The SANAD Fund Partners with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women to Launch HerVenture Training Application for Women Entrepreneurs
Luxembourg April 14, 2025 The SANAD Fund through its advisory and capacity building arm has partnered with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women to introduce the HerVenture training application in Egypt. This initiative aims to provide free, high-quality training tailored specifically for women entrepreneurs in Egypt. The app, which will be available in Arabic, will include modules designed to help women business owners improve their skills and successfully navigate uncertain market conditions. The project is anticipated to impact thousands of women entrepreneurs in Egypt.
HerVenture, which has already benefitted over 130,000 women in six countries, will now extend its reach to the MENA region. The app's content will be adapted to local needs based on thorough market assessments and will feature exchanges between Egyptian institutions and partners from other countries to share experiences and learnings.
This collaboration aligns with the SANAD's strategy to promote female empowerment and entrepreneurship and aims to support the financial inclusion agenda by providing non-financial services to underserved client segments. The SANAD’s capacity building arm will actively promote the app among partner institutions to ensure widespread uptake.
Katharina Collin, Chair of SANAD’s Technical Assistance Facility Committee, emphasized that empowering women is more than a question of equality—it’s a driver of economic growth and resilience. “Through HerVenture, we’re equipping thousands of women entrepreneurs in Egypt with the knowledge and confidence to strengthen their businesses, navigate uncertainty, and become powerful agents of change in their communities.”
The roll-out of HerVenture in Egypt is slated to significantly enhance access to entrepreneurial training, bolster resilience among women-led businesses, and contribute to the country's economic recovery amid challenging times. Building on the experience in Egypt, SANAD aims to expand this partnership to other countries across the MENA region.
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About SANAD
The SANAD Fund for MSME finances micro, small, and medium enterprises and low-income households in the Middle East and North Africa and selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa via qualified local lenders. SANAD thereby fosters economic development and job creation – including youth employment – agriculture, affordable housing, and innovations in finance and financial technologies. SANAD strives to meet these goals by providing debt and equity financing to its local partners. The SANAD Technical Assistance Facility multiplies the fund’s development impact and outreach through capacity-building with partner institutions, developing financial infrastructures according to the principles of responsible finance and conducting much required R&D.
An impact investment fund advised by Finance in Motion, SANAD’s investors include the KfW Development Bank, which initiated the fund; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the European Union; Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria; Germany’s GLS Bank and GLS Treuhand; the Dutch development bank FMO; and Calvert Impact Capital.
For more information on the SANAD Fund for MSME, please visit: www.sanad.lu
About Finance in Motion
Finance in Motion is a global impact asset manager focused exclusively on sustainable development in emerging markets and developing economies. The company structures, manages, and advises impact investment funds that bring together public and private investors to address climate change, strengthen biodiversity conservation, foster the sustainable use of natural resources, improve livelihoods, and promote economic opportunities.
For more information, please visit us at: www.finance-in-motion.com
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About the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women exists to create a future where women everywhere enjoy equal economic opportunities so they can thrive. Together with partners around the world, we work with women in low and middle income countries so they can start, sustain and grow successful enterprises. We collaborate to create fairer business environments so women are not constrained by gendered barriers and can reach their potential on their terms.
Since 2008, our training and mentoring services have supported 300,000 women to build successful micro, small and medium enterprises in over 100 countries. By blending insights from research, strong partnerships and pioneering technology we open doors for women entrepreneurs to skills, confidence, networks, finance and markets. We press for change to stop millions of women being held back from having the choice and opportunity to thrive.
Our gender transformative approach means women can achieve their own economic objectives. They create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. They contribute to thriving, fair economies, and global economic justice.
Media contact
SANAD
Nusha Westhoff
Marketing & Communications
Phone: +49 69 271 035-789
Email: press@sanad.lu