Rabat, Morocco, 3 February 2015: OCP Entrepreneurship Network and the association Alliance des Hors Cadres (ACO) executives of OCP, global leader in the phosphate and phosphate derivatives markets, and the award-winning global mentoring organisation, the Mowgli Foundation, announced their partnership to provide mentoring support to post-start up entrepreneurs in Morocco.

The Mowgli Foundation, an award-winning, UK-headquartered mentoring organisation with global alumni of over 1400 mentors and entrepreneurs delivered a pilot series of Corporate Mentoring and Entrepreneurship Programs in Morocco in September 2014, in partnership with OCP Entrepreneurship Network and the Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP (ACO). These pilot mentoring programs trained 14 mentors to support 14 post start up entrepreneurs in 4 key operational locations that are not yet covered by such programs in OCP sites; Khouribga, Benguerir, Youssoufia and Safi.

The Mowgli Foundation seeks to support the sustainable development of societies through the mentoring and evolution of entrepreneurs and leaders, thereby creating new jobs and economic growth in the region. 

ACO, supported by the OCP Entrepreneurship Network, seeks to support entrepreneurs within their operational sites to develop themselves and their businesses, as well as enhance and grow the leadership capabilities of ACO members and OCP executives at large.

The CEO of ACO Abdelaziz EL MALLAH and CEO of Mowgli, Kathleen Bury signed the partnership agreement on 11th August 2014.

"As mentorship is one of the key components of OCP Entrepreneurship Network's action to promote and foster entrepreneurship, we are proud and excited to launched the very first programme of this kind in partnership with the Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP which involves OCP high level executives and the Mowgli Foundation who are well known for their expertise in mentorship across the Arab world." Outmane EL HASSANI - Head of Regional Coordination, acting Director of the OCP Entrepreneurship Network.

"This partnership is a great opportunity for our members to learn the art of mentoring, in order for them to successfully guide, inspire and empower local entrepreneurs to grow themselves and their businesses" said EL MALLAH.

"We are thrilled to have launched this pilot partnership and set of programmes with OCP Entrepreneurship Network and ACO, to support local entrepreneurship and leadership development in Morocco. This partnership is further greatly enhancing our existing Moroccan Mowgli Alumni and mentoring base, who are already playing an active role in Morocco's entrepreneurship ecosystem and are contributing to the country's socio-economic development" said Bury.

According to Mowgli, between 2009 and 2014, 1250 + jobs have been created and safeguarded by Mowgli Entrepreneurs, during their first year of mentoring, with an average of three jobs created per Mowgli Entrepreneur across the MENA region.

About Mowgli
The Mowgli Foundation is an award winning, UK-headquartered mentoring organisation, established in 2008 by successful serial entrepreneur Tony Bury, in response to the need for job creation and sustainable economic and societal development in the MENA region as well as in UK communities. 

Mowgli provides mentoring that inspires, connects and guides entrepreneurs and leaders to overcome life's personal and business challenges through:

  • Interactive, experiential and transformational 'Kickstart' workshops

  • A unique environment for accelerated relationship building, mentor training and matching

  • Engagement within a learning and mentoring focused global alumni network

Mowgli has an alumni with over 1400 members and has matched over 650 entrepreneurs with trained mentors in 12 countries; Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and the UK. In December 2012, Mowgli was recognised with the Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders Award for the 'Best Mentor Network in the Arab Region'. More information is available on Mowgli's website: www.mowgli.org.uk

About OCP Entrepreneurship Network:
Hosted by the OCP Foundation as one of its major programs, OCP Entrepreneurship Network's aim is to stimulate the entrepreneurial ecosystem and to support local growth, economic development and job creation through entrepreneurship. OCP Entrepreneurship Network's approach is to build a solid and diversified network of partners including local associations, national or global NGOs, foundations, educational institutions, investors, corporation; etc. More information is available on OCP Entrepreneurship Network's website: www.ocpentrepreneurship.org

Supported by OCP Foundation, OCP Entrepreneurship Network aims to promote and foster entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thanks to its web of local, national and international partners, it focuses on key areas of entrepreneurial development though a job creation and business growth approach. More information on: www.ocpentrepreneurship.org

About OCP Foundation: 
OCP Foundation was created in order to better press ahead with the social and societal commitment of OCP Group.  Its main purpose is to identify and implement human development-related initiatives. Therefore, OCP Foundation adopts a global and participative approach, establishing the foundations of a citizen-oriented action for an economic and social development of Morocco and of many Southern countries, within the framework of the South-South cooperation. Its scope of action includes the promotion of "Education for All", Poverty reduction; Socio-economic development; Access to health; Socio-cultural action and preservation of the national heritage; Enhancement of the youth employability; Promotion and activation of entrepreneurship; Training, raising the awareness and broadcasting best practices; and the support for food security programs.

Along with its two programs of Agricultural Development and the Social actions & Youth Support, OCP Foundation supports the think tank, OCP Policy Center as well as OCP Entrepreneurship Network, a unit dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, OCP Foundation also carries out external units whose activities join its missions, such as the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (Benguerir), the MAScIR Foundation, the Phosphates R&D Fund, and the Excellency High School of Benguerir. For more information: www.ocpfoundation.org

About Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP
Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP is a Moroccan association founded in 2012 by the executives of OCP, a global leader in the phosphate industry. The association is engaged, inter alia, to promote the role of OCP's executives both professionally and societally contributing to the dynamics of national economic development. More information is available on Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP's website: www.aco-maroc.org

© Press Release 2015