smeps

What smeps does

SMEPS (Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service, وكالة تنمية المنشآت الصغيرة والأصغر) is a Yemeni non-profit development organization established in 2015 and operating under the Social Fund for Development (الصندوق الاجتماعي للتنمية), a Yemeni government social development fund. The organization implements donor-funded projects targeting small and micro enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, women entrepreneurs, and youth across Yemeni governorates including Sana'a, Aden, Hadramaut, Taiz, Al Mahra, Al-Hudaydah, Dhamar, Abyan, Lahj, and Socotra. Its programmatic surface spans fisheries, agriculture, livestock, food processing, healthcare, and creative/heritage industries.

SMEPS delivers its work through grants, matching grants, cash transfers, equipment provision, business advisory services, technical training, and institutional strengthening for cooperatives and CSOs. Flagship programs include SFISH (Sustainable Fisheries Development in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, $28.475M, targeting 5,635 beneficiaries), the Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP), the Emergency Social Protection Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Project (ESPECRP) under a $232.9M World Bank/IDA parent project, and the EU/UNESCO-funded Supporting Youth Employment Through Creative, Heritage and Culture project. Supporting digital infrastructure includes an e-learning platform, an online vendor registration system, and a stakeholder grievance portal. The organization holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (February 2025, TÜV Austria) and operates field offices in Sana'a, Aden, and Mukalla.

SMEPS is funded entirely through grants from international donors including the World Bank, UNDP, EU, UNESCO, FAO, ILO, GIZ, IFC, Islamic Development Bank, SDRPY, UK FCDO, Kuwait Society for Relief, and Japanese Aid. It does not sell commercial products or services; all interventions are provided free of charge to qualifying beneficiaries. The revenue model is professional services-style implementation work contracted by donors, with no disclosed equity, commercial revenue, or audited financial figures.

Name

smeps

Legal name

Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS) - وكالة تنمية المنشآت الصغيرة والأصغر

Website

https://smeps.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SMEPS is a Yemeni non-profit development organization under the Social Fund for Development that implements donor-funded programs supporting MSMEs, cooperatives, women, and youth across fisheries, agriculture, food security, healthcare, and creative industries through grants, training, and technical assistance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

MSME Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)

Keywords

• MSME development services
• Private sector development
• Livelihoods support programs
• Donor-funded development
• Enterprise capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Sana'a

HQ country

Yemen

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor-funded project implementation: SMEPS operates as a development agency funded entirely by international donors including the World Bank, EU, UNESCO, UNDP, ILO, GIZ, and others. Revenue comes from implementing development projects targeting MSMEs, livelihood support, and private sector development in Yemen. The organization provides grants, training, and technical support to beneficiaries rather than selling commercial products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SMEPS is a Yemeni non-profit development organization that implements donor-funded programs supporting small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) through cash transfers, matching grants, equipment provision, technical training, business advisory, and institutional strengthening across fisheries, agriculture, livestock, food processing, health, and creative industries. The organization delivers sector-specific projects (SFISH, FSRRP, ESPECRP, youth employment in creative sectors) under the umbrella of Yemen's Social Fund for Development.

Product overview

SMEPS (Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service) is a development organization under Yemen's Social Fund for Development that operates as a unified service platform rather than a modular product architecture. The organization offers economic development programs focused on private sector development through value chain development, business development, and entrepreneurship support. Its core offerings include grant programs, training services, and sector-specific projects spanning fisheries, agriculture, livestock, and creative industries. SMEPS also operates supporting digital services including an e-learning platform, vendor registration system, and grievance submission portal. The main programmatic products are the SFISH (fisheries), FSRRP (food security), ESPECRP (social protection/COVID response), and youth employment projects, which provide direct technical and financial support to MSMEs, cooperatives, and individual entrepreneurs across Yemen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Fisheries Development in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (SFISH) A donor-funded development program improving productivity and resilience in the fish value chain by providing direct technical and financial support to MSMEs, business cooperative associations, and lead firms in fisheries sectors across Al Mahra, Aden, Hadramaut, and Taiz governorates, targeting 5,635 planned beneficiaries including 3,000 fishermen, 1,680 women micro-producers, 920 supply chain enablers, and 35 fisheries cooperatives.
• Supporting Youth Employment Through Creative, Heritage and Culture An EU and UNESCO funded program supporting youth employment in Yemen's creative, heritage, and culture sectors through technical and financial support to 39 CSOs and young individuals, strengthening internal management capabilities, integrating more youth into creative industries, and creating job creation, training, and networking opportunities across Aden, Hadramout, Taiz, and Socