AMIDEAST, Citi Foundation Offer Women’s Entrepreneurship Training in Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the U.A.E.

 In partnership with Citi Foundation—Citi’s philanthropic arm, AMIDEAST is implementing the new Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) initiative to provide 80 women entrepreneurs from underserved backgrounds with training and support that will help them start a new business or expand an existing one. AWEP will help women in Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the UAE make tangible advances in their own economic productivity and potential. 

Program Summary

Under a new partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc., AMIDEAST training centers in three countries — Lebanon, Oman and Morocco — offer the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute’s cutting-edge entrepreneurship training curriculum to aspiring entrepreneurs. Supported by an open source, web, and media-enabled platform the training enables participants to network with fellow entrepreneurs locally, regionally and globally.

The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute training centers offer workshops on how to start, grow, and IT-enable a business. During in-class workshop sessions, local business leaders share practical advice and create valuable networking opportunities. The addition of online workshop materials, multiple rich media resources, web-based simulations, and printed participant guides results in a unique and effective mix of tools to empower entrepreneurs. Participants in Institute workshops receive continuous support and stay connected through an ongoing series of activities, including power breakfasts, networking tools and events, and a mentorship program.

The workshop curriculum is made up of media-rich, business-relevant content from a variety of sources including leading U.S. business schools at Cornell and Stanford Universities and My Own Business, Inc. 

Main Goals

The mission of the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute is to strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit, increase jobs, and help develop and sustain economic growth throughout the world. It provides: