The Gender Entrepreneurship Markets for Middle East and North Africa (GEM PEP-MENA) is a regional technical assistance and advisory program for women entrepreneurs, initiated by IFC's Private Enterprise Partnership.
The program brings a gender dimension to IFC's investment projects by addressing gender barriers in the business environment, providing advisory services to financial intermediaries, and delivering training for women entrepreneurs.
The main goal of "GEM PEP-MENA" is to maximize women's contribution to private sector development. It targets growth-oriented, women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with solutions that facilitate and promote fast track growth.
- Demonstrate the potential contribution female entrepreneurship offers to MENA's economic growth.
- Improve women's access to private sector jobs, business opportunities, business resources and skills.
- Improve women's access to five areas of activity:
- small and medium businesses
- financial market development
- business environment improvements
- privatization advisory services
- public-private partnerships
- Help increase outreach and impact of Women Business Associations in the public and private sectors.
These objectives are based on findings from IFC country and regional studies on issues affecting female SME owners in the MENA region.
