Ouissal 2015

Get to know our German-Arab Mentoring Program Ouissal

Introducing the Program

Description

The Arabic word Ouissal means “bridge” or “connection”, reflecting the objective of the German-Arab Mentoring Program: connecting female entrepreneurs in the context of common learning processes and intercultural exchange.

Initiated by the Euro-Mediterranean-Arab Association (EMA e.V.) and sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Ouissal is dedicated to supporting the socioeconomic participation of women in their home countries.

The program selects a total of 40 German, Tunisian and Moroccan female entrepreneurs who work together in tandems on the business plan or on the business development strategies of the mentee - the experienced mentor sharing her knowledge and expertise with the mentee. Furthermore, Ouissal participants get the chance to take part in the German-Arab Women Forum, which gives them access to the German-Arab Women’s Network – an outstanding platform for connecting with other femal entrepreneurs and numerous partner organizations.

 

 

What does mentoring mean?

 

Who does the Ouissal program address?

The program adresses female entrepreneurs who can take part as mentees. They must meet the following criteria: 

  • be Tunisian, Moroccan or German
  • CEO/Founder of their own company
  • be advanced in their own action plan and wishing to get some support to move it forward or to handle specific aspects of their company's development. (e.g.: market strategy and communication, HR management, distribution, etc)

By joining the program, mentees have the opportunity to benefit from the support of an experienced female entrepreneur and learn from her expertise over a whole year in an intercultural context. They will get to meet like-minded women and joing the broad German-Arab Women's Network. 

 

The program adresses experienced female entrepreneurs who can take part as mentor. They must meet the following criteria:  

  • be Tunisian, Moroccan or German
  • be the CEO or in a leading position with a good deal of experience in management, leadership issues and business development in their particular field
  • be extremely interested in intercultural exchange and in actively participating in the creation of career prospects for women in the Arab world
  • be willing to meet dynamic young female entrepreneurs as well as share and multiply their expertise with them

By joining the program, these experienced mentors can seize the opportunity to support, during one whole year, young female entrepreneurs throughout their company's development process by working with them on their business plan or on specific aspects of their business strategies. At the same time, they will get to know other experienced and competent female mentors from different backgrounds and explore cultural and entrepreneurial particularities. With other mentors and mentees of the program, they will become part of the unique German-Arab Women's Network.

 

 

How does the program work?

Duration of the program

The one-year mentoring program begins with a kick-off meeting which takes place between the 8th and the 13th of December 2019 in Tunisia, or the 19th to the 24th of January 2020 in Morocco (including the time for arrival and departure).

Kick-off Meeting

The kick-off meeting marks the beginning of the mentoring program. Here the German participants are invited to Tunisia or Morocco to meet with their Arab tandem partners. During a four-day intensive phase, they get to know their mentoring groups better and also introduce themselves in tandems through targeted group work and informal get-togethers. Throughout the workshops, joint goals and milestones for each mentoring pair are set, enriched by the many interactions within the whole group.

Virtual Mentoring

Following the kick-off week and until Autumn 2020, the participants engage in tandems in regular, self-defined intervals by means of virtual communication. The guidance the mentor provides the mentee with a wealth of experience and advice, thus supporting her with the implementation of her own plans.

Step-by-step, during the course of the program, Ouissal participants build strong relationships through which they share their individual and common progress, challenges and upcoming project stages.

 

 

Mid-term gathering

Through these gatherings, participants in each country get the chance to engage in yet another exchange. Mid-term gatherings tend to be informal get-togethers or reunions which offer an opportunity to refresh participants’ connections with their network, to develop stronger relationships with their local group, and to highlight the successes and aims of their mentoring experiences.

The German-Arab Women’s Forum

At the end of the virtual mentoring phase, all participants are invited to a large-scale German-Arab Women’s Forum, which takes place in Autumn 2020 in Berlin. The Forum offers them the unique opportunity to make further contacts with other female entrepreneurs in a multicultural setting, present their projects, exchange ideas and to integrate their connection with the German-Arab Women’s network into their achievements.

Webinars

Throughout the virtual mentoring phase, participants also have the option to take part in webinars which revolve around specific topics of interest in the world of entrepreneurship.

The Selection Process

Requirements of Participation

Mentees

  • Female managing director or founder of an existing company
  • The basic financing of the company is already sufficiently secured (for example, external grants have already been applied for and received)
  • Very good knowledge of English or French
  • Willingness to invest approximately 2 hours per week in the mentoring relationship to communicate regularly with the tandem partner during the entire mentoring program (intensity and frequency of communication can be adapted to individual needs and agendas)
  • Willingness to participate in the kick-off meeting (either December 8th-13th 2019 in Tunisia or January 19th-24th 2020 in Morocco (including the time for arrival and departure)) as well as the German-Arab Women’s Forum in Berlin (Autumn 2020).

Mentors

  • Female company managing director, founder, or holder of a leading position for several years
  • Interest in the cultural, economic and social diversity of the Arab world
  • Desire to share her own expertise and acquired know-how with a young entrepreneur from Tunisia or Morocco as well as the eagerness to exchange knowledge and experience with other mentors
  • Willingness to invest approximately 2 hours per week in the mentoring relationship to communicate regularly with the tandem partner during the entire mentoring program (intensity and frequency of communication can be adapted to individual needs and agendas)
  • Willingness to participate in the kick-off meeting (either November 8th-13th 2019 in Tunisia or January 19th-24th 2020 in Morocco (including the time for arrival and departure)) as well as the German-Arab Women’s Forum in Berlin (Autumn 2020).

 

The costs of participating in this program (travel expenses, accommodation and food) are borne by the project.

How to Apply

Mentee

  • The candidate can apply using our online form (in French, German or English)
  • The following additional information are required:
    • A CV 
    • the personal data of two persons who recommend you
    • Optional: A short selfie-film, in which you introduce yourself and your company and/or a flyer, powerpoint presentation or promotional materials

Mentor

  • The candidate can apply using our online form available in English and in German.
  • A CV can be uploaded.

 

 

Application Deadline

All applications along with the relevant documents should be submitted latest by September 6th, 2019.

 

Participation Announcement and Confirmation

All received applications are evaluated through a two-step selection procedure. The results of the selection procedure are announced by the beginning of October 2019.

 

 

 

The results of the selection procedure will be announced by the beginning of October 2019.

 

 

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         Financed by

 

© EMA e.V. 2019