U.K.-based mentoring platform Mowgli Foundation has announced a new partnership with small and medium enterprise support organization Enterprise Qatar, to support entrepreneurship in Qatar. The first jointly run mentoring project will be run in September 2012, in collaboration with the Social Development Centre in Qatar.  

For Mowgli, who are also a Wamda partner, the move affirms their focus on the Middle and North Africa, and marks the organization's first launch into the Gulf region. Currently, Mowgli works with Berytech and AMIDEAST in Lebanon, and the Young Entrepreneurs Association in Jordan, to conduct mentoring sessions and empower local organizations to continue ongoing mentorship. 

The “Mowgli Mentoring Experience (MME),” which Mowgli has conducted in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, consists of a three day training and matching program, which lays foundation for the mentoring relationships which continue over the following 12 months. Mowgli's program in Syria has stopped due to the current strife, but Mowgli mentor-mentee relationships are continuing independently, says Business Development Manager Kathleen Bury. 

The Qatar program will train 12 mentors, mostly from Qatar, connecting them to 12 growth-stage entrepreneurs selected from local organizations including Enterprise Qatar, Social Development Center and other organisations in Qatar. The program will also include 2 finalists from the recently awarded Al Fikra Business Plan Competition run by Enterprise Qatar.   

The partnership also confirms Mowgli's focus on the Middle East and North Africa through its on-the-ground mentoring services.

Founder Tony Bury commented, “The Mowgli Foundation aims to have a real impact on private sector development and employment and our long-term goal has always been to expand our mentoring through the Middle East and North Africa; offering support to entrepreneurs who really need it." 

Noora Al Mannai, CEO of Enterprise Qatar, affirmed the organization's commitment to building entrepreneurs' skill base. “These initiatives train future business leaders to make sound decisions, which in turn will assist them to face all obstacles and challenges that come their way and achieve their desired goals."  

Mowgli has plans to continue expansion throughout North Africa and the Gulf this year.