Des innovations opérationnelles en faveur de l'entrepreneuriat

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About the event

In 2019, the African Development Bank (AfDB) launched the regional initiative for entrepreneurship, EInA (Entrepreneurship Innovations and Advice for North Africa), within its North Africa Regional Office, covering Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. EInA's objectives aim to inform public policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by optimizing existing programs. 

The initiative addresses challenges in public interventions related to scalability, sustainability, and  selectivity by developing operational innovations.

EInA's primary mission is to institutionalize best practices by bringing together various stakeholders. Its interventions are organized around four pillars, including diagnostics, operational innovations since the Call from Rabat in 2022, Advice based on diagnostics and operational innovations, and the promotion of partnerships.

EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE WORKSHOP

In this context, EInA is organizing a regional workshop on some of its operational innovations from February 12 to 14, 2024 in Cairo, Egypt. This meeting will bring together representatives of relevant ministries, academics, representatives of the private sector, technical and financial partners, and other potential investors. 

The objectives of the EInA meeting are as follows: 

  • Present and discuss preliminary results regarding three of EInA’s operational innovations: (i) entrepreneurship profiling surveys and diagnostic tools; (ii) regulatory frameworks for the integration of the informal sector; and (iii) impact investment mechanisms for entrepreneurship and employment creation within value chains.
  • Share country experiences regarding the design and implementation of entrepreneurship programs.
  • Identify EInA activities for year 2024.

AGENDA: The regional workshop will be held over two days, followed by a day to visit an incubation center and city tour.

DAYS

ACTIVITY

Day 1:

Innovations for entrepreneurship and the integration of the informal sector

09.00-09.30

Welcome and breakfast

09.30-09.45

Opening session

  • H.E. Dr Rania El Mashaat, Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, TBC
  • Ms Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa, AfDB

09.45-10:00

EInA (Entrepreneurship Innovations and Advice – North Africa) and the relevance of partnerships

  • Loubna Bourkane, Principal Officer for Employment and Entrepreneurship for North Africa, AfDB

10.00 -10.30

Discussants:

  • Karen Ribeiro, Representative of the United Kingdom Embassy in Tunisia (UK)
  • Reem El Saady, Regional Principal Manager, Small Business Support, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Heba Elgazzar, Lead Economist, World Bank
  • Manel Dridi, Jobs Program Officer at the Dutch Embassy Office in Tunisia

10.30-11.15

 

Session 1: Entrepreneurship profiling survey and the importance of non-cognitive skills

  • David Robalino, Strategic Advisor to EInA, AfDB
  • Nancy Guerra, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
  • Majdi Hassen, Director, Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE), Tunisia

11.15-11.45

Discussants from the three countries:

  • Ahmed El Kinany, Manager in non-financial Sector, Micro, Small and Medium Entreprise Development Agency of Egypt (MSMEDA)
  • Mohammed El Idrissi, Head of the Sectoral Financing and Financial Inclusion Division, DTFE, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of Morocco
  • Mohsen Ben Touati, Director General, Tunisian Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MEFP)

11.45-13.15

Open discussions

13.15-14.45

Lunch break

14.45-15.30

Session 2: Conducive regulatory framework for MSME development and informal sector integration: lessons learned from Latin America and perspectives for North Africa

  • Heba Elgazzar, Lead Economist, World Bank
  • Ricardo Fenochietto, Senior macroeconomist Expert

 

Discussants from the three countries: 

15.30-16.00

 

  • Sherif Lokman, Sub-Governor, Financial Inclusion Sector, Central Bank of Egypt
  • Imane Belmaati, Director of Services for Entrepreneurship and Very Small Enterprises (DPETPE), National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC), Morocco
  • Mohsen Ben Touati, General Director, Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MEFP) of Tunisia

16.00-17.30

Open discussions

Day 2:

Innovations for impact investment mechanisms adapted to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

09.00-09.45

Session 3: Design and implementation of impact investment funds for entrepreneurship and employment

  • Marianne Vidal-Marin, Director, Investors & Consulting Partners (I&P)
  • David A. Robalino, Strategic Advisor to EInA, AfDB
  • Amir Ben Ghodhbane, Alternative Investments Professional, Euthenia Capital

09.45-10.00

Coffee break

10.00-11.00

Discussants from the three countries:

  • Sonia Zoghlami Ep Jemli, General Director of Financing, Ministry of Finance (MoF), Tunisia
  • Abdallah ElEbiary, Chairman of the Egyptian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
  • Tarik Boudiar, Head of STARTGATE, University of Mohamed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) of Morocco
  • Irene Boghdadi, Head of Entrepreneurship and SME Support Services, Chemonics Egypt Consultants
  • Hichem Chraief, CEO of NATILAIT, Tunisia

11.00-13.00

Open discussions

13.00-14.30

Lunch break

14.30-16.30

Session 4: Views and perspectives from countries about the future of entrepreneurship and jobs agenda

  • Tamer Taha, Advisor to Minister of International Cooperation on Entrepreneurship, Ministry of International Cooperation, Egypt
  • Aliaa Adel El sherif, Head of International Cooperation at MSMEDA, Egypt
  • Mohamed Hatim Skalli, Studies Officer to the Head of Government and Member of the Coordination Committee of the National Committee for the Business Environment (CNEA), Morocco
  • Mohammed El Idrissi, Head of the Sectoral Financing and Financial Inclusion Division, DTFE, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Morocco
  • Sonia Zoghlami Ep Jemli, General Director of Financing, Ministry of Finance (MoF), Tunisia
  • Lotfi Fradi, Chairman of the General Committee for Global Balances and Statistics, Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), Tunisia
  • Tarek Bouhlel, Director of African Cooperation, Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), Tunisia

16.30-17.00

Closing session

Day 3:

City tour

09.00-11.00

Visit to Nile Preneur initiative, Nile University, 6th of October

11.00-17.00

Touristic sites