In Egypt, “Tanmia wa Tatweer” supports start-ups while preserving the environment | African Development Bank

To meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, Africa needs to be innovative to help unlock the potential of its young entrepreneurs, especially in a challenging global economic environment.

The project to support entrepreneurship in Egypt, Tanmia wa Tatweer: Egyptian Entrepreneurship Development Project, is a good example. By supporting more than 500 start-ups in the country, it has had a positive impact on people and the environment. It has empowered youth and women, especially in Upper Egypt and remote areas. It has created at least 8,400 jobs and supported innovative, clean, green start-ups.

Funded by the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme, it was designed and supported by the African Development Bank and implemented by the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT). Tanmia wa Tatweer is supported by a €4 million grant to nurture start-ups and improve the quality of their products and services. The scheme is part of a larger regional initiative in North Africa called Souk Ettanmia. The initiative started in Tunis in 2013 and, following its success, was replicated to Morocco and Egypt, with some adjustments to suit the context of each country.

According to Gehane El-Sokkary, Principle Social Economist at the African Development Bank in Egypt, Tanmia wa Tatweer is is based on the Bank’s “Jobs for Youth” strategy and aligns with the gender strategy and the “High 5” strategic priority to improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.

The project is the first to introduce entrepreneurship incubation programs in the New Valley Governorate of southwestern Egypt. It provides existing and potential entrepreneurs with training, financing and networking opportunities in the agribusiness, clean and green and creative industries.

“It was very gratifying to see the enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs as new horizons were opened for them,” said El-Sokkary. She thanked the President of ASRT, the Governor of New Valley, and other stakeholders such as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, Nasser Social Bank, the National Bank of Egypt and public and private sector service providers for their support.

Tanmia wa Tatweer’s Project director, Shaimaa Helal, said the project targets youth and women in Upper Egypt and the New Valley.

“We had 12 programs in these two regions and one program in Cairo,” she said. “We provided 529 start-ups with technical support in business, technology and marketing, as well as legal and financial services. We helped them build their prototypes and provided financial support through grants and seed money ranging from €2,500 to €51,000.”

She added that women lead 66% of these start-ups. In addition, the project plans to launch Arabized online courses on entrepreneurship development so that many more people can access these trainings at their own pace.

In Tunisia and Morocco, the program facilitates financing and supports the creation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. It has helped reduce unemployment, promote equality between women and men and prioritize preserving the environment.

Tanmia wa Tatweer has helped integrate informal enterprises into the formal economy, which is a key objective of the African Development Bank. “We have helped more than 90 start-ups to formally register and enter the formal economy. This is very important to us and sets it apart from other similar programs,” said Helal. The success of Tanmia wa Tatweer is such that the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology includes and funds it as one of its programs.

The African Development Bank plays an important role in supporting the private sector, entrepreneurship and small and micro projects across Africa, including Egypt.