Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean – SheEmpower
Project Reference: A_T_1.2_0514
The SheEmpower project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
Women across the Mediterranean face persistent barriers to entrepreneurship such as lack on skills, visibility, and resources to scale their businesses, systemic challenges in accessing finance, digital tools, and international markets. Women-led businesses remain underrepresented, missing opportunities for innovation and growth. Addressing these issues is vital not only for gender equality but also for creating jobs and building more inclusive and resilient economies across the region.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the competitiveness of women‑led businesses by providing comprehensive entrepreneurship training, digital skills development, and targeted mentoring, while fostering inclusive economic growth and job creation. By supporting the launch of new women‑led enterprises and facilitating their access to regional markets, the project seeks to empower women entrepreneurs, improve the sustainability of their businesses, and contribute to broader economic resilience across the Mediterranean region.
The expected change includes a significant enhancement of digital, entrepreneurial, and innovation capacities among women entrepreneurs, enabling them to develop more sustainable and competitive business models. The project also anticipates the creation of new employment opportunities and increased income generation through the establishment of up to 20 e‑businesses and 10 women‑led start‑ups in emerging and digital sectors. Additionally, it aims to strengthen transnational cooperation and boost the visibility of women‑led businesses by mobilizing regional networks, leveraging online platforms, and supporting cross‑border market access initiatives.
SheEmpower brings together partners from Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, and Lebanon to strengthen the competitiveness of women-led businesses. The partnership consists of 8 partners as follow:
- Larnaca and Famagusta Districts Development Agency (Lead Partner)
- Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Shipping of Seville (Spain) – PP1
- Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon – (Lebanon) – PP3
- Chambre de Commerce Italienne pour la France de Marseille (France) – PP4
- University of Florence (Italy) – PP5
- The International Network for SMEs (Italy) – PP6
- Green Line Consult (Lebanon) – PP7
- INNODEV Innovation for Investment and Development (Egypt) – PP8
By offering targeted training, mentorship, digital transformation, and access to regional and online markets, the project aims to:
- Train 280 women-led businesses on innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship.
- Provide a mentorship program for 140 female entrepreneurs.
- E-business training and capacity building for 140 participants.
- SheEmpower MED e-Store platform to promote and sell women-led products and services.
- Services package to support 20 women in establishing new businesses.
- SheEmpower Innovation Award and Innovation Exhibition to showcase women-led solutions.
- Regional network of 500 female entrepreneurs and 21 participants in cross-border business missions.
Start Day: 5/12/2026 – End Day: 6/07/2029
The total budget of the project is 2.747.000,00 with a 89% Interreg Funds % rate, that is 2.444.830,00 from Interreg Funds.
Project website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/sheempower/about
