In partnership with Education for Employment Egypt, the Forsa mentoring program is inviting entrepreneurs and mentors to attend one of three upcoming mentoring workshops in Egypt. The three-day workshops will run in Alexandria from 29 to 31 October and in Cairo from 2 to 4 November, with a third workshop planned for Cairo later this year.

Forsa is a UK-sponsored initiative launched by the G8-Deauville Partnership that aims at unlocking the potential of entrepreneurship in Egypt and five other Arab countries: Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Jordan and Yemen. It aims to create jobs and trigger inclusive economic growth by connecting new entrepreneurs with experienced mentors to help them expand their businesses, according to the Forsa press release.

Egypt has witnessed a start-up revolution in the past years, especially since the January 2011 revolution and ensuing political turmoil dealt a major blow to its economy.

GDP growth has slowed to some 2 percent in the past fiscal year, and the official unemployment rate reached 13.3 percent in the second quarter of 2013, according to state-run statistics body CAPMAS, with the actual rate expected to be much higher.

During the past month, Forsa ran two pilot workshops in Cairo, through which it boasts to have established "20 new relationships between Egyptian mentors and entrepreneurs that will continue over the next twelve months."

The five workshops aim to establish mentoring relationships between approximately 65-75 entrepreneurs and business leaders in Egypt.

Founded in 2007, Education for Employment Egypt is part of a wider trans-MENA network of locally-run non-profit organisations focused on training and job creation

The program is welcoming applications from "male and female entrepreneurs whose businesses have been operational for at least twelve months and from experienced business owners and experts who are willing to act as mentors to help new entrepreneurs succeed."

Participation is free of charge for both mentors and entrepreneurs.

Space is limited in the workshops and organisers request that applicants apply as early as possible.

Applications can be found on Forsa's website www.forsa-mena.org.