Year Completed: 2010

 

IBI has provided direct technical assistance to an Arab funded Youth Employment program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on Enterprise Development and Access to Finance. The youth Employment program addresses both sides of the youth employment equation: job supply and demand. A program strategy for enterprise development was designed using four initial countries in MENA for the rolling out and implementation of specific pilot activities.

 

Beyond the programs enterprise strategy specific technical assistance was provided for different MENA countries on a microenterprise fund for youth, the institution of a guarantee fund, the raising of private equity fund and the creation of an SME-dedicated stock exchange. Recommendations were also provided on facilitating relationships with the banking sector and encouraging youth enterprise creation and incubation.