Village Capital, with support from Google.org, and Finland through MinnaLearn, and the University of Helsinki’s “Elements of AI for Business”, has launched the Tech Pathways MENA Program aimed at supporting Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to offer customized training in AI adoption and digital skills development to workers across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE.
Cairo, Egypt (February 27, 2025) — Village Capital, with support from Google.org, MinnaLearn,
and the University of Helsinki’s “Elements of AI for Business” curriculum, has launched the Tech
Pathways MENA program to support Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in delivering
tailored AI adoption and digital skills training for workers across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE.
The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are projected to contribute USD 15.7T to the global economy by 2030. Yet, the communities in the MENA region risk being left behind due to barriers to adoption. With youth unemployment rates exceeding 25% – and over 45% for women – the region faces critical challenges in aligning its workforce with the demands of an AI-driven economy. Compounding this issue, only 20% of workers in Tunisia demonstrate basic digital proficiency compared to 72% in the UAE, highlighting stark disparities in digital readiness across the region.
The Tech Pathways MENA program marks a critical step in addressing these challenges. Village Capital will select and collaborate with 25 BSOs from the above-mentioned countries to deliver AI adoption and digital skills training. These organizations will receive comprehensive support, including technical expertise and resources, to offer tailored training to 10,000 workers, equipping them with essential skills to advance their careers and adapt to the evolving demands of the modern workforce.
From April through May 2025, the 25 selected BSOs will receive Village Capital’s curriculum, designed to strengthen their competencies in program management, impact evaluation, and milestone planning. The program will equip them with the networks and tools needed to scale their organizations and interventions effectively. BSO leaders will work closely with a business analyst to develop milestone plans and an operational budget to deliver and sustain their AI training initiatives. Each BSO will receive a grant ranging from USD 20K to USD 40K to implement AI programs effectively and support their local communities.
Applications are now open for BSOs based in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE and will close on March 23, 2025. Full details and eligibility criteria can be found here.
All BSOs that apply to the program will be invited to join Abaca, Village Capital’s free web app.
Abaca includes the ESO Diagnostic Tool, which helps organizations improve their financial, social,
and human capital by better equipping them with pipeline development and programming tools.
For more information, contact Eva Waweru at Village Capital (eva.waweru@vilcap.com).
About Village Capital
Village Capital is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent social, economic, and environmental challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage startups to maximize business and impact growth.
Since 2009, Village Capital has supported close to 1,800 startups that have raised over USD 7 billion in investment capital. It has made more than 150 investments through its various affiliated funds, including Vilcap Investments, which has invested in 110 peer-selected companies. Additionally, more than 36,000 users actively engage on Abaca, their web app that equips entrepreneurs, ESOs, and capital providers with tools for learning about, assessing suitability and expanding access to financial capital. Its latest feature, Capital Explorer, helps founders identify the most appropriate funding options for their businesses. Learn more at www.vilcap.com and follow @villagecapital.
About Google.org
Google.org connects nonprofits to funding and additional resources. The charitable arm of Google, a multinational technology company, we have focused our efforts on key goals based upon equality and opportunity. Our mission involves funding the use of technology, data and user-center designed to make a better world, faster.
Founded in 2005, Google.org has committed roughly $100 million in investments and grants to nonprofits annually. Learn more at www.google.org.
