Cross-Border Capacity Building for Entrepreneurs and Ecosystems in MENA

Programme Snapshot

• Client: European Union
• Years: 2017–2021
• Participants: 130 mentors, 33 entrepreneurs
• Countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia
• Programme: The Next Society (TNS)

Overview

As part of the four-year EU-funded TNS initiative, The Human Edge designed and delivered a regional mentoring programme that built trust-based leadership capacity across borders. Working across seven countries, the programme trained 130 mentors and supported 33 entrepreneurs to build their confidence, expand their businesses and strengthen the local innovation ecosystems they operate in.

Objective

• Develop the leadership and mentoring capacity of local ecosystem enablers
• Support high-potential entrepreneurs to grow their ventures, create jobs and strengthen their leadership
• Embed mentoring as a sustainable support structure within national and regional entrepreneurship ecosystems

The Challenge

Entrepreneurs in the region often lacked access to experienced guidance, community, and sustainable networks—especially in fragile and volatile markets like Lebanon and Tunisia. Many mentors themselves had limited exposure to formal mentoring practices. Delivering mentoring across such a culturally and economically diverse region required thoughtful facilitation, relational depth and clarity of expectations on all sides.

Our Approach

Over four years, The Human Edge delivered:

• 8 mentor training programmes grounded in relational, people-centred leadership
• 3 regional cohorts of mentor-mentee pairs, each supported with:
  • Kickstart workshops
  • Mentee preparation
  • Strategic matching
  • Ongoing peer calls, refresher training, and evaluation
• All designed with cultural nuance, measurable business outcomes and trust-building at the core

Key Outcomes

• 116 new jobs created
• 100% of enterprises remained operational
• 74% of entrepreneurs increased profits
• 65% of businesses expanded to new countries
• 92% of entrepreneurs created new business partnerships
• 100% of entrepreneurs found the programme beneficial
• 90% of mentoring relationships remained active at programme end

In Their Words

“The Human Edge programme opened my eyes to various aspects of mentoring that I had previously overlooked. Since then, I’ve seen a marked improvement in my mentees’ performance.”

—Hatem El Shamma, CEO, Egypt

“The workshop made me more ambitious and insistent to develop and achieve my personal and business goals.”

—Shahed Jaber, Entrepreneur

Why It Worked

By investing in local talent, building regional connections, and grounding the programme in cultural and emotional intelligence, The Human Edge created more than just economic outcomes—it strengthened the very relationships and leadership capabilities needed to drive lasting, inclusive growth across the MENA region.