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Deloitte Accelerator for Social Innovation in the Middle East

Social innovation on the rise

DASI guide
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DASI application form
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About the program
 

DASI is a Deloitte Middle East Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) program that aims to help address our region's social challenges by empowering and supporting small and medium sized social enterprises to grow and scale their impact. Social enterprises are companies or NGO's that operate with a social or environmental purpose, while having a viable business model and sustainable revenue stream.

DASI's components include a regional competition across 13 countries to identify two winning innovative social enterprises that will receive customized Deloitte support packs of advisory services, mentorship, networking opportunities, and skills-development valued at over US$ 100,000. The program supports gender parity by encouraging social enterprises fully or partially owned by women to apply.

DASI's goals and design are aligned with Deloitte's Global WorldClass initiative that aims to empower 100 million futures by 2030.

See DASI FAQs

Objectives
Stages of DASI
Applicant criteria
 

Who are we looking for? We are looking for organizations that have clear business models, social impact and can demonstrate how working with us will help them grow. These social enterprises should meet the following criteria:

 A social enterprise1 based in the region2 aiming to solve a regional social or environmental issue. At least one of the organization’s founders must be a national of the countries mentioned below2.

Social enterprise at the early stage level, minimum of two years of operating accounts with year-on-year growth.

The social impact of the social enterprise needs to be evident. Social impact is the effect that the organization is having on the well-being of the community or environment.

Innovative idea or product or service.

Clear and healthy business model based on sustainable revenue streams.

Strong and qualified leadership willing to commit to the program.

Clear and realistic articulation of the type of support and assistance required from Deloitte.

Women representation in management or founding team: a social enterprise managed by women or with women founders owning at least 80% of shares.

  1. We are not distinguishing between a social enterprise and a social business. We are essentially looking for organizations that are operating with a social or environmental purpose. They must have a business plan and sustainable revenue streams, which enable them to compete in mainstream markets, often challenging the status quo, and maximise their social or environmental impact.
  2. The organization should be domiciled in one of the following countries: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates. Legal registration - an organization could be registered as a:
  • for-profit enterprise or a regular business
  • non-governmental organization (NGO) given that some countries in the region do not have a legal structure for social enterprises
DASI competition categories
 

Applicants will be able to participate by choosing one of two categories:

A - A social enterprise that meets the DASI applicant criteria including the criterion on women founders owning at least 80% of shared of the enterprise.

B- A social enterprise that meets the DASI applicant criteria excluding the criterion on women founders owning at least 80% of shares of the enterprise.

Two social enterprises will be chosen at the end of the competition, one from each of the above categories.

Deloitte offering

Two winning social enterprises - one from each competition category - will receive customized advisory services from Deloitte of a value up to USD 100,000, based on need. Deloitte will not take equity in return for its services.
Each winning organization will be assigned a Deloitte project leader to manage the relationship of the social enterprise with Deloitte during the duration of the program.
Each winning organization will be matched with Deloitte and/or Ashoka mentors to provide support and mentoring during the acceleration period in addition to skills-development opportunities.
The winning organizations will get access to networking opportunities/events and access to Deloitte's wide network as relevant and appropriate.
The winning organizations will receive exposure opportunities through engagement in the program. This will include exposure of their organization and/or service or product as part of the communications and public relations campaigns that will be run by Deloitte.
Themes
 

We are looking for social enterprises that are aligned with at least <1> of the following predefined themes:
Competition phases

 

  • Round 1 - Initial application
    Interested social enterprises are invited to download the application form, fill it offline and then send it along with a copy of audited financial statements for the last 2 years, and Commercial Certificate (if a business) or Certificate of Notification (if an NGO/association) by email to dtmecr@deloitte.com. 
    • Application review: Deloitte professionals and collaborating organizations will review the applications received.
      Round 1 finalists will be identified.
  • Round 2 - Interviews
    Deloitte professionals will conduct live or virtual interviews with finalists.
    • Final selection: Winning organizations will be identified.
Judging criteria
 

We will be judging applications based on the following criteria:

  • Social impact: Degree of solving a social or environmental problem.
  • Scalability: Robustness of the business model and potential for growth.
  • Innovation element: Degree of innovation in the core idea/product/service.
  • Leadership: Strength and suitability of the leadership team to the needs of the organization.
  • Needs match: Ability to articulate the business need from Deloitte.
  • Women ownership of shares (only for competition category A): Women founders owning at least 80% of shares of the social enterprise.

 

What does Deloitte get in return?
 

DASI is a Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CR&S) program by Deloitte Middle East that reinforces our commitment to our purpose, which is to make an impact that matters in society. Our CR&S begins with our core business strategy and extends to the way we interact with our clients, our people and the communities we work and live in. DASI is an exemplification of this commitment, where we are aiming to make a difference in our communities through our core expertise.

Through this program, we want to provide innovative social enterprises with the knowledge, services, and networks to succeed at scaling up their impact and becoming sustainable. In this 21st century, we believe that it is imperative to leverage our knowledge and resources in solving social and environmental challenges and give back to the communities in which we operate.

DASI winner
 

2023 cohort

  1. Egypt-based Helm Egypt 
  2. Lebanon-based ProAbled

2019 cohort

  1. Saudi-based Amaleed
  2. Lebanon-based International Logistics Company
Collaborating organizations

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