The mentoring initiative was set up in response to the increasing number of young people in Arab states, who were fed up of unemployment and looking to start their own business. Within the Transition Countries there is a changing attitude toward self-employment as it is increasingly seen as an opportunity to assert independence and develop creative business ideas, opposed to a forced choice due to lack of alternatives. Although enthusiastic, young entrepreneurs lack guidance, connections and experience to grow which Forsa aims to provide.
Forsa links over 250 young entrepreneurs in the six Arab region countries with experienced mentors, who teach, guide and inspire enthusiastic new business owners. Upper Quartile and ASI have partnered with the not-for-profit mentoring organisation Mowgli Foundation, who provide a ‘relational mentoring’ methodology. This approach to mentoring encourages a trusting, one to one relationship between mentor and the entrepreneur, allowing greater business opportunities to be explored.
Forsa demonstrates how mentoring canmake a positive impact, using a model pioneered successfully by the Mowgli Foundation in Jordan, Lebanon and Algeria. Forsa will work with Deauville Partnership governments, international institutions, and development organisations to help ensure that entrepreneurs receive the practical support they need to grow and succeed.
The Forsa mentoring initiative provides an opportunity to learn lessons on what works for SME mentoring programmes given the innovative nature and the context the programme is being delivered.
Upper Quartile, led by Chris Boyd, has led the monitoring and evaluation of the programme and will attempt to suggest improvements for future SME mentoring programmes. Additionally Upper Quartile is providing country specific specialist advisers, who have extensive expertise and knowledge of the key Arab countries in transition.
