Arab Women's Entrepreneurship Project

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. 

In an initial 13-day training, participants will be introduced to the basic business skills required to succeed as an entrepreneur as well as the local requirements for registering and operating a business. Topics covered will include the fundamentals of customer service, sales, accounting for small businesses, risk and feasibility assessment, and strategic planning. Site visits will be made to selected small businesses started and run by women. This portion of the program will culminate in the development of a business plan.
 
This will be followed by a period of practical application during which the women will begin the implementation of their business plans, either proceeding with the establishment of a new business venture or developing an existing business concern. Citi will assign mentors to provide support and assistance throughout this period, fielded locally as well as through Citi’s global Women’s Diversity Network. The groups will gather periodically to review progress and share success stories, and access to AMIDEAST’s new online Entrepreneurship Forum will encourage the women to network and support each other during this period, both within and across countries.
 
For more information on this project in the UAE please contact:
Hanan Abdul Hadi at HAbdulhadi@amideast.org or call 02/445 6720 Ext. 233
 
The application deadline for women wishing to participate in this program is December 15th, 2011.

Training will commence in January 2012 after a round of interviews to be held in mid-December.
 
This program is open to all Arab women in the United Arab Emirates who are able to attend training at the AMIDEAST offices in Abu Dhabi. All applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in establishing a small business or in expanding a recently started business. Applicants must also demonstrate a full commitment to participation in the initial training program as well as ongoing involvement with the AMIDEAST-Citi team.  
 
The program will include a wide array of guest speakers of various topics including legal procedures, financing and basic accounting and marketing with an expectation of solid results from participants. There will be a one-day follow up session three months after training has ended and again after six months of training closure. Participants’ business progress will be monitored in order to provide adequate support. In addition participants will be assigned a mentor from within the Citi family.
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