• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     25 Years Logo
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2019 25 Years
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
    • UfM in the Media

      29 November 2020, MCDoulyia. ناصر كامل: الاتحاد المتوسطي لا يعلب دورا مباشرا في الصراعات السياسية في حوض المتوسط
      View article
      25 November 2020, La Vanguardia. La UpM pone en valor el papel de la sociedad civil para el diálogo en región
      View article
      25 November 2020, Euractiv. Nasser Kamel: „Der Mittelmeerraum steht vor extremen Herausforderungen“
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

UfM interviews Ms. Maria Helena de Felipe Lehtonen

UfM: How did the idea for “Young Women as Job Creators” arise?

Maria Helena de Felipe Lehtonen (MHF):  The network of Businesswomen Associations from the Mediterranean of which the Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME) is made up had mentioned during some of AFAEMME’s annual meetings that there are too few young women in the business world and we considered that one of the causing factors was the lack of information and motivation of young women towards the idea of running their own business.

UfM: How did the opportunity for implementing this project come up?

MHF: Three years ago we decided at AFAEMME to give a series of practical seminars on women entrepreneurship in the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and in the University of Cordoba in order to motivate young women to start-up a business. These seminars were a great success and we thought that it would be a good initiative to transfer this type of programmes to the Businesswomen Associations from our Mediterranean network in order to benefit young women from other countries.

We have then contacted Dr. Lino Cardarelli, Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Amb. Cecilia Attard-Pirotta, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and proposed to implement such a programme in Jordan, Morocco and Palestine.

And thanks to the UfM’s positive feedback and support, this is how we are now completely involved in this new initiative, by working with enthusiasm on the development and the implementation of the “Young Women as Job Creators” project.

UfM: Why did you choose to implement the project in Jordan, Morocco and Palestine?

MHF: We thought that Ramallah, in Palestine, and Amman, in Jordan, would be environments that could function as guide to analyze how a programme of women entrepreneurship promotion works in the Arab world, since our intention is to replicate this project in other countries such as Lebanon or Egypt. In the case of Morocco, where the project will be implemented in Casablanca and Fez, we have worked in strong collaboration with the Association des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprise du Maroc (AFEM) in several international cooperation projects and previous business meetings and it has always been a fruitful experience; we are therefore convinced that also this time we will do a great work together.

UfM: What is your biggest wish with regard to this project?

MHF: We really hope that the project’s activities directly benefit young women in the involved countries since it is our biggest wish that they feel supported and that they acquire skills and knowledge which are useful to transfer their enormous potential and talent into women owned businesses which, at the same time, benefit other women by generating employment and indirectly increasing gender equality in the involved territories. This whish is the motor that drives this project forwards.

Share this:

Latest news

UfM SG Nasser Kamel meets with Africa Director of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Christoph Rauh
22 / 01 / 2021
Promoting food systems transformation in the Mediterranean towards 2030
21 / 01 / 2021
See more

Agenda

UfM Ministerial Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy
02 / 02 / 2021
UfM Ministerial Meeting on Energy
23 / 04 / 2021
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-funded by the European Union
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM    25 Years Logo
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary Always Enabled