The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), co-organized with the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), successfully held a webinar titled Driving Gender-Lens Investment: Unlocking the Potential of Women-Led Social Enterprises in the MENA Region, on 19 December 2024.

The Webinar, which had registered 60 participants, was structured into two main segments: the Presentation of Key Findings from an ongoing study on gender-lens investment, and a Panel Discussion featuring a diverse range of stakeholders. The session was designed to offer both insights and actionable recommendations aimed at fostering the growth of women-led enterprises in the region, while also facilitating greater access to investment and capacity-building opportunities.

The first part of the session was dedicated to presenting the findings of the ongoing study on gender-lens investment in the MENA region. The presentation shed light on the systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in relation to access to finance. Some of the mentioned key challenges included complex loan application processes, over-reliance on informal funding sources, and insufficient multi-year funding options. Moreover, it was noted that many financial programs don’t specifically cater to women-led enterprises, which leaves them at a disadvantage.

The presentation also highlighted several innovative initiatives, as well as success stories. Organizations like ChangeLabs or Happy Smala are facilitating matchmaking between women entrepreneurs and investors. Hivos is combinging technical support with tailored financial tools, including pitch training and blended finance. In addition, Up-Fuse, as explained by its co-founder Yara Yassin, combines recycling with community development.