• Scholarships and exchanges
  • Swedish-Turkish Scholarship Program
  • Guest Scholarships
  • Leadership programs
  • Cultural cooperation - Creative Force

• Leadership programs
  • She Entrepreneurs
    • Call for application
    • Practical information
    • Application Procedure
    • FAQ
  • Young Leaders Visitors Program
  • The Management Program
  • Social Innovation in a Digital Context

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Swedish Institute (SI)?

The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency that promotes interest in Sweden abroad. SI seeks to establish cooperation and lasting relations with other countries through active communication and cultural, educational and scientific exchanges. SI works closely with Swedish embassies and consulates around the world. For more information see About SI.

2. What is the Swedish Institute She Entrepreneurs Program?

She Entrepreneurs is a leadership program for young emerging female social entrepreneurs in Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, West Bank-Gaza and Yemen. The program aims to give the participants innovative tools for sustainable change while seeking to create a unique network of women change-makers.

3. When and where does the She Entrepreneurs Program take place?

The She Entrepreneurs program was successfully launched in 2011. The first module of the 2013 program will take place 6-17 April 2013, in different venues in Sweden. The follow-up till take place somewhere in the MENA region in October 2013. It is mandatory to attend both modules.

4. Who can apply?

Women between the ages of 20 and 32 who are citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza and Yemen who have the ambition and interest to use social entrepreneurship to implement a social project. You should have turned 20 by the time the program starts in April and be maximum 32 years old. You should have good knowledge of both written and spoken English as well as basic knowledge of the Internet and social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Eligibility

• You should have drive, ambition and interest to use social entrepreneurship to implement a social project that you have already started working on.
• You are a citizen of Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, West Bank-Gaza or Yemen.
• Your social project should be based and implemented in your country of citizenship or in one of the countries of the She Entrepreneurs Program listed above.
• You are between 20 and 32 years old.
• You should have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
• You should have basic knowledge of the internet and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

5. How do I apply?

A complete application consists of an updated CV and completed She Entrepreneurs questionnaire, including your contact details. You can find further instructions under Application procedure in the left-hand menu.

Deadline for submitting the application for the She Entrepreneurs Program 2013 is November 2, 2012.

7. Do you accept late applications?

We do not accept late applications as this would not be fair to the other applicants and would cause an unreasonable administrative burden. However, we invite you to apply for next year’s She Entrepreneurs Program. Check our website www.si.se/sheentrepreneurs  or follow our Facebook page www.facebook.com/sheentrepreneurs for updated information about our programs and application dates.

8. What is the selection process of eligible applicants?

A selection committee with staff from SI as well as representatives from partner organizations and field experts will evaluate the applications according to the following:

• The applicant's social project that will be the focus of the program
• The applicant’s drive, motivation and commitment, as well as her answers to the questions of the She Entrepreneurs application form.
• An assessment of the applicant’s CV.
• About 60 shortlisted applicants will be called for interviews as a second step in the selection process. The interviews will be conducted through Skype.

The Swedish Institute will contact 25 selected applicants by email before the end of December 2012 and offer them a place in the She Entrepreneurs Program. The Swedish Institute will also compose a list of reserve candidates in case a second selection round would be needed. Reserves who have been offered a place in the She Entrepreneurs program will be notified by January 18, 2013.

9.  When will I know the result of my application?

Accepted applicants will be notified by January 18, 2013.

If you have not heard from us by January 18, 2013, you have not been accepted to the She Entrepreneurs Program. However, you are more than welcome to apply again for next year's program.

10. Why is the She Entrepreneurs Program only open for applicants from Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza and Yemen?

The She Entrepreneurs program is financed by funds allocated for develpment cooperation. For that readon, only ODA countries are included in the program. The She Entrepreneurs is an annual event and the countries included in the program may change from year to year.

11. How much does it cost to attend the She Entrepreneurs Program?

If you are accepted to the She Entrepreneurs, all costs related to participation will be covered by the Swedish Institute as detailed below.

Accommodation, food and travel

All costs related to accommodation, food and transport during the She Entrepreneurs Program are covered by the Swedish Institute. The Institute will pay for air travel to and from Sweden and to the location of the second module of the program in the MENA region. Participants are themselves responsible for costs related to transport within their own countries. Swedish participants are expected to stay at the same hotel(s) as the MENA participants during the first module in Sweden.

Insurance

During the program in Sweden all participants from the Middle East and North Africa will be insured against acute illness and accident through the Swedish State Group Insurance and personal insurance by the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Service Agency (Kammarkollegiet). For the second module which will take place somewhere in the MENA region, all participants are kindly requested to purchase a travel insurance covering the period of the module in their respective home countries. The Swedish Institute will reimburse participants for the cost of the insurance later.

The Swedish Institute will cover the visa application cost of all participants.  

12. How can I arrange a Visa to Sweden?

Selected participants are responsible for obtaining their visas in good time before departure to Sweden and other relevant countries. The Swedish Institute will contact all concerned embassies and inform them about the program and the participants in order to facilitate the application process.When applying for a visa the Swedish Institute will provide the participants with a letter of invitation and an insurance certificate, and will also cover the application cost.

Participants will receive more information about how to arrange a visa for the first module in Sweden shortly after having been accepted to the program.

13. How do I arrange air travel to and from Sweden?

Selected participants will be responsible for arranging suitable air travel with the assistance of the Swedish institute. Air tickets will be paid for by the Swedish Institute. Participants will receive more information about how to arrange air travel shortly after having been accepted to the program.  

14. Who will arrange accommodation during the She Entrepreneurs program?

The Swedish Institute will arrange with accommodation for all applicants.

15. How intensive is the program?

The She Entrepreneurs program is an intensive full time program with several evening activities. Participation in all activities is required.

16. Where can I find more information about Sweden?

For more information about Sweden, please visit Sweden’s official web site www.sweden.se (English) and www.sweden.se/ar (Arabic).