American nonprofit (1951) International education Training Development assistance Programs and services to: Improve

1. American nonprofit (1951) • International education • Training • Development assistance • Programs and services to: • Improve educational opportunity • and quality • Strengthen local institutions • Develop language and professional skills for success in the global economy • Offices in 12 MENA countries • Committed to the economic empowerment of individuals and families, particularly those in need, in the communities where Citi Bank works so that they can improve their standard of living. • Strategic giving focused on: • Microfinance and Microenterprise • Small and Growing Businesses • Education • Financial Education • Asset Building • Present in 10 MENA countries

2. AMIDEAST • Egypt (AWEP year 2) • Iraq • Jordan (AWEP year 2) • Kuwait (AWEP year 1) • Lebanon (AWEP & Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • Morocco (AWEP & Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • Oman (Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • Saudi Arabia • Tunisia (Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • UAE (AWEP year 1 & Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • West Bank/Gaza (Cisco Entrepreneur Institute) • Yemen Citi Bank Egypt Bahrain Jordan Lebanon Morocco Qatar Tunisia UAE

3. Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) • Initiative focused on empowering women entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge that will enable them to more fully realize their economic potential and benefit from networking and mentoring relationships that foster business success.

4. In the Middle East and North Africa: • Unemployment rates for women are markedly worse than those for men. • Women’s economic participation remains under 25%—lower than in any other world region. • Rising costs of living makes it more difficult for low-income households to sustain themselves. • Lack of adequate regulations to support and protect women in the workforce and lingering traditional perceptions make it difficult for many to accept women as breadwinners, therefore impacting employment prospects for women.

5. Self employment can be an appropriate alternative • It gives women control over the structure of their economic activity. • Women business owners and managers tend to hire more women and provide unbiased work environment. • Challenges remain • Women are underrepresented as beneficiaries of enterprise development programs. • Women have lesser access to financial and training services than do men.

6. AWEP Training • Training focused on building entrepreneurship awareness and fundamental business skills, such as: • Entrepreneurial mindset and personal development skills • Formulating a business plan • Customer support • Sales • Use of technology for business growth • Financial literacy

7. Structure • 15 initial days of training • Two full-day follow-up meetings • A series of mentorship meetings

8. Countries and Numbers Year 1 2011–2012 60 participants Lebanon –19 Kuwait –17 Morocco–17 UAE – 7 Year 2 2012–2013 74 participants Egypt–16 Jordan –20 Lebanon –20 Morocco–18 Year 1 Results Grew an existing business, started or were poised to launch 14 Actively moved forward with planning, securing funding, acquiring facilities, and other preliminary steps

9. Financial Literacy • How to prepare a feasibility study • How to forecast startup and development costs • How to project profit and loss • How to project cash flow • Basic financial ratios • Basic accounting skills • Taxation options and required financial reporting • Accounting systems /software • Accountants and auditors • Funding opportunities available • How to apply for funding

10. Challenges Specific to Financial Reporting • Lack of awareness • Accountants and auditors (Lebanon) • Corruption (Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon - slight decrease in Egypt) • Double books (Jordan, Lebanon)

11. Impact • Practical knowledge and skills • Increased self-confidence • Avoid costly mistakes • Inspirational and motivational • Supported by mentors and a network of peers

12. Challenges • General • Work-life balance • Funding • Cultural issues • Existing financial commitments • Fear of leaving a secure job and overall fear of failure • Lack of role models • Lack of mentors • Morocco • Bank loan requirements • Lebanon • Political situation • Egypt • Marketing • Egypt and Lebanon • Corruption • Skewed ethics • Inefficient legal system

13. Most Important Factors for Those Who Succeeded • Practical, hands-on training • Personal development tactics • Mentorship • Family support • Role models

14. (A few) Success Stories SataneyHina, Jordan home-made jams and sweets  Juhaina Elawar, Lebanon women’s clothing and accessories Myriam Dagher, Lebanon personal fitness AminaMajdi,, Morocco women’s cooperative

15. SataneyHina Jordan– AWEP 2

16. Jouhaina Elawar Lebanon – AWEP 1

17. Myriam Dagher Lebanon – AWEP 2

18. AminaMajdi Morocco – AWEP 1

19. Conclusion and Contact info Allyson Croft Jerab Email: ajerab@amideast.org Tel.: +961-(0)1-989901, ext. 234 Web: http://amideast.org / http://amideast.org/lebanon