• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM
  • 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

      10 February 2021, L’Opinion. Interview avec Marisa Farrugia: “15 des 25 pays de la région euro-méditerranéenne présentent les taux les plus élevés de cancer du sein”
      View article
      10 February 2021, Al Rai. اتحاد المتوسط: الحرارة ترتفع 20٪ في المملكة أسرع من المتوسط العالمي – صحيفة الرأي
      View article
      2 February 2021, RNE – Europa Abierta. Economía azul para un Mediterráneo pos-COVID
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

Organization and Coordination of the SIEMed Network: Support for Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Economic Development and Employment
Ongoing

Over the course of 36 months, the project will strengthen a supporting environment that fosters the creation and sustainability of SMEs, VSBs and microenterprises in the Mediterranean region through the mobilization of entrepreneurs and investors from the diaspora community.

In almost all countries of the Mediterranean, economic inclusion, particularly of youth and women, has become a national priority. Subsequently, public policies have been introduced that aim to foster self-employment and business creation. These policies should provide an answer to the enormous challenge of supporting project-owners and ensuring the long-term sustainability of new businesses and initiatives. Therefore, the development of and support for entrepreneurialism, as well as support for the creation of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)/Very Small Business (VSB) networks is crucial for improving the financial autonomy and future prospects of the people living in the region. In this respect, the SIEMed network (a novel network that utilizes the technical and financial know-how from the diaspora community), founded on the initiative of the Agency for International Cooperation and Local Development in the Mediterranean (ACIM) in 2016, gathers more than 50 actors in support of entrepreneurship from 6 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, France, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia).

With a budget of €757.500, – over a 3-year period (starting in March 2017), the SIEMed network, aims at implementing concrete actions to promote the creation of businesses in the region through, among others, more effective stakeholder involvement, networking and exchanging good practices, technical expertise, and initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, thereby corresponding to one of UfM’s priority areas; namely, business development and job creation. Moreover, the project fosters regional dialogue and increased regional integration through incorporating different organisations from the Mediterranean that work together to meet and overcome existing segmentation and regional challenges with regard to entrepreneurship. Lastly, the project seeks to support the diaspora in their economic investments by supporting local organisations active in that domain, thereby facilitating exchanges and the validation of successful start-ups, which is another key area for the UfM.

Expected results include:

  1. 50 support organizations have become active in the SIEMed network;
  2. An entrepreneurial support academy has been created that include entrepreneurial coaches, Social and Solidarity Economy mentors, and women’s mentors.
  3. The SIEMed has been recognised throughout the Mediterranean (based on media and stakeholder visibility);
  4. Entrepreneurship has been promoted and disseminated among women and young people, and local and national stakeholders have a raised awareness within the entrepreneurial ecosystem (based on attendance and satisfaction of workshops and seminars);
  5. The network organizations have increased awareness about the different support characteristics in the diaspora.

About the promoter and partner institutions

ACIM, The Mediterranean Entrepreneurship Agency, is an international cooperation agency based in Marseille, whose core business is economic development and the creation of activities in the countries on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean. ACIM is supported through the expertise of its network and sustainable partnerships with business creation actors and institutions, in France and in the Maghreb countries. ACIM supports the entrepreneurs of the Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian diasporas who wish to invest in their country of origin through the organisation of business forums, DiasporaLab, personalized follow-up and support, networking, and capacity building of local support structures.

More information

Documents

Project Snapshot
Share this:

Latest news

UfM Secretary General participation at EPLO Blue Economy Forum
02 / 03 / 2021
International Women’s Day 2021: Mediterranean experts to discuss how to promote gender equality in leadership across the region
02 / 03 / 2021
See more

Agenda

International Women Day 2021: Women in Leadership, towards an equal region in a COVID-19 world
08 / 03 / 2021
Workshop: Natural cooling, an indispensable element of future-oriented housing policies and projects in hot climates
22 / 03 / 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
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* 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 Projects - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Projects - 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