Union, the Green Forward initiative aims to foster a green and circular economy in the Southern Neighbourhood region, covering 8 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The programme works at three levels: macro, meso, and micro, implemented respectively by a consortium comprising Expertise France, SPARK, and UNIDO.* 

SPARK leads the meso-level activities in the 7 following countries Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia in partnership with its implementing partners: GESR – Misr El Kheir Foundation (Egypt), the Jordan Chamber of Industry – JCI / The Center of Energy and Environmental Sustainability in the Industry – CEESI (Jordan), and Tunis International Center for Environmental Technologies – CITET (Tunisia) as co-applicants; and Business Incubation Association in Tripoli – BIAT (Lebanon), and TEAM for Training & Development (Libya), Enactus (Morocco), and Flow Accelerator (Palestine) as implementing partners.

In Lebanon and across the Southern Mediterranean, the programme’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of BSOs to act as ecosystem enablers, helping bridge the gap between policy and practice. At its meso level, Green Forward does this by addressing the practical needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable and circular economy practices. The programme  commits to fostering job creation, economic opportunity, and alignment with the principles of the European Green Deal in Lebanon and beyond by equipping BSOs with tools, training, and opportunities for regional collaboration.

Delivering tangible results in Lebanon 

Through its intervention in Lebanon and as part of its meso level intervention implemented by SPARK, Green Forward programme is set to deliver a range of strategic outputs to advance the green and circular economy. 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed between Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and key Lebanon-based stakeholders in the green and circular economy, as part of an international conference. 6 workshops and roundtables will be organized to encourage peer learning and partnerships, complemented by peer pod meetings held between sessions. 4 BSOs that are currently transitioning towards green practices will benefit from capacity-building support to strengthen their role as green ecosystem enablers, while 3 green BSOs will receive specialized training on green and circular economy practices. A practical toolbox will be developed to assess the integration of sustainability and the circular economy, with 30 SMEs engaged to test it.

The programme will also support the development of a national roadmap for a green business network and launch an awareness campaign to highlight the impact and opportunities of the green and circular economy in Lebanon. To build on these efforts, a networking working group of 24 public and private stakeholders, including 3 green BSOs, will be established to foster multi‑stakeholder collaboration. This group will convene annually to validate progress and outputs, ultimately leading to the formulation of one policy recommendation for Lebanon.

“Through the Green Forward programme, we are reinforcing the institutional capacity of business support organisations to serve as key enablers of the green and circular transition across the region. This approach ensures long-term impact by equipping local actors to drive sustainable entrepreneurship, green job creation, and low-carbon innovation.” — Afef Ajengui, Regional Programme Manager of the Green Forward programme at SPARK

“This initiative aims to build the capacity of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to become vital ecosystem enablers, closing the gap between policy frameworks and the real needs of SMEs. By fostering innovation, encouraging sustainability, and promoting collaboration, the program drives the shift toward an inclusive and resilient green economy.”– Mr. Nasri Mouawad, Chairman of BIAT.

Expert discussions and success stories

The conference featured expert discussions on green business models, ESG practices, and circular economy strategies, along with interactive sessions to facilitate meaningful collaboration across sectors. 

Two dedicated panels moderated by Maurice Matta enriched the program: 

The first panel titled “Building a Green Business Ecosystem in Lebanon”, featured H.E. Dr. Nasser Yassin, former Minister of Environment in Lebanon, Ms. Ghada El-Armali, International Green Economy & Sustainable Growth Expert, and Dr. Hasan Younes, co-founder of Ecoswitch Coalition & Academia Expert; 

The second panel titled “Green Businesses – Success Stories”, included Mr. Omar Itani, founder of “FabricAid”, Ms. Batoul Hakim, founder of “Savvy Element (Grad A+)”, Mr. Ziad Abi Chaker, founder of “Cedar Environmental” and Mr. Khalil Haykal, EBRD Representative. 

The conference led to multiple partnership agreements and a shared vision for a vibrant green business network in Lebanon.

Looking ahead

This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the European Green Deal and seeks to foster economic resilience through sustainability. The Green Forward programme positions Lebanon as an active participant in regional efforts to build a greener, more circular future by empowering local actors and fostering innovation.

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*Green Forward is a European Commission-funded initiative implemented by a consortium of partners working across three complementary levels: 

• Expertise France (at the macro level): leads the development of enabling green policies, legislation, and standards in close collaboration with national authorities and regional stakeholders. 

• SPARK (at the Meso level): focuses on strengthening the capacity of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to act as effective ecosystem enablers. 

• UNIDO (at the micro level): supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through targeted technical assistance, promoting the adoption of circular economy practices and improving access to green finance.