Design of an incubation and acceleration program for agriculture and handicraft value chains in Qena and Al Minya

**Introduction**
Within the framework of the project “Boosting innovative business initiatives led by women and youth in Qena and Al Minya, Upper Egypt”, implemented by CIDEAL Foundation with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), specialized technical assistance is required to design a tailored incubation and acceleration program adapted to the agriculture and handicraft value chains, including two differentiated levels:
o Level I (Incubation): for entrepreneurs without prior business experience who have innovative ideas to be developed and brought to market.
o Level II (Acceleration): for entrepreneurs with existing products or services who require support to consolidate, scale, and increase revenue.

**About CIDEAL Foundation**
CIDEAL Foundation for Cooperation and Research is an independent organization with 40 years of experience in implementing international cooperation projects in developing countries. Its areas of work include food security and productive development, employment, entrepreneurship and income generation, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, human rights, and governance.
CIDEAL also operates as a research centre, developing innovative studies and training activities on key issues such as development cooperation, project management, the human rights-based approach, gender mainstreaming, and public-private collaboration. The Foundation’s headquarters are in Madrid, with offices and permanent staff in various parts of Spain, Africa, and Latin America.

**Context and justification**
Upper Egypt, particularly the governorates of Qena and Al Minya, offers significant opportunities for the development of innovative entrepreneurial initiatives linked to agriculture and handicrafts. These sectors constitute key sources of livelihoods for local communities, especially for women and youth, and hold strong potential for generating sustainable economic growth.
While there is a growing base of entrepreneurs, further support is needed to strengthen their integration into structured value chains, enhance access to markets, and consolidate business and technical capacities.
In this context, the project aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem through the design and implementation of a tailored incubation and acceleration program. This program will support both early-stage entrepreneurs and existing businesses, fostering innovation, sustainability, and stronger market integration.

**Objectives of the Technical Assistance**
To design a comprehensive, structured, and context-adapted incubation and acceleration program for entrepreneurs in agriculture and handicraft value chains in Qena and Al Minya.
Specifically:
1\. To develop a tailored incubation (Level I) and acceleration (Level II) model adapted to the project context.
2\. To design training content, mentorship schemes, and support services aligned with the needs of both levels.
3\. To integrate value chain development, market orientation, marketing and sustainability principles into the program design.
4\. To propose mechanisms for funding access, business support, and post-incubation follow-up.
The program design should be aligned with the project targets, including the planned number of cycles for each level.

**Methodology**
The expert shall propose a clear, feasible, and participatory methodology combining:
• Desk review of project documents, studies and relevant program models.
• Benchmarking of similar incubation and acceleration programs.
• Consultations with key stakeholders (entrepreneurs, local partners, sector experts, institutions).
• Analysis of value chains and entrepreneurial needs in agriculture and handicrafts.
• Participatory design approach to ensure contextual relevance and ownership.

**Tasks to be performed**
The Technical Assistance will include:

1. Preliminary design of the program
o Definition of the overall structure of the incubation and acceleration program
o Detailed methodology and approach
o Work plan and timeline
2. Design of the incubation and acceleration model
o Definition of the structure for Level I (incubation) and Level II (acceleration)
Definition of phases, duration (Level I: 3 months; Level II: 1.5 months), participant profiles and eligibility criteria.
3. Training and capacity building design
o Development of training modules tailored to both levels and to the agriculture and handicraft value chains in El Minya and Qena, including:
- Business model development
- Financial management
- Marketing and and market access
- Sustainability and innovation
4. Mentorship and support mechanisms
o Design of mentorship framework
o Definition of follow-up and coaching mechanisms
5. Funding and business support mechanisms
o Identification of potential funding opportunities (grants, seed funding, linkages with financial institutions)