The Fund’s Establishment

The Development and Employment Fund was established by a decision from the Cabinet on 18/11/1989. It commenced its work in February 1991 as a directorate in the Industrial Development Bank and within its rules and regulations. It became financially and administratively independent after the issuance of its Law no. (33) for the year 1992 on 16/9/1992.

The Fund’s Objective

The government has established the Development and Employment Fund to bring awareness to, and encourage and finance, the poor, the low-income groups and the unemployed, who are skilled with a profession, to establish their own projects in the areas of industry, crafts, services or tourism, for the purpose of creating sustainable employment opportunities that provide them with suitable income, and for employing their capabilities in economic and social development, instead of them running after jobs and remaining unemployed while waiting for the required job or depending on assistance corporations.

Vision

Exploration and financing intermediary micro-projects for poor low income and un-employed individuals where DEF can achieve and contribute in lowering poverty line and unemployment, and to consolidate the enhancement towards national level and to continue to offer services to achieve their objectives.

Mission

Creating the independent work opportunity as an important way to decrease the number of poor and un-employed by granting them obtainable loans, technical and administrative help to enable them to establish small and medium projects to guarantee to offer sustainable employment opportunities for them and others.

Establishing an atmosphere of equality and corporative relations, strengthening transparency and to furnish employment needs to raise their life morals and achieve motivation.    

Contributing in the developing society programs to reinforce the lasting sustainable development demands and community welfare.

The Fund’s Aim

In accordance with Article  (4) of its Law, the Fund aims to “enable poor, low-income or unemployed individuals, families and groups to work and produce for the purpose of contributing to combating poverty and unemployment”. In order to achieve that, the Fund, in accordance with Article (5), contributes with the following:

a.        Providing suitable financing, directly or indirectly, to beneficiary individuals, families and groups on easy terms.

b.        Qualification and rehabilitation for professions never previously prepared for, or sharpening skills and improving performance in current profession beneficiary.

c.        Helping individuals and volunteer local societies and institutions develop their capabilities in order to set and prepare small projects directed at Fund’s beneficiaries.

d.        Conducting scientific research and field studies to identify projects that could enable the beneficiary to achieve the Fund’s objectives and activities.

e.        Coordinating efforts with institutions working in the areas of social and productive work, in order to prevent duplication of financing and project establishment.

The Fund’s Management

The Fund’s management and direction is supervised by a Board of Directors led by the Prime Minister and the membership of seven ministers whose work nature relates to economic and social development, as well as five representatives of the sectors of industry, labor, volunteerism, agriculture, and education appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Chairman.

The Fund has a General Director who coordinates general policies endorsed by the Board of Directors, and who manages administrative, financial and technical activities, assisted by a specialized work team.