18 Sep

Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Conflict Affected Environments

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SPARK and Conflict Research Unit of the Clingendael Institute of International Relations (CRU) are organizing their annual expert meeting on youth entrepreneurship development in conflict affected environments on Wednesday, September 18th 2013. Guest speakers are Mr. Tarik Yousef from Silatech and Mr. Magdi Amin from IFC. They will share with us their views on selected dilemma’s related to job creation in fragile and conflict affected environments.

Background
SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their post-conflict societies into prosperity. SPARK shares the belief that the creation of economic opportunities for young women and men in fragile environments can contribute to social cohesion and peace. Lessons learnt in its various programmes in different post-conflict regions add to the growing evidence that youth entrepreneurship can act as a driver of trust within local communities and build legitimacy of governments.

Dilemma’s
Yet, theories of change linking youth entrepreneurship development to peace encounter a number of dilemma’s: Who are the (future) entrepreneurs who bear most potential for economic success and peace and how can much needed “quick wins” interventions for youth in the immediate aftermath of violent conflict be linked to sustainable and inclusive private sector development?

Purpose of the expert meeting
The purpose of the expert meeting is to discuss these dilemma’s from different perspectives and to jointly develop practical approaches to address them. To do so, the event will bring together experts in the field of youth entrepreneurship development in conflict affected environments including development practitioners, private sector representatives, policy makers, academics and entrepreneurs.

Tentative programme

13.00 Welcome by Yannick du Pont, director SPARK and Steering Group member of the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law

Round 1: Dilemma: Targeting Entrepreneurs: based on vulnerability and risk or economic potential?
13.10 Key note by Tarik Yousef (CEO Silatech)
13.30 Q&A session
13.45 Break-out sessions on dilemma 1
14.30 Plenary pitch of break-out sessions
14.40 Coffee / tea

Round 2: Dilemma: Quick impact versus long-term development: how can youth entrepreneurs be empowered to bridge that gap?
14.55 Key note by Magdi Amin (principal economist, IFC)
15.15 Q&A session
15.30 Break-out sessions on dilemma 2
16.40 Plenary pitch of break-out session
16.50 Concluding remarks
17.00 Drinks

Guest speakers 

Tarik Yousef
Tarik Mohamed Yousef was appointed in March 2011 as Chief Executive Officer of Silatech. He began his career in 1997 as an economist at the International Monetary Fund, and joined the faculty of Georgetown University in 1999, where he held the positions of Associate Professor of Economics in the School of Foreign Service and Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah Chair of Arab Studies at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. Between 2006 and 2010, he served as the
Founding Dean of the Dubai School of Government and nonresident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He co-founded the Middle East Youth Initiative at the Brookings Institution in 2007, where he has since served as nonresident Senior Fellow.

Magdi Amin
Magdi M. Amin is currently working as Principle Economist at the Investment Climate Department of the International Finance Corporation. Since joining the World Bank Group as a Young Professional in 1988, Magdi has held positions in East Asia & Pacific, Africa and MENA. In his previous position as Manager of Investment Climate Advisory Services in the Middle East and North Africa Magdi worked with governments, the private sector and civil society to create an enabling environment for businesses and entrepreneurs, to raise competitiveness, enhance social impact, and ultimately create jobs.

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