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Partnership for Lebanon

Helping an industrious and educated workforce achieve economic prosperity
Creating Economic Opportunity Responding to Crisis Rebuilding for the Future Providing Financial Assistance Providing Financial Assistance Opening Doors to ICT Careers Opening Doors to ICT Careers Developing Leaders Enhancing Learning with Network Technology Enhancing Learning with Network Technology Enhancing Learning with Network Technology Enhancing Learning with Network Technology Opening Doors to ICT Careers Be Part of the Equation

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Many of Lebanon’s educated and creative citizens began moving elsewhere because slow recovery hampered their opportunities for professional success.

Business growth was further threatened by Lebanon’s outdated information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, which was slow, expensive, and lacked adequate bandwidth even before the conflict.

The Lebanese people had the ability to recover from the crisis, but recovery would likely be slow and limited without assistance from outside sources.

Cisco committed cash, equipment, and its expertise in networking technology to help reverse “brain drain” and build a foundation for lasting prosperity in Lebanon through:

  • ICT infrastructure Improvement--such as creation of the first Internet exchange point in Lebanon
  • Workforce training and education--including an intensive internship program for 100 Lebanese young people
  • Job creation and private sector revival--such as granting US$1 million for micro-loans and investing $US10 million in venture capital funding
  • Connecting communities and government--by creating community access points in towns affected by the conflict
  • Crisis relief and response--including rebuilding 640 homes and training land mine detection dogs
Networking schools Fifty schools were connected to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education over high-speed broadband connections.

Cisco partnered with more than 20 organizations to bring the Partnership for Lebanon to life:

  • Four major global corporations--Intel, GHAFARI, Inc., Microsoft, and Occidental Petroleum--joined Cisco in establishing the partnership.
  • Nonprofits and non-governmental organizations like the International Education Association, Mercy Corps, and UNICEF were instrumental in rebuilding and networking schools.
  • The YMCA and Digital Opportunity Trust were among the nonprofit and non-governmental partners to help set up community Internet connectivity.
  • Local microfinance institutions Al Majmoua and Ameen managed a micro-loan program for rural residents wanting to expand the technology capabilities of their small businesses.
  • One hundred Lebanese youths completed internships with Lebanese businesses and government agencies, as well as at top U.S. corporations (including Cisco).
Micro-loans helped rural residents expand their businesses Omar Abbass received a US$10,000 micro-loan to enhance his computer shop in Saida, Lebanon.

Cisco contributed various technology solutions for the Partnership for Lebanon:

  • Two powerful wireless routers created Lebanon’s first Internet exchange point, reducing the cost and increasing the speed of Internet connectivity.
  • Cisco TelePresence solution facilitated meetings throughout the nation.
  • Flip video cameras donated to schools helped students explore interactive learning methods.
Lebanon's first Internet Exchange Point Staff from a Lebanese Internet service provider cross-connect servers at the Beirut-IX, Lebanon’s first Internet exchange point (IXP).

The Partnership for Lebanon helped create educational and economic opportunities for thousands.

It also helped lay the groundwork for a robust ICT infrastructure that will help Lebanese citizens compete and succeed in the global economy.

Some outcomes of the Partnership for Lebanon include:

  • 90% of interns employed
  • US$1.57 million in micro-loans dispersed to 729 rural residents (as of December 2011)
  • US$10 million investment in promising small- to mid-sized ICT companies
  • 13 rural community centers networked to offer resources and job training
  • 52 public secondary schools connected
  • 640 homes rebuilt
Partnership for Lebanon Infographics

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