Youth Self-Employment Initiative

Project Status

305,000

Young People Aged 18-35

The project, Youth Self-Employment Initiative, aims to address Egypt’s pressing youth unemployment challenge by economically empowering young people aged 18-35 to establish or expand income-generating ventures and achieve self-employment. Over a period of three and a half years, the project will support 305,000 youth in launching and sustaining micro and small enterprises across the agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and services sectors.

This will be achieved by enhancing financial inclusion and improving access to tailored financial services for young entrepreneurs. Notably, a green finance product will be developed to support environmentally conscious youth-led businesses, promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility.

To ensure the long-term viability of these ventures, selected loan recipients will receive targeted financial literacy training to build essential business and money management skills. Additionally, mobile branch outreach will expand access to financial services for youth in underserved and remote areas, helping reduce regional disparities.

Project Beneficiaries

Project beneficiaries include 305,000 young people aged 18-35 in rural and underserved urban areas, particularly those facing barriers to employment and economic participation. The project will directly support youth-led micro and small businesses in the agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and service sectors, with a focus on green entrepreneurs engaged in sustainable practices. Special emphasis will be placed on youth in remote areas, women, and those lacking access to financial resources.

Project Goal and Objectives

The project aims at reaching the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Enhanced financial inclusion for youth-led businesses in Egypt. 
• Outcome 2: Improved Entrepreneurial skills and business management among young enterprises.

Project Strategies and Activities

Key strategies and interventions under the Youth Self-Employment Initiative include the establishment of a Partial Loss Credit Guarantee Facility to incentivise and enable Tanmeyah, a leading microfinance institution, to extend its lending portfolio toward underbanked and unbankable youth-led micro and small enterprises across agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and service sectors. This risk-sharing mechanism will help reduce lending barriers and unlock access to finance for marginalised youth. The project will also support the development and rollout of green finance products tailored for environmentally conscious youth entrepreneurs, particularly in agriculture and renewable energy. To promote equitable access, mobile branches will be deployed to reach youth in remote and underserved areas. Additionally, financial literacy training will be delivered through in-person sessions and online courses, equipping youth with the knowledge and tools needed to manage and sustain their income-generating ventures.