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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the different ways I can get involved with Nahdet El Mahrousa?
You can become a paying member, apply for an internship (paid or unpaid), join as a staff member (part-time or full-time), volunteer your expertise or simply become a friend of NM by joining our mailing list.
2. Who are typical members of Nahdet El Mahrousa?
Nahdet El Mahrousa members are mainly Egyptian professionals. While they might have differing views, ideologies and background, NM members work to find common ground towards Egypt's development. Click here for more details on the Nahdet El Mahrousa membership profile.
3. How do I become a member?
To join, you must be recommended or nominated by a current NM Member, and accordingly, we will send you the NM Membership Application to fill out.
If you are not aware of any NM member, you are very welcome to attend any of our information sessions where you will get to know more about Nahdet El Mahrousa, our activities and projects, what opportunities we can offer you and how you can be involved in any of Nahdet El Mahrousa projects. For the next informational session please reference our Calendar of Events (link here).
You can also send an email to membership[at]nahdetmasr[dot]org and request to be added to our mailing list where you will receive an email invitation to the next Informational Session.
The annual membership fee is EGP 300.
4. What are the benefits of NM membership?
- You will be joining one of the most resourceful and inspiring networks.
- You can develop your own project idea through the NM Incubator.
- You will be added to the e-groups list where you can exchange information about existing projects, propose a new project idea, stay informed of events, meetings, opportunities, etc.
- You can participate and vote in Nahdet El Mahrousa General Assembly and official meetings.
5. What am I required to do when I join Nahdet El Mahrousa?
You are not required to do anything. However, NM gives you the platform to contribute in several ways:
- Organization-level support: Some members volunteer or help out on the organizational-level - helping set up systems, support with networking, fundraising, building alliances and partnerships, etc.
- Project leaders and members: If you have a dream project for Egypt's development, you can propose your idea for support through the NM Incubator and potentially become the project leader.
- Some NM members prefer to join an existing project and help out in the different phases and functions of the project.
- E-group and discussions: If you are passionate about discussing ideas on Egypt's development, you can share your thoughts through NM e-groups or join Salon El Mahrousa events.
- Sharing knowledge and expertise: You can share your expertise and knowledge with NM members, projects, partners and the community through conducting a workshop or a presentation on your area of expertise, providing training, or holding a seminar at Salon el Mahrousa.
- Sharing contacts and ideas: If you cannot give more time, you can always support Nahdet El Mahrousa projects with ideas, contacts, fundraising prospects, and connect NM with potential renowned names for Salon El Mahrousa. You can also assist NM in receiving media coverage for its projects and events.
- Representing Nahdet El Mahrousa and Egypt: As a member, you can represent NM and Egypt through attending events, cross-cultural dialogues and conferences in Egypt or abroad.
- Access to the NM Blog: You will have both a subscription and submission rights to the NM discussion blog where you can comment on written posts or submit a post of your own.
6. Is there a certain number of hours required from me as a member?
Some commit a few hours a week. Some commit far less. Project leaders usually need to commit more time than regular project members. It is totally up to you, but the most important thing is that you commit to whatever you agree on.
7. What if I live outside of Egypt?
Living outside of Egypt, you are better able to see the bigger picture than those living in Egypt, so you can contribute in many ways. In fact, some of our most active and dedicated members and project leaders are young Egyptian professionals residing outside Egypt.
Even if you don't have much time to dedicate, sending your perspectives and ideas from wherever you are, is refreshing enough! Several Egyptian expatriates have volunteered to share their knowledge and expertise through NM projects such as Mentoring Leadership Program.
8. What is the NM Incubator?
By definition an incubator is an economic and social development process designed to advise potential start-up projects, and through a comprehensive capacity building and assistance program, help them to establish and accelerate their growth & success. Nahdet El Mahrousa has initiated the first Incubator for Innovative Social Enterprises in the world that it now aims to document and spread throughout Egypt and the region.
9. What does the NM Incubator offer?
Nahdet El Mahrousa Incubator offers projects the following:
- Human Resources: Support in accessing and recruiting full-time/part-time staff, volunteers or interns for each project.
- Institutional framework: Until they become independent entities, NM provides the institutional framework for all incubated projects. It acts as their legal, accounting and financial umbrella; providing all institutional systems and framework to run these projects.
- Legal assistance: through some corporate partnerships and professional support.
- Project development: Project design and proposal development services.
- Strategic planning: Through NM pool of volunteers.
- Proposal writing: Through NM pool of volunteers.
- Secondary Research: Through our networks, NM provides incubated projects research support on potential partners, success stories, local and international best practices, etc.
- Training: In-house training provided through pool of volunteers in addition to access to subzidised or free training opportunities in partnerships with corporate organizations.
- Funding: NM connects projects with potential funding sources
- Networking and external communication: Access to technical resources, donor contacts, research and academic resources, publicity and media, and professional branding support are also available for projects.
