MEETAfrica – European Mobilisation for Entrepreneurship in Africa

Promoting the innovative entrepreneurship of African diasporas

MEETAfrica (European Mobilisation for Entrepreneurship in Africa - Mobilisation Européenne pour l'EnTreprenariat en Afrique) aims to promote the transfer of know-how from diaspora graduates to their countries of origin through entrepreneurship, and facilitate the socioeconomic integration of trained young graduates who are residents in Europe and are seeking to put their qualifications to use via entrepreneurial activity.

Through this action, the project also contributes to promoting innovation and the development of territories in the Maghreb region and Sub-Saharan Africa via the creation of innovative companies.

Innovation capital of African diaspora living in Europe

The quality of higher education and the resources available for the search for excellence make Europe an attractive continent for a number of foreign students. With 373,000 African students in mobility programmes in 2013, the Africa and Maghreb region accounts for some 10% of total student mobility in the world. The European Union receives almost half the African students in mobility programmes (49.1%), and Germany and France are among the main host countries.

Most of these students complete their university studies with high-level qualifications.

An increasing number of foreign students and researchers who trained in Europe see entrepreneurship as a path towards vocational integration.

They express the desire to set up a company in their country of origin, using their scientific and/or commercial know-how, which will allow them to capitalise on the skills they acquired during their studies.

These diasporas, through their business start-up plans, are major drivers for the development of their countries of origin. African and European authorities are aware of their potential and have decided to introduce public policies to provide more effective support to these initiatives.

With MEETAfrica, young talents are identified and made aware of the issues of entrepreneurship via calls for projects. Following a transparent selection process, each entrepreneur selected benefits from dedicated support in Europe, then in the country of origin. 

Program with high-level support

For over 10 years, the Euro-African dialogue on migration and development ("Rabat Process") has been bringing together over 60 African and European countries, the European Commission, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to discuss issues raised by the question of migration.

The 2014-2017 Rome Declaration and Programme of the Process identify strengthening the synergy between migration and development as one of the 4 thematic pillars of the Dialogue.

To contribute to this, the Steering Committee of the Rabat Process wanted the MEETAfrica project to be financed, highlighting the relevance of its approach in terms of addressing both the challenges of mobilising diasporas for the economic development of countries of origin, and the challenges of promoting innovative entrepreneurship as a path for the vocational integration of young people from the scientific/technical diaspora.

It is, to date, the only pilot project (or “flagship programme”) financed by the Process, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016.

A support model which came about through European best practices

MEETAfrica is coordinated by Expertise France, in partnership with three European technical operators. All three had been leading programmes to assist diaspora graduates in setting up innovative companies, which have now been integrated into MEETAfrica:

• The PACEIM Programme of IRD
• The Entrepreneurs in Africa Programme of Campus France
• The Business Ideas for Development Programme of GIZ/CIM

By merging these 3 programmes, MEETAfrica has pooled the best practices of the most effective programmes to assist diaspora graduates in setting up innovative companies.

Specific characteristics of the support provided by MEETAfrica

Transnational support, which starts in the North and finishes in the South

Setting up a start-up project often involves too many risks for an individual if the assistance does not start off in the country of residence.

This transnational support allows entrepreneurs from the diaspora to develop their project in the dual North-South space right from the outset. This subsequently leads to commercial and technical links with Europe once they are established in the South.

The “South” component of the support is essential: it ensures that the company is fully integrated at local level: adaptation of the business plan to the local market, ownership of the local judicial, accounting and legal framework, local networking, integration of national support mechanisms, etc.

Support for innovation

MEETAfrica supports the initiators of innovative start-up projects in the territory, who create added value for society in a wide variety of fields – agribusiness, environment, energy, new technologies, health, etc. – with a real capacity to have an impact, especially on job creation.

Flexible and individual support during the project design phase

The project initiator has a drawing right from a budget of EUR 15,000 for support services: coaching, mentoring, technological development, business plans, creation of statutes, networking, assistance to access financing, etc.

Continually expanding network of counterparts in the South

Incubators, accelerators, schools, clusters, law and accounting firms, financial experts, networks of experts, federations and associations, Chambers of Commerce, employers’ networks and federations, etc. in the country.

Firmly established institutional base in the South

The institutions of the 6 partner countries are involved in order to firmly establish the programme in national and local mechanisms. They act as administrative facilitators.

Coaching services integrated into technical assistance

They provide support for the development of real innovation projects, which have varying levels of maturity when the application is submitted, and offer assistance based on proximity and availability.

Support for coordination with the network of local financiers able to intervene in the start-up phase

Les ambitions de MEETAfrica

The MEETAfrica flagship programme only makes sense if it continues its action over the long term. A second phase is under preparation and plans:

• A submission to the EU Emergency Trust Fund in 2017
• Extended coverage in terms of European countries of residence and countries of origin
• A programme which goes further in terms of services to entrepreneurs.

This will involve:

• Integrating a direct financing mechanism, in partnership with the current network of financiers
• Financing more projects
• Contributing to speeding up and facilitating the establishment of an innovative company led by a member of the diaspora
• Strengthening networking and mentoring actions between entrepreneurs