Jeddah – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group and its private sector development arm, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), have joined hands with Maison de l’Entreprise du Burkina Faso (MEBF), to implement the “Business Resilience Assistance for Value-adding Enterprises” (BRAVE Women) Project in the country.
Implemented by the IsDB/ICD, the “ BRAVE Programme was initially launched in Yemen in 2016 with the aim of combining capacity building and a grant-matching scheme concept for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in addition to Value Chain support, all within an integrated framework that responds to the in-conflict challenges of the private sector. The MENA Transition Fund (Deauville Partnership) provided the sponsorship of this project which was successfully completed in 2020.
The IsDB’s President, Dr. Bandar Hajjar, has expressed his commitment to supporting strategies that promote women’s economic empowerment which is considered critical to building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable world.
This BRAVE Women Burkina Faso project falls under the sponsorship of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), a collaborative partnership among fourteen donor governments (including Saudi Arabia), eight multilateral development banks (including the IsDB), and other public and private stakeholders, which seeks to address the financial and non-financial barriers faced by women entrepreneurs while attempting to create a better ecosystem for them. This new project is expected to not only enhance the resilience of SMEs owned/managed by women but to also support the National Economic and Social Development Plan (PNDES) of Burkina Faso.
According to ICD CEO, Mr. Ayman Amin Sejiny, the roll out of BRAVE Programme in Burkina Faso follows successful implementations of the similar ongoing projects in Yemen and Nigeria where it has managed to support 916 Women owned/led SMEs to date with business resilience trainings and disbursed $6.4 million of financial support out of which $3.2 million of funds were provided in the form of matching grants.
“ICD is pleased to play a significant role in the collective efforts aimed at overcoming the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in fragile environments. We aim to enhance the private sector, as the engine of sustainable growth in fragile settings. This cooperation seeks to enhance the resilience of Women owned SMEs that have struggled during the current crisis. And we pray to Almighty Allah for the success of the Burkina Faso project, as well,” he has stated.
About la Maison de l’Entreprise du Burkina Faso (MEBF) –
The Maison de l’Entreprise du Burkina Faso “MEBF” (or Burkina Faso Business Association) is a local Development Agency in Burkina Faso (recognized as Association of Public utility since 2010) established with the help of the World Bank in 2000 in order to support and develop the Private Sector actors in the country mainly through trainings and capacity building. The institution is a state-owned corporation which falls under the Government authority.
About the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
The Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development bank (MDB), working to improve people’s lives by promoting social and economic development in Member countries and Muslim communities worldwide, delivering impact at scale.
Through collaborative partnerships between communities among our 57 member countries (MCs), we seek to equip people and communities to drive their own economic and social progress at scale, putting the infrastructure in place to enable them to fulfil their potential.
The Bank’s New Business Model of “Making Markets Work for Development” contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of our MCs in strategic industries for better participation and upgrading within the Global Value Chains. These are the food and agribusiness industry, the textiles, clothing, leather, and footwear industry, the petrochemicals and petroleum industry, the construction industry, and Islamic finance.
We also foster innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest development challenges, leveraging the potential of Science, technology and innovation as strategic drivers of economic growth, as we work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral development financial institution and is member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICD was established in November 1999 to support the economic development of its member countries through the provision of finance for private sector projects, promoting competition and entrepreneurship, providing advisory services to the governments and private companies, and encouraging cross border investments.
ICD is Rated A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A-’ by S&P and, A+ by Fitch. ICD establishes and strengthens cooperation and partnership relationships with an aim to establish joint or collective financing. ICD also applies financial technology (Fintech) to make financing more efficient and comprehensive.
© Press Release 2021
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