Egypt’s National Council for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched the second phase of its Innovative Incubator for Social Entrepreneurship. The initiative, based in the Luxor governorate, is designed to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs to build ventures that tackle the critical issue of female genital mutilation (FGM).
The program underscores a growing trend in the region of leveraging startup methodologies to drive meaningful social change. By integrating entrepreneurship with community-focused awareness campaigns, the incubator aims to create sustainable and scalable solutions to a deeply entrenched societal problem.
A Competitive Bootcamp For Change-Makers
The second phase kicked off with a competitive 7-day training bootcamp that attracted significant interest from local talent. Out of nearly 164 applicants who submitted individual and group projects, 20 ventures were selected to participate in the intensive training program.
During a dialogue session with participants, Dr. Hisham Abu Zaid, Deputy Governor of Luxor, highlighted the program’s importance, stating that the camp represents a significant opportunity to activate the energies of youth and civil society towards positive change and sustainable local development. He also affirmed the Luxor governorate’s commitment to supporting initiatives that protect women’s rights and enhance their community participation.
From Training To Seed Funding
The bootcamp curriculum offered a dual focus, providing specialized sessions on core entrepreneurship principles alongside in-depth awareness workshops on FGM. These sessions covered the medical, legal, and media dimensions of the issue, showcasing the efforts of the National Committee for the Eradication of FGM.
Following the training, a judging committee will evaluate the business proposals and awareness strategies presented by the participants. The top five projects will be awarded seed funding to help them develop and launch the initial prototypes of their ventures, providing a crucial first step from idea to implementation.
Building On Phase One Success
This new phase builds upon the foundation laid by the program’s initial launch in November 2023. The first cohort also supported 20 projects with technical and financial resources, many of which have successfully achieved economic returns while contributing to raising community awareness about the dangers of FGM.
About The Innovative Incubator for Social Entrepreneurship
The Innovative Incubator for Social Entrepreneurship is a collaborative program led by Egypt’s National Council for Women and the United Nations Population Fund. Its primary objective is to foster a culture of entrepreneurship, creative thinking, and social responsibility among young people. The program encourages participants to develop innovative business models that directly integrate awareness campaigns aimed at eradicating female genital mutilation.
Source: Al-Masry Al-Youm
