Technical Assistance Facility

Investing in Employment and Entrepreneurship

SANAD takes a holistic approach to its mission by combining financing with technical assistance. Rapidly growing populations and limited opportunities for employment across the region make entrepreneurship an important avenue toward establishing stable livelihoods for many. Through targeted nonfinancial support, SANAD helps create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and select countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The SANAD Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) works closely with partners to conduct projects that equip the fund’s beneficiaries with the knowledge and tools necessary to best serve – and improve the potential of – entrepreneurs. The TAF also develops the capacity of the financial sector across the region, and in some cases works collaboratively with entrepreneurs to help them succeed in their business.

Facts & Figures

25.6
million USD

Total project volume approved

36,900

Technical assistance beneficiaries

351

Technical Assistance Facility Number of Projects Approved

97%

Partners rated the Technical Assistance Facility as being an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ partner

Figures as of:

Q3 2023

How the Technical Assistance Facility works

 

To deploy effective, targeted and innovative technical assistance measures to maximize the impact and outreach of the fund’s development finance mandate in target countries and to MSMEs.

Projects are developed based on the need of partners and the need of the sectors in which they work.

Project development, procurement of consultants, and project implementation is conducted together with partners, who share ownership and a portion of the cost for the work supporting their development.

The central goal of each project is to advance the sustainable development of the partners business and reinforce its service to end-clients.

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship and MSME Development

The Technical Assistance Facility promotes entrepreneurship and MSME development in the fund’s target regions to contribute to income generation and employment creation. Through its SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy, the Technical Assistance Facility provides entrepreneurs and their businesses with guidance, resources, mentoring, networking opportunities, the chance to receive financial backing, and other means necessary to turn good ideas into successful enterprises. 

Areas of support

  • Incubation/acceleration for entrepreneurs  
  • Training/coaching programs for start-ups and entrepreneurs
  • Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups competitions  
  • Capacity building for partners' to better serve clients 

Diversity and Inclusion - Women's Empowerment

Focusing on increasing economic opportunity and equality of female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa region, is core to the Technical Assistance Facility, especially in the fields of technology and digital innovation. SANAD Technical Assistance Facility provides hands-on support to partner institutions through its women entrepreneurs support program. For more information, please refer to our support program brochure here.

Areas of support: 

  • Development and implementation of workplace equity policy, women leadership/empowerment programs 
  • Awareness raising campaigns  
  • Product development  
  • End-client capacity building

Digitalization

Working collaboratively with its partner institutions, the Technical Assistance Facility created a framework that support and encourage institutions’ development in digital transformation, and focus on leveraging digital solutions.

Areas of support: 

  • Digital transformation and digital strategy development  
  • Training on digitalization/IT security for institutions and their clients  
  • Facilitating knowledge exchange on digitalization and financial technologies

Sustainability

As the threat of climate crisis becomes more evident across the SANAD Fund's region, supporting partners to address their path to sustainability, address developing regulatory requirements, and conceptualizing climate risk is of utmost importance.

Areas of support: 

  • E&S assessment and implementation support  
  • ESMS development and integration  
  • E&S staff training series 
  • ESG advisory support 

Agricultural finance

The Technical Assistance Facility works to further increase agri-finance outreach, engages actively in ecosystem-building agri-finance projects, especially in the Middle East and North Africa regions. 

Areas of support: 

  • Agricultural strategy development and implementation  
  • Product development  
  • Implementation of value chain financing models  
  • Customized trainings on agricultural finance 

Risk Management

Economies and society remain challenged by the negative impacts from the numerous crises. In that context, it is of particular importance to have a robust and resilient risk management framework that adheres to best practice and can support the institution to weather the current crises. 

Areas of support: 

  • Risk management assessment/implementation support 
  • IFRS 9 assessment and implementation support 
  • Business continuity planning 
  • Internal audit and control support 

Project Examples

Videos

Donors

Advised by

Finance in Motion, a leading impact asset manager based in Frankfurt, Germany, and exclusively focused on development finance, acts as the fund’s advisor.

Work with the Technical Assistance Facility as a Consultant

Bidders who have been invited to submit a proposal may download the procurement documents here:

Terms and Conditions

For general terms and conditions on the Technical Assistance Facility, please click here.

 

 

Contact

Consulting opportunities with the Technical Assistance Facility

Finance in Motion GmbH
Kateryna Morton

Carl-von-Noorden-Platz 5
60596 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
T +49 (0) 69 271 035-352
k.morton@finance-in-motion.com

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