Social entrepreneurship has gained significant interest and recognition in the past few years. Social entrepreneurs are tackling social and environmental challenges with innovative sustainable solutions, thus combining business with social impact. Social entrepreneurship in the southern Mediterranean region has the potential to invigorate local economies as well as to promote regional stability by activating positive synergies among economic sectors and promising actors.

Developing networks of partners and stakeholders and increasing their capacity for influencing national policies related to entrepreneurship and employment is crucial for youth interventions. Oxfam engages with stakeholders and partners in overcoming challenges faced by youth. The network of stakeholders contributes to Oxfam’s ability to leverage wider change and helps to establish relationships with key actors. Network of micro, small, and medium enterprises can improve market services to entrepreneurs.

Oxfam youth programmes support using technology to foster youth employment and linking large number of unemployed people with different jobs. Working with partners, these programmes struck balance between online and offline instruments for improving economic opportunities and enhancing young people’s technical and life skills in target countries.

Oxfam works with partners focused on using digital solutions for employment and economic opportunities. Partners provide digital solutions that aim to enhance economic opportunities and create partnerships through e-learning, digital job matching, e-commerce, coaching and mentoring, as well as access to jobs, internships and personalized career counselling. E-learning platforms can provide youth with relevant content and access to skills training, reading materials, and educational videos to build their skills. Digital solutions can provide affordable learning experiences that vulnerable young people may not have direct access to.