In southern Libya, young people and women face significant barriers to employment. Geographic isolation, limited access to investment and years of political instability have made it difficult for many communities to build sustainable livelihoods. In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported Innovation Sahara, an entrepreneurship program designed to help people in southern Libya turn business ideas into income-generating projects.

Innovation Sahara focuses on communities in Libya’s southern region, where economic opportunities are often more limited than in larger coastal cities such as Tripoli and Benghazi. The program offers practical business training, including budgeting, marketing and business planning. According to UNDP, more than 110 participants took part in the initiative, including 53 women-led ventures. Of these participants, 60 startups received grants to help launch their businesses, including 23 women-led startups.

Entrepreneurs in Southern Libya

Entrepreneurship can offer an alternative path to employment in areas where formal jobs are scarce. Rather than relying only on public-sector work or outside investment, small businesses allow communities to respond to their own local needs. A successful startup can support one household by generating income. Over time, it can also provide useful services, create products and open new employment opportunities for others in the community. Innovation Sahara in southern Libya is particularly significant for women, as they often face additional barriers due to limited access to finance, fewer professional networks and social expectations that restrict participation in public economic life. By including women-led ventures in training and grant opportunities, the program supports women’s economic participation and helps challenge the idea that entrepreneurship is only accessible to men or to people in major cities.

Libya’s economy has generally depended heavily on oil and public-sector employment. Oil wealth has shaped the country’s economy. However, it has not always produced stable opportunities for young people, especially outside urban centers. Supporting small businesses can help diversify local economies and reduce dependence on a narrow range of income sources. In southern Libya, entrepreneurs are often far from major markets. This distance can make it harder to access investors, customers and business-support services.

The Importance of Skill Development

The project also demonstrates the importance of combining financial support with skills development. Grants alone may not be enough to help a business survive. Entrepreneurs also need to understand how to manage costs, reach customers and adapt their ideas to real market conditions. By offering training in budgeting, marketing and business planning, Innovation Sahara gives participants tools that can continue to benefit them after the initial grant period ends.

However, the long-term impact of the program will depend on whether these startups can survive and grow. Many early-stage businesses struggle after initial funding runs out. Entrepreneurs may still need mentoring, access to larger markets, legal support and continued financing. Infrastructure challenges, political instability and weak private-sector institutions also limit business growth.

From Training to Employment

One example is Hamed Mohamed from Gurda Al-Shati, who used support from Innovation Sahara to develop Akakus Restaurant. Hamed identified a clear local need: his community had few food-delivery options, leaving residents underserved. With the help of the program, he expanded the restaurant and hired 14 people, including chefs, cleaners and delivery riders. His story shows how a small business can respond to everyday community needs while also creating stable employment. In an area where formal job opportunities are limited, Akakus Restaurant demonstrates how entrepreneurship can strengthen local economies from within.

Another example from Gurda Al-Shati is Rahma El Farjani, an architect who previously worked from home. Before joining Innovation Sahara, her limited visibility made it difficult to reach clients and earn a stable income. Through the program’s training and grant support, she established Dalilak for Architectural Services, described by UNDP as the first architectural firm in the region. Her work expands professional services in southern Libya and challenges the idea that innovation belongs only in major urban centers.

Both Hamed and Rahma’s stories show how targeted support can help entrepreneurs turn local challenges into businesses that improve livelihoods and community development.

The program’s focus on youth and women makes it particularly relevant to poverty reduction. When young people are unable to find work, they may face financial insecurity, migration pressures or exclusion from community decision-making. When women lack access to income, households and communities lose an important source of economic potential.

Looking Ahead

Innovation Sahara in southern Libya shows how targeted entrepreneurship programs can help marginalized regions participate in economic recovery. By providing training, grants and visibility to entrepreneurs in southern Libya, the initiative supports people who are often excluded from national economic opportunities. Its success will depend on long-term follow-up, continued investment and the ability of new businesses to create lasting employment. Still, the program offers a hopeful example of how locally driven innovation can improve livelihoods in communities facing poverty, instability and limited opportunity.

– Nina Novillo Astrada

Nina is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr