JEDDAH - The U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah, the University of Iowa, and Education For Employment (EFE) have launched a one-year project to train Saudi women from the western region on entrepreneurship skills in new emerging sectors like IT, real estate and e-commerce.

This project will focus on fast-growing sectors in Saudi Arabia, in line with Vision 2030 goals to support economic growth in Saudi.

The project will provide 50 young women with professional training and connections to local and international mentors that are necessary to start their businesses in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The project is an initiative that provides demand-driven training linked to mentorship by successful Saudi and US businesswomen as one of the key tools for reducing unemployment and expanding economic opportunities for young Saudi women.

The Western Saudi Arabia Venture School for Women project is designed to “put new entrepreneurial tools into the hands of Saudi women,” said Dimy Doresca, director of the Institute for International Business at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.

“With the guidance of Iowa professionals, we will train aspiring innovators of business and social enterprise, through the start-up process using methods that reduce risk and encourage ongoing innovation,” said Doresca.

“We will nurture and empower women in Saudi Arabia to become examples of social and economic success in their communities.”

The women will participate in Venture School International, an entrepreneurial educational program that guides students through the start-up process by teaching them how to identify a market need and build a business to meet it.

The university is partnering with the non-profit Education For Employment (EFE) to teach the Venture School International training, which will be complimented by contacts at local financing organizations, government officials, and business support services.

Doresca said Iowa women entrepreneurs will also work with the Saudi women as mentors, providing support and encouragement while serving as role models. He added that they will be recruited from the institute’s existing networks of women entrepreneurs in Iowa. As part of the program, university faculty and Iowa entrepreneurs will travel to Saudi Arabia to provide training and help develop mentor relationships.

“We are very pleased to partner with the University of Iowa and the U.S. Consulate to enable young Saudi women reach their potential by empowering them with the cutting-edge skills to compete in growing sectors, especially in the digital economy. The skills that these young women will acquire are based on a proven model that has enabled EFE in Saudi to connect over 5000 people to the world of work, 52% of which are young Saudi women. We look forward to a continuous partnership between EFE-Saudi, the University of Iowa, and the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah,” said EFE in Saudi CEO Abdullah Al Ghamdi.

“EFE is excited to see the new partnership with the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah and the University of Iowa in Saudi Arabia. The need to address economic challenges has never been greater, and we are pleased to see the emphasis on supporting women Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. Together with the support of the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah, we will see the positive impact that preparing young women for success and starting their business can have on them, their families and communities. With a focus on entrepreneurship training, we will not impact those receiving the training but open the doors for other young women to follow in their footsteps to support Saudi economic growth” said Amr Abdallah, Director of Gulf Programs, EFE-Global.

The new partnership and project in Saudi Arabia with the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah, the University of Iowa, and EFE represents a leap forward in realizing the underrepresented potential of young Arab women in diverse spaces and linking them to business start-up support and mentoring opportunities.