Safir is an ambitious project that supports youth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 9 countries across North Africa and the Middle East. Co-funded by the European Union, it aims at creating an enabling environment in favor of youth participation and of the development of entrepreneurial projects with social, cultural and environmental impact.

In September 2020, the EU-funded Safir project launched the first call for applications to universities in the countries involved in the program to help them develop their social responsibility, and strengthen their role in supporting impact projects led by students and disseminate a civic and responsible culture for them. Nine higher education establishments, out of more than 70 applications, were selected.

These establishments will benefit from a subsidy of up to 80,000 euros. Also they will be supported from Safir's partners to implement activities that will enable them to strengthen their governance in terms of social responsibility with aim of creating or strengthening training courses dedicated to social entrepreneurship and the SDGs. Moreover, these activities aim to create or strengthen a university incubator to support students in carrying out their projects with social impact.

 The implementation of these activities will start in February 2020 for a period of 18 months.