The “Al-Wafaa” project to support the private sector in Fezzan, launched with the support of Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, Deputy General Commander, continues to implement its programs aimed at stimulating the private sector and economic recovery in southern Libya. It has a special focus on empowering youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to promoting growth and creating meaningful job opportunities for youth in the various cities and towns of Fezzan.
Program Features and Objectives
The “Al-Wafaa” project is based on supporting a local, youth-led private sector in the south of the country by providing an integrated package of technical and financial support programs. This meets the needs of startups and existing companies and addresses critical gaps in the business environment, with the goal of empowering Libyan youth in Fezzan to achieve economic prosperity and enhance their role in local development.
Strategic Pillars for Economic Support
The “Al-Wafaa” project revolves around three main pillars. The first is direct support for companies through providing integrated technical assistance and financial support to youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, enabling them to expand and achieve sustainable institutional growth.
The second pillar relates to incubating entrepreneurial ideas by organizing structured incubation programs and providing mentorship opportunities for youth with innovative ideas, helping them transform these ideas into scalable and competitive startups in the job market.
The third pillar includes specialized sectoral support through providing direct in-kind support to strategic economic sectors such as agriculture, industry, and tourism. This includes supplying the necessary equipment, materials, and machinery to increase productivity and promote growth in these sectors within the Fezzan region.
Programs for Capacity Building and Funding Opportunities
By design, the “Al-Wafaa” project includes programs for capacity building and financing for private companies and young entrepreneurs. This is done by offering training courses supervised by local and international trainers, alongside providing dedicated funding opportunities to support private companies and youth-led entrepreneurial projects throughout Fezzan, thereby enhancing the initiative’s sustainability over its implementation period.
Implementation Period and Target Group
The project was launched in October 2025 and is being implemented by “Afaq Libya for Training and Consulting.” It is set to run for two years, with the goal of providing support to approximately one thousand young men and women across the south, as part of a continuous effort to solidify the role of the youth-led private sector in driving the local economy in Fezzan.