- Infrastructure: NM provides communication facilities (24 hour fast internet access, telephone lines and email accounts), as well as, business facilities (including a fully equipped meeting room, shared computers/printers/scanners) for all incubated projects.
- Financial support: A one-time small funding is available for projects starting up based upon availability.
10. What is the process to get my project into the NM Incubator?
To develop your dream project for Egypt, all you have to do is become a member, form a team of volunteers, and submit your project plan called "El Forma" (opens as a pdf) for approval. Once your project is approved, you will be supported financially and technically to start your pilot project. Your team will be responsible for periodically reporting to NM management on the project progress. Once your pilot project proves successful, Nahdet El Mahrousa will help you scale it up to a nation-wide project.
11. What are the selection criteria for pilot projects?
Nahdet El Mahrousa supports pilot projects which address:
- Root causes: Nahdet El Mahrousa supports projects that address root causes of societal issues, not projects that address the symptoms.
- Scalability: NM supports projects that have a clear vision on how they will affect large segments of Egyptian society. Even if the pilot project starts small, it needs to have a clear vision on how it could expand to have an impact nationally.
- Innovations in development: NM supports projects that take an innovative approach to development. NM is open to creative ideas that help make development projects more efficient and effective in addressing the problems of Egypt.
- Sustainability: NM supports projects that guarantee sustainability as a priority; ensuring that the project has the necessary human, financial, and other resources to be able to continue and expand.
- Social entrepreneurship: NM supports projects that are led by social entrepreneurs who are willing to commit the necessary time and resources. NM is not interested in people submitting innovative ideas to be implemented by others.
- Policy component: NM encourages projects that aim at affecting or addressing certain policies or institutional issues that can advance Egypt's progress.
12. Does the NM Incubator have a programmatic focus or priority sector?
Projects which address youth development, economic development, arts for development and public health have better chances in getting accepted into NM Incubator.
13. If my project idea is a developmental one but is more on the business/profit-making side, is it possible to incubate it within NM?
NM is actually very interested in supporting sustainable project ideas. Social Enterprise/ Business/Venture projects seeking financial, as well as, social returns, and fulfilling the other selection criteria listed above, would be considered for support by the NM Incubator.
14. Is it possible to replicate the NM Incubator model in Egypt or any other country?
Yes. It would be our pleasure to discuss the details of providing technical support or franchising the NM Incubator model. If you are interested to replicate this innovative model into your organization, please us send an email to bod[at]nahdetmasr[dot]org for further details.
15. When and how can I learn more about NM organization?
You are welcome to visit Nahdet El Mahrousa during any of our information sessions where you will get to know more about Nahdet El Mahrousa, our activities and projects, what opportunities we can offer you and how you can be involved in any of Nahdet El Mahrousa projects. For the next informational session please reference our Calendar of Events (link here).
NM also organizes presentations outside of the office for groups or organizations. If three or more people at your organization or institution are interested to hear about NM and cannot come to the office, please call 2575 1888 and we can arrange for a presentation for you.
16. What if I want to stay in touch with NM but cannot join the organization?
Sign up for our e-groups list to receive regular updates and announcements of events, job vacancies, etc.Please click here to sign up or send an email to info[at]nahdetmasr[dot]org with the subject title: "Add to NMnetwork" and you will be added to the e-groups list.
17. Who founded Nahdet El Mahrousa?
NM was founded by a group of young Egyptian professionals. It all started as a dream in November 2002.
18. Who funds Nahdet El Mahrousa?
When it was first founded, NM was fully funded by its members. Today, NM is funded through membership fees and additional contributions from NM members. However, as NM grows and evolves, we seek different partners to fund our projects. Sponsors range from individuals to local businesses, multi-national corporations to international donor agencies.
19. Who is leading Nahdet El Mahrousa?
A group of young Egyptian professionals, including the Board of Directors, project leaders and full-time management staff.
20. Does NM have any political affiliations?
Nahdet El Mahrousa does not have any particular political affiliations. As an Egyptian non-governmental organization, NM fully abides by the Egyptian NGO law 84 (2002) which prohibits NGOs from engaging in political activities, promoting certain political ideologies or campaigning in political elections. However, NM is allowed to create balanced awareness about political issues to its members without adopting or promoting a certain political ideology.
21. Is NM involved in any work related to human rights?
At Nahdet El Mahrousa, we believe in the human rights-based approach to development, as well as other approaches. We support projects that help Egyptians obtain their basic human rights. However, NM does not work directly in areas related to Human Rights activisim.
22. If I want to make a financial contribution to NM, what do I do?
We will gladly accept your kind donation. Your donation will support the ongoing work of our staff and partners as we seek, test, and promote innovative project ideas and practices towards Egypt's development. Please call: +202 575 1888 and a representative from NM can pick up your kind donation.
