Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Network
Context and objectives
The Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Network provides mentoring and support to those starting new businesses with entrepreneurial potential. The project’s ultimate goal is to generate long-lasting employment in the region.
The project seeks to support the creation of entrepreneurship network (réseau entreprendre) business associations in Morocco and Tunisia to provide mentoring to those starting a new business. Through this project, experienced entrepreneurs will volunteer to personally mentor the new entrepreneurs for their first 2-3 years in monthly meetings. Financial support will also be provided through interest-free, unsecured loans, repayable over 5 years, thereby allowing entrepreneurs to consolidate their equity capital.
The overall objective of the project is to support the development of existing associations in Tunisia and Morocco and the creation of 13 new entrepreneurship network associations in these countries. The associations are expected to contribute to the creation of more than 450 companies by 2017, 3,000 new jobs after 3 years of operation and approximately 5,000 jobs after 5 years of operation. This project model is promoted by Réseau Entreprendre International (REI), which has proved to be very successful in France, contributing to the creation of 7,600 companies and some 70,000 jobs since its launch.
The Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Network project (Réseau Entreprendre en Méditerranée, in French) forms part of the Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs). Developed by the UfM Secretariat, this initiative helps increase the employability of women and young people, close the gap between labour demand and supply, foster a culture of entrepreneurship, and boost private sector development
Location
Key figures
Duration:
2015 – 2018
Jobs created:
5,000
Total cost:
€6,800,000
Companies created:
+450
Financial contribution
€170k – Contributions from private companies
€100k – Tunisian Banks
Promoter
Réseau Entreprendre was launched in 1986 with the creation of the first association, Entreprendre Nord, in France. Today, Réseau Entreprendre brings together a network of 14,000 experienced entrepreneurs in 62 associations, acting as mentors to new business starters. This model has proved to be very successful in France, contributing to the creation of around 8,600 companies and more than 100,000 jobs.
Réseau Entreprendre International (REI), promoter of this project, was created in 2009 to support entrepreneurs who wish to create Réseau Entreprendre associations in their own countries and replicate the success of the French associations. Réseau Entreprendre associations can be found in 10 countries around the world.
Beneficiaries
- New entrepreneurs
- Employees of the new companies
- Business leaders that are members of the associations
- Permanent staff of the associations
Key actions
Give personal mentoring to the new entrepreneurs for two to three years.
Provide access to the business starters’ club, which allows young entrepreneurs to exchange ideas on a regular, informal basis.
Offer interest-free, unsecured loans, which are repayable over five years, to consolidate equity capital.
Provide access to local, national, and international economic networks through the entrepreneurs in the Entrepreneurship Network.
Expected results
Development of existing Entrepreneurship Network associations in Tunisia and Morocco, and creation of 13 new associations in these countries.
Establishment of more than 450 companies by 2017, creating 3,000 new jobs after 3 years of operation and approximately 5,000 jobs after 5 years of operations.
