Safir

Title: Safir “Empowering Young People to Act for the Sustainable Development Goals”
Date: Nov 2021 to Nov 2023
Location: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.
Donor: EU Commission

Safir is an ambitious project supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the socio-economic inclusion of young people in 9 countries across North Africa and the Middle East. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by a consortium of organizations, including the Arab Youth Venture Fund, the Arab Foundation for Social Responsibility, and World Vision International.

The project is based on three pillars:

• Supporting more than 1,000 young project leaders, managing entrepreneurial projects with social, cultural, and environmental impact.
• Structuring and developing a regional network of support actors.
• Creating spaces for dialogue between youth and governmental authorities.

Safir’s project aims to:

• Empower young people to become agents of change and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
• Promote youth entrepreneurship and social innovation.
• Strengthen the participation of young people in decision-making processes.
• Create a more inclusive and sustainable society.

Safir is a unique project that brings together a diverse group of partners to support young people in achieving their full potential. The project is designed to be flexible and adaptable so that it can respond to the specific needs of young people in each country.

The project offered a variety of opportunities for young people to get involved, including:

• Applying for funding to support their entrepreneurial projects.
• Participating in training and workshops on social entrepreneurship and advocacy.
• Networking with other young people and changemakers from across the region.
• Advocating for the rights of young people and the implementation of the SDGs.

The Safir Program is a comprehensive incubation and acceleration program for young entrepreneurs in the MENA region. It is designed to help young people develop and launch their own businesses with a social, cultural, or environmental impact.

Safir’s program consisted of two stages: Incubation and Acceleration.

Incubation Stage:

The incubation stage was designed to help young entrepreneurs develop their business ideas and create a solid foundation for their startups. The incubation stage consists of four stages:

Attract: This stage focused on teaching participants how to connect their ideas to the Sustainable Development Goals and highlight the social impact that their businesses can have on the community.

Foster: This is the learning stage of the incubation program. Participants will learn about different aspects of business, such as marketing, finance, and operations. They will also develop a business plan for their startup.

Grow: This stage focused on helping participants register their businesses and prepare for the acceleration stage. Participants will also receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.

Launch: This is the final stage of the incubation program. Participants will attend a session on how to overcome failure and launch their businesses successfully. The winners of the incubation program will also receive assistance with marketing and promotion.

Acceleration Stage:

The acceleration stage was designed to help startups grow and scale their businesses. The acceleration stage consists of 22 sessions, 2 networking events, and more than 80 mentoring hours.

During the acceleration stage, participants will receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and investors. They will also have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to potential investors and partners.

The Safir Program is a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs in the MENA region to develop and launch their own businesses with a social, cultural, or environmental impact. The program provided participants with the training, mentorship, and resources they needed to succeed.

The Consortium is Implemented by Institut français, Co-financed by the EU Commission, in partnership with AUF organization, labess, Arab NGO Network, Bloomemea, pitchworthy, and JYIF.