Egypt - Micro and Small Enterprise Support Project

The present project relates to social fund for development (SFD): micro and small enterprises support project. It aims the creation of sustainable jobs and increasing income generating opportunities for the economically active poor through a holistic approach that will address key constraints to MSE financing and development in Egypt. This project is focus on: (a) helping micro and small enterprises gain better access to financial services, (b) helping SFD play a catalytic role in improving the business and regulatory environment for MSE growth and development, and (c) providing capacity and institutional development support to SFD and selected financial intermediaries, and also strengthening business development services for start-up and existing MSEs, thereby helping them to start and improve performance. It comprises two components namely: (i) Line of Credit, which will be geared towards the provision of loans to commercially viable micro and small enterprises for their working and investment capital needs, and (ii) Technical Assistance, which would be funded through the MIC Trust Fund to develop and enhance key business skills in MSEs and those institutions that serve them (SFD, banks and NGOs).