In Tunis, the SIBC North Africa concludes its first edition and strengthens a regional community of impact entrepreneurs

After six months of support, the first cohort of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) North Africa gathered in Tunis from 6 to 9 July for its second and final bootcamp. This event marks the culmination of a collective journey during which 25 impact entrepreneurs have been learning and reflecting together whilst building a committed regional community.

A programme to support impact entrepreneurs in scaling up
Launched in 2017 by the AFD Group Campus, the Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) is an acceleration programme designed for entrepreneurs making a social and environmental impact. Since its launch, it has supported more than 400 entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses, with a view to enhancing their impact and strengthening their business models.
In 2026, the programme will reach a new milestone with the development of regional variants in North Africa, East Africa and the Caribbean, in order to support entrepreneurs in a way that is closely tailored to the realities of their local areas.

A first cohort for North Africa
Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and led by the AFD Group Campus, this first edition supported entrepreneurs from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Over a six-month period, they undertook a programme combining distance learning, virtual classes, educational resources and two immersive boot camps (residential courses), held in Marseille and then in Tunis.

Tunis: a key event focused on preparing for fundraising
Following an initial meeting held in Marseille as part of the Saison Méditerranée, the main aim of this second bootcamp was to prepare entrepreneurs for fundraising and to put them in touch with investors.
Over four days, participants took part in a programme combining themed workshops, collaborative working sessions,
meetings with experts and peer-to-peer discussions. The sessions focused in particular on hybrid business models, preparing for fundraising, financial strategy and pitch coaching, enabling entrepreneurs to refine their value proposition and their pitch to investors.

A teaching approach based on collaborative learning
Beyond skills development, the SIBC is based on a teaching approach developed by the AFD Group Campus, designed to encourage peer-to-peer exchanges, experimentation and cooperation.
As Philippe Baudez, Head of Teaching and Project Manager for Impact Entrepreneurs at the AFD Group Campus, points out: “Designed by the AFD Group Campus, the SIBC’s teaching approach is both collaborative and transformational. And whilst the SIBC does not directly offer funding upon completion of the programme, we do everything we can to mobilise our networks and connect entrepreneurs with financial partners to ensure a successful fundraising campaign!”

A regional community taking shape
Throughout the programme, the entrepreneurs have developed much more than just their projects: they have built a regional network that is set to endure.
This dynamic is summed up by Khadija Oubella, founder of Oubell Plastic and a member of this first cohort: “It was the peer-to-peer learning that made the biggest impression on me: sharing our experiences, reflecting together on our practical challenges and building a genuine spirit of solidarity amongst entrepreneurs from five different countries. ”
The closing ceremony was attended by Christophe Cottet, the AFD’s Country Director in Tunisia, whose speech served as a reminder of the AFD Group’s commitment to fostering impact entrepreneurship and strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in the region.

Beyond this inaugural edition, the SIBC North Africa reaffirms a firm conviction: social, environmental and economic transitions are built collectively. In line with this, two further editions of the SIBC North Africa have already been scheduled, confirming the AFD Group Campus’s commitment to helping foster a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of devising sustainable solutions tailored to the realities of their regions.

The SIBC North Africa programme is being implemented by Lab’ess, I&P Conseil, Pulse and a consortium of local incubators comprising HDN Algeria, Impact Lab (Morocco), IceAlex (Egypt) and Tafaseel (Libya).