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Emergency Trust Fund for Africa
News article23 January 2018

EUTF for Africa and UNDP supporting entrepreneur women in the technology sector

Operation Pour
UNDP Libya

“This initiative provides them with the right structure to scale up their idea and take it to the next level. The participants of this edition have creative project concepts that tackle problems in education, health and transportation among others,” said Murad El-Dahmani instructor at Operation Pour. “With the right support system, these ideas will contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life in Libya socially and economically.”

Benghazi - On 28th December, 12 young university students and recent graduates completed Operation Pour, an 8-week coding boot-camp organised by Tatweer Research. The camp gave participants the space to work in their personal projects. Hala, one of the participants, developed “Sophia”, a smart medical app that provides diagnostic and ultrasound scan services.

“Here we share our ideas, the instructor guides us on how to implement them and other coders that are in the same space help me a lot when I need it,” explained Hala.

The coding boot camp took place at the Tatweer Entrepreneurship Campus (TEC), a space built by Tatweer Research as part of a three-year initiative implemented by UNDP and funded under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF for Africa). The aim of the campus was to provide the right environment for all entrepreneurs to prosper regardless of their gender.

Highlights

  • Within the framework of the three-year project 'Strengthening Local capacities for resilience and recovery in Libya' funded by the EUTF For Africa, UNDP Libya and Tatweer Research have reached an agreement to partner and invest in the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Libya.
  • Tatweer Research, as the UNDP partner on the ground, is in charge of identifying and supporting economic recovery strategies that will create sustainable jobs outside the public sector.

“Women face discrimination in the workplace in all sectors. The low number of women working in the technology area is an issue everywhere in the world, and Libya is not an exception,” explains Amir Neihoum, TEC manager “Furthermore, the technology sector in Libya is under developed which makes it difficult for young graduates of both genders to work in this field.”

Operation Pour has been designed for graduate skilled coders with a passion for computer programming and entrepreneurial spirit, to help them to start their own business.

Aziza Alhasi and Tafaha Asheed also participated in Operation Pour. They teamed up to develop ‘School Connect’, a platform that connects parents and school administration to improve the educational process.

“I am very satisfied with the results of this camp. Being part of this programme allow me to improve my skills and provide me with more options to find a job or create my own company,” said Aziza.

“It is not a secret that companies prefer to hire men than women in Libya, but with the right support, like the one provided through this programme, I am sure we will be able to compete in the job market at the same level as men,” declared Tafaha.

***

With the support of the EUTF for Africa, to respond to the many challenges people in Libya are facing, UNDP Libya is helping the local authorities to restore security, essential services and livelihoods opportunities. UNDP works in key communities on the migration routes – from Sabha and Murzuq, to Kufra, and Sabratha, not least Benghazi and Tripoli - engaging municipalities, enhancing stability and community security, advancing municipality socioeconomic development and providing income generation opportunities especially for young people. With adequate support, municipalities in Libya can better plan, lead and coordinate efforts at achieving progress where people need it the most.

This project is implemented in the framework of the programme "Managing mixed migration flows in Libya through expanding protection space and supporting local socioeconomic development" financed by the North of Africa Window of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

More information about 'Managing mixed migration flows in Libya through expanding protection space and supporting local socio-economic development': https://ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica/node/421

Source: http://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/ourwork/sustainable-development/successstories/Breaking-outlines-Entrepreneur-women-technology-sector.html

Details

Publication date
23 January 2018
Region and Country
Libya
Thematic
Improved migration management
Partner
United Nations Development Programme

Programmes in the region