The MEETAfrica programme assists African students and graduates of French or German higher education start a company in their country of origin.
What is the objective of the MEETAfrica programme?
The goal of the MEETAfrica programme (Mobilisation Européenne pour l’Entrepreneuriat en Afrique - European Mobilisation for Entrepreneurship in Africa) is to make it easier for Africans who graduate in France or Germany to find work in their country of origin.
From that perspective, MEETAfrica in particular assists creation of start-ups in Africa in agriculture, industry and the tertiary sector. It helps entrepreneurs highlight the skills they acquired during their studies.
Who is MEETAfrica for?
The MEETAfrica programme is for graduates of the French or German higher education systems and for young qualified researchers or professionals from one of the partner countries (Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia). They must reside in France or Germany and be working on starting a company in their country of origin.
Who finances the MEETAfrica programme?
With 1.7 million euros in financing from the European Union and the ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development), co-funded by the French ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, MEETAfrica is steered by a consortium with four members: Expertise France, Campus France, the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour the Développement - the Institute of Research for Development) and the GIZ (the German agency for international cooperation for development).
What does MEETAfrica offer?
An increasing number of graduates are turning to entrepreneurship as a means to start working. Starting a company is a good way to highlight the skills you acquired during your studies.
The MEETAfrica programme supports young African entrepreneurs (whose project has been selected) through personalised assistance :
- help in completing the market study and business plan;
- technical assistance to develop the prototype and in developing the product or service they intend to market;
- contact with business incubators;
- counselling on regulations and administrative formalities;
- assistance in finding financing and mobilising existing support structures.
MEETAfrica calls upon a broad network of people in the private, public and NGO sectors who are specialists in providing support for innovative companies, in France, Germany and the countries where the projects will be developed. Support services can be financed up to 15,000 euros for each project.
For more information about the MEETAfrica programme, send your questions to meetafrica@campusfrance.org
A program financed by the European Union and the ICMPD (1.7 M Euros, Panafrican Instrument), cofinanced by the French Minsitry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, supervised by Expertise France and supported by Campus France, the IRD and CIM.
