The call
The Wine-Wine Call for Winemakers in Lebanon is organized in the framework of the project “Twinning partnership for sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises development in Lebanon”, implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy with the financial support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region (FVG Region) and aimed to forge a new twinning partnership for sustainable industrial development that will support Lebanese SMEs in the Bekaa Valley to boost their productivity while becoming more knowledgeable of sustainable and successful business practices strengthened and bolstered by universities transferring knowledge and networking activities on the oenology sector and wine-making processes.
The Call has been launched to spur the development of cooperation and to shape a twinning partnership that can enable fostering socio-economic growth. For the initial phase, SMES in the Bekaa Valley will be targeted with hope to scale up their experiences and reach to other SMEs in future. The Call also aims to mobilize and select the Lebanese SMEs focused on wine sector and specialized in wine production, to ensure and guarantee the matching and twinning partnership with Italian SMEs legally registered and with legal and operational headquarters in Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region.
The selected participants will take part in twinning exchange programmes, trainings and workshops for skills upgrading enterprise development in wine sector and acceleration in partnership with FVG SMEs and the main stakeholders from the Region.
We believe that this challenge presents an opportunity to not only create new economic opportunities for all but also strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and Italy by boosting productivity in term of knowledge transfer and skills management and innovation.
ART. 1 – Objective of the Call
The call aims to mobilize and select the Lebanese SMEs focused on wine sector and specialized in wine production to ensure and guarantee the matching and twinning partnership with Italian SMEs legally registered and with legal and operational headquarters in Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region. The selected participants will take part in twinning exchange programmes, trainings and workshops for skills upgrading enterprise development in wine sector and acceleration in partnership with FVG SMEs and the main stakeholders from the Region.
ART. 2 – Admissible candidates
The call is open to Lebanese SMEs which are interested in twinning partnership with FVG SMEs and:
- Comply with Lebanese definition of an SMEs;
- Are legally registered;
- Have legal and operational headquarters based in Bekaa Valley (Zahle, West Bekka, Rachaya, and Baalbek Governorates) Have vineyards and the full wine production/processes located in Bekaa Valley (Zahle, West Bekka, Rachaya, and Baalbek Governorates)
Participation to the initiative is free of charge.
ART. 3 – Selection. Quality criteria
The submissions will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria which directly impact and contribute the achievement of SDGs :
- Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID): how the SME contributes to boost and ensure ISID.
- Gender equality & women leadership: how the SME contributes to achieve gender equality and enhance women leadership in wine sector and production
- Youth engagement: how the SME reflects the active participation and initiative-taking of young generation in wine sector
- Productive Employment & Decent Work: how the SME provides a safe, decent, and equal jobs in the workplace
- Climate Change Adaptation & Environmental Protection: how the SME is environmentally sustainable and can contribute to fight against climate change and protect the environment.
The evaluation process will be in line with the highest ethical standards and purposes of this call and initiative.
ART. 4 – Submission guidelines
The applications sent by admissible enterprises by 31st January 2024 will be submitted to a screening phase and will be considered only if completed in all their parts, in English language, and coherent with the objectives of the Call.
The submission must require the fulfilment of the application in each part of it. Incomplete, irregular, late, false applications will not be considered and, consequentially, rejected.
The organizers have the prerogative to request additional information to complete the selection procedure, if deemed necessary to UNIDO ITPO Italy.
ART. 5 – Timeline
The call will be open until 31st January 2024.
The results will be communicated to the winner SMEs by email provided in the application form.
ART. 6 – Evaluation Procedure and Awards
First phase – admissibility: The Evaluation Committee will identify participants who have respected the admissibility criteria pursuant to art 2 of the call to be admitted to the second phase.
Second phase – quality criteria: The Evaluation Committee will select the six winning SMEs that have been awarded the highest score in ranking complying with the selection and quality criteria (art 3 of the Call).
The selected participants will have the opportunity to participate in twinning exchange programmes in Lebanon and Italy, trainings and workshops for skills upgrading enterprise development in wine sector and acceleration in partnership with FVG SMEs and the main stakeholders from the Region (flights and accommodation will be covered by UNIDO ITPO Italy for one representative per each selected SME).
ART. 7 - Privacy policy
Personal data of the participants will be processed by the organizers of this Call, acting as autonomous data controller, in compliance with the regulations on personal data processing. In particular:
UNIDO ITPO Italy
During the submission phase, applicants will be asked to provide personal (including submission date and applicant’s IP address) and non-personal information. This information will be collected only with the user’s knowledge and permission and will be kept in the JotForm Inc. platforms, outside UNIDO ITPO Italy systems. Personal data will only be used by UNIDO ITPO Italy, for the following purposes: internal audit, to communicate with applicants and sending information about this initiative. Personal and non-personal data will not be made available to third parties without previous authorization by the applicant – except for the FVG Region and Regional stakeholders/partners of this initiative. In addition, personal and non-personal data may be also disclosed to Law Authorities for security and legal reasons.
Participating applicants acknowledge that the organizer intends to carry out a fair and open competition, with no expectation of incurring liability by virtue of such participation.
Applicants declare that any documents, image, or footage involved in their applications were taken by them or that they received permission to use them, and that such materials may be used by UNIDO as provided for in these Terms and Conditions. Applicants also declare that, if applicable, permission to submit the entry in this competition has been given to them by their employers.
Applicants accept that they will be contacted by the Organizer regarding follow-up activities arising from this competition.
UNIDO ITPO Italy’s privacy and disclaimer policies apply. Links to non-UNIDO websites are provided solely as a pointer to information on topics that may be useful to UNIDO staff, Member States and the public.
The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by UNIDO as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries.
The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of UNIDO.
Applicants acknowledge that UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy are not going to be part of any non-disclosure agreement with respect to any document or information of any kind or nature that applicants submit to the Competition (“Disclosed Information”). All disclosed information is expressly agreed to be not confidential, with no restrictions on the use or disclosure of the disclosed information.
Nothing in and relating to these Terms and Conditions or the competition will be deemed a waiver of any of the privileges and immunities of UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy.
Applicants release and hold UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy harmless from any claim, liability, damage, demand or action, of any kind or nature arising out of any of the activities of the competition – including without limitation: (i) decisions on competition winners and disqualifications, regardless of whether such actions are willful or negligent, and (ii) any other injury, loss, cost, harm, liability or damage sustained by applicants as a result of any participation in the Competition, regardless of whether such injury, loss, cost, harm, liability or damage results from negligence or willful misconduct of the Organizer.