Deadline: March 23, 2025
Applications are open for the Village Capital Tech Pathways MENA Program 2025. The Tech Pathways MENA program is designed to fast-track AI adoption and digital skills development across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, or the UAE.
This initiative will partner with 25 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) across these 11 countries, equipping them to offer customized training to 10,000 individual workers. Supported by Google.org, MinnaLearn, and the University of Helsinki’s “Elements of AI for Business” curriculum, the program aims to empower women, youth, professionals, and workers in rural areas.
Problem Statement
The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are projected to contribute USD 15.7T to the global economy by 2030. Yet, the communities in the MENA region risk being left behind due to barriers to adoption. With youth unemployment rates exceeding 25% – and over 45% for women – the region faces critical challenges in aligning its workforce with the demands of an AI-driven economy. Compounding this issue, only 20% of workers in Tunisia demonstrate basic digital proficiency compared to 72% in the UAE, highlighting stark disparities in digital readiness across the region.
Despite the transformative potential of AI, workers in the MENA region face systemic challenges that hinder access to its benefits. Outdated educational systems fail to provide the skills demanded by an AI-driven job market, leaving many workers underemployed or unemployed. Gender disparities further exacerbate this gap, with women facing cultural and structural barriers to workforce participation. If unaddressed, the skills gap in AI adoption could deepen socioeconomic inequalities, particularly for women, youth, and workers in rural areas. The consequences include rising unemployment, stalled economic development, and diminished global competitiveness for the region.
Benefits
- Access to Abaca: Tools for milestone planning, organizational diagnostics, and program tracking through Village Capital’s Abaca platform, enhancing their operational capacity.
- Increased Impact and Visibility: Participation in the program enhances the BSOs’ capacity to deliver impactful training, boosting their reputation and positioning them as leaders in AI education within their local ecosystems.
- Funding: Each BSO receives grants ranging from USD 20K to USD 40K, which enable them to implement AI programs effectively and support their local communities.
- Media Exposure: Get featured on Village Capital’s program website and other collateral.
- Networking and Peer Learning: Become part of a regional network, enabling collaboration with other organizations, sharing best practices, and building partnerships.
- Training: Tailored training through a train-the-trainer model, equipping their teams with the knowledge and skills to deliver impactful AI-focused programs.
Eligibility
- Operations in one of the following countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, or the UAE.
- Demonstrated success in improving employability and digital skills, including evidence of past success stories and measurable impacts on beneficiaries.
- A strong focus on supporting underserved audiences, including women, refugees, and other marginalized groups.
- Established engagement with local communities and a solid network of stakeholders, including local businesses, educational institutions, and government bodies.
- Interest, willingness, and ability to deliver programs focused on AI, digital skills, business growth, and related areas.
Application
For more information, visit Tech Pathways MENA Program.
