Funded by the European Union, Green Forward’s meso-level work is led by SPARK, which, together with its local partner GESR – Misr El Kheir (MEK), worked with Business Support Organisations (BSOs), policymakers, entrepreneurs, startups and ecosystem stakeholders to build stronger support for Egypt’s green transition. A central part of Green Forward’s work in Egypt in 2026 was strengthening BSOs’ capacity to better support green entrepreneurs and SMEs. The programme’s BSO Capacity Building started with Phase 1 in March 2026. The programme worked with 11 BSOs across Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut, bringing together organisations from the public and private sectors, government, civil society and academia. The training focused on strengthening their understanding of the green and circular economy and equipping them with practical tools to support green businesses.

Phase 1 included six comprehensive training sessions covering key green and circular economy topics. By the end of the phase, 11 participating BSOs had strengthened their knowledge and capacity to support green entrepreneurship and sustainable business development. Building on this foundation, Phase 2 provided more tailored support. From April to July 2026, 10 BSOs took part in technical needs assessment validation sessions and tailored capacity-building activities across Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut. The sessions helped each organisation identify its needs and define a pathway for further development.

The advanced training covered areas including ESG metrics and monitoring, reporting and verification systems, green advisory services, green finance, climate adaptation, water and biodiversity. The aim was practical: to help BSOs provide better and more relevant support to the businesses they serve.

From capacity building to policy dialogue

Strengthening individual organisations is only one part of building a stronger green economy. Green Forward also created space for stakeholders to discuss the wider conditions needed for green businesses to grow.

On 29 April 2026, SPARK and GESR – Misr El Kheir co-hosted the Green Forward Policy Event in Cairo. The event brought together policymakers, government representatives, private-sector stakeholders, green entrepreneurs, startups, BSOs and academia to reflect on the programme’s progress and discuss the next steps for Egypt’s green economy. The policy recommendations presented during the event emerged from consultations with BSOs, entrepreneurs and other ecosystem stakeholders. They addressed practical challenges facing green startups and SMEs, with discussions focusing on areas including access to green finance, regulatory requirements, green procurement and stronger cooperation between BSOs and government. The recommendations will also inform the official policy recommendations launch planned as a separate follow-up activity.

The event also showcased Proofs of Concept developed by Green Forward participants, demonstrating how dialogue and capacity building can lead to practical solutions with market potential.

Putting sustainability into the entrepreneurship ecosystem

Green Forward’s work also reached Egypt’s wider entrepreneurship ecosystem through strategic engagement with major ecosystem platforms.

At RiseUp Summit 2026, held from 5–7 February at the Grand Egyptian Museum, GESR – MEK participated as an Ecosystem Enabler Partner under Green Forward. Together with RiseUp, GESR – MEK supported a dedicated Green Forward booth, creating a space for engagement with startups, BSOs and other ecosystem stakeholders.

SPARK also contributed to the summit through an “Introduction to Sustainability” workshop led by Mohsen Kamal, North Africa Senior Project Officer at SPARK. The session introduced sustainability concepts, assessment frameworks and practical approaches for integrating sustainability into business models.

GESR – MEK further supported BSO participation by providing eight complimentary passes to selected organisations, enabling them to connect with entrepreneurs, investors and other ecosystem players.

Local partnership, regional expertise

The progress of Green Forward in Egypt is built on the partnership between SPARK and GESR – Misr El Kheir. As the programme’s meso-level lead, SPARK brings regional experience in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and working with BSOs across the Southern Neighbourhood. In Egypt, this expertise is complemented by GESR – MEK’s local knowledge, networks and experience supporting innovators and technology startups.

The partnership also reflects the wider Green Forward model, in which SPARK works with local organisations across the Southern Neighbourhood to strengthen BSOs and help them become stronger enablers of sustainable business growth. By combining SPARK’s regional expertise with GESR – MEK’s local knowledge and networks, Green Forward is helping build an ecosystem that is better equipped to support Egypt’s green transition. 

About Green Forward

Green Forward is funded by the European Union and implemented through a consortium working at three complementary levels to foster a Green and Circular Economy (GCE) in the Southern Neighbourhood region. Expertise France leads the macro-level work on green policies, legislation and standards; SPARK leads the meso-level intervention focused on strengthening Business Support Organisations; and UNIDO works at the micro level to support SMEs through technical assistance and access to green finance.