About GEN Libya

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HISTORY

GEN began operating in Libya in 2012 when the first entrepreneurship competition was co-organized by National Board for Technical and Vocational Education (NBTVE) in partnership with the British Council - Libya (BCL), and it was limited to NBTVE students. The impact of that event was very encouraging which made us look further to involve Libyan youths in entrepreneurial activities.

In 2013, a bigger event was organized during Global Entrepreneurship Week with the main event the final entrepreneurship competition for innovative graduation projects for students at higher education institutes (universities, technical colleges and higher technical institutes). Unfortunately, that year in Tripoli just three days before the launch of GEW and the final entrepreneurship competition a peaceful demonstration was turned into what is known as Gharghour Massacre. As organizers of the event we had no choice but to postpone in Tripoli due to mourning in the country. However, events were completed as part of GEW in the city of Benghazi (events were sponsored by Silatech).

In April 2014, the competition was organized in Tripoli with participation from across the country, and three winners were selected and the first prize was US $40,000, second prize was US $20,000 and third prize was US $15,000 and the winners were given 1/3 of the prize in cash and the rest was payable on the condition of forming a new company in the same field as the winning projects. The event was so successful that it was live on many TV channels including Al-Jazeera Live. Another disruption occurred in GEW 2014 were civil unrest broke out in many cities including Tripoli and Benghazi, and the new government was moved to the city of Al-Baydha. NBTVE was also moved with the government and we couldn’t organize GEW. We resumed organizing GEW 2015 onwards.

GEN Libya was officially established in 2022 as a scientific society under the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research.

OPERATIONS

GEN Libya is a consulting member to many organizations both national and international in areas related to entrepreneurship, startups and MSMEs.

GEN Libya is a major participant in many projects and programs which include:

  • Forming the National Committee for Innovative Higher Education Graduation Projects (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research).
  • Organizing GEW – Libya.
  • Coordinating Libya’s participation in Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC).
  • Introducing the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative which will introduce entrepreneurial skills across all educational levels.
  • Organizing EWC since its first launch in Libya in 2020.
  • Participation in the project LIBYA STARTUP ACT.
  • Co-organizing with the Ministry of Local Governance the annual Boot Camp.
  • Leading Libya in joining the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) through establishing Libya Entrepreneurship Monitor (LEM) under the auspices of the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research.
  • Co-organizing workshops and meetings on entrepreneurship.
  • Leading the organization of the Entrepreneurship conference in Libya (the first was in 2023 and the second will take place during GEW 2024).
  • Advisor on entrepreneurship to Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education, Ministry of Local Governance and National Economic & Social Development Board.
  • Recognized as an Advisor for Arab Federation for Technical Education.

PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS + SPONSORS

During the past nine years of running entrepreneurship programs in Libya, we have made a good network of partners from public, private and NGOs. Our network consists of the following partners and sponsors:

  • Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education.
  • Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
  • Ministry of Education.
  • Ministry of Local Governance.
  • Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
  • Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation.
  • Financial Facilities Fund.
  • Human Resource Development Fund.
  • Libya Enterprise (Libya MSMEs Program).
  • National Economic and Social Development Board.
  • National Panning Council.
  • The General Union for Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
  • Trust Insurance Company.
  • Al-Naseem for Food Industries.
  • HEMFA Business Solutions.
  • HEMFA Business Academy.
  • Libya Open University.
  • The Entrepreneurship Centres (Libya Universities).
  • The Tunisian National Society for Youth Development.
  • UNESCO–UNEVOC – Libya Office.
  • The Municipality of Tripoli.
  •  The Libyan-Korean Training Centre.