Organization founded in 1984 and member of Emmaus International since 1995.
Beyond assistance: the right to economic initiative, the right to credit for all.
AEP is a Lebanese non-profit association founded in 1984, working for socio-economic development in the field of microfinance. Its mission is to empower individuals with small productive projects—whether family-based, collective, or cooperative—by granting them short- and medium-term microloans, without any form of discrimination. These loans help microenterprises survive and grow, contributing to local development.
In addition to supporting undercapitalized sectors and regions, microcredit often involves female workers. For this reason, it can be seen as a tool for empowering women in the least developed areas of the country and as a driver of deep social transformation through the balance it promotes between genders.
In the field of microcredit, and in response to Lebanon’s economic realities, AEP has adapted its approach. On one hand, it is a non-profit association that provides credit, not charity. On the other, while many microcredit organizations grant loans of a few hundred dollars to thousands of families, AEP offers several thousand dollars to a few hundred families. This distinctive model sets it apart from large international microcredit donors, which tend to limit loan amounts and partner only with organizations managing portfolios of thousands of small loans. Consequently, AEP’s development relies largely on private donations and loans.
Through its credit system, AEP aims to:
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Prevent impoverishment among small project holders.
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Facilitate their integration into the national economy.
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Generate new jobs.
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Strengthen ties between different social groups.
