Empowering Young Entrepreneurs Across Francophone Regions
Between April and May 2026, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) in Western Europe partnered with ACCEDE Provence Entrepreneurs, a prominent student-led organization from KEDGE Business School in Marseille, to orchestrate the international editions of the Entrepreneurship Lighthouse in Côte d'Ivoire, Tunisia, and Morocco. These events attracted hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs, startups, experts, investors, and key players in the Francophone entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing a significant platform for networking and innovation.
ACCEDE Provence Entrepreneurs, which is part of the Francophone Student Leaders Clubs (CLEF) supported by AUF, has been promoting international collaborations through the Entrepreneurship Lighthouse initiative for the past three years. This initiative, led by ACCEDE Internationale, aims to facilitate exchanges between young entrepreneurs, students, experts, and innovators from France and Africa. The 2026 editions were successfully held in Abidjan, Tunis, and Casablanca, with the support of AUF's regional offices in West Africa and North Africa, ensuring the smooth organization and promotion of the events.
Highlights from the Events
On April 22, 2026, the Abidjan edition took place at the Palm Club Hotel, drawing an impressive attendance of 680 participants. The event featured over 70 applications for the pitch competition, five teams participating in the Sustainable Business Challenge, and 20 guest speakers. Jocelyne Bosson, the AUF National Office Head in Côte d'Ivoire, opened the session, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Youth.
Subsequently, on April 28, 2026, the event in Tunis was hosted at The Dot, attracting 150 participants who engaged in multiple pitch competitions and networking sessions. Jihane Fouzai, a project manager at AUF's North Africa regional office, addressed attendees during the opening ceremony, highlighting the active involvement of local university networks, particularly the Student-Entrepreneur Poles at Tunisian universities.
The third and final edition occurred on May 15, 2026, at Technopark Casablanca, with 170 participants attending. The agenda included three pitch competitions, three roundtable discussions, and a workshop. Jean-Philippe Thouard, Deputy Director of AUF for North Africa, inaugurated the event, while Abdelbast Waddad, head of the AUF's Francophone Digital Campus, moderated a roundtable titled "Between Tradition and Change: Entrepreneurship in a Changing World." Through these collaborative efforts, AUF reaffirms its commitment to fostering student entrepreneurship, innovation, and academic cooperation within the Francophone community, thus contributing to the development of essential skills.
As reported by auf.org.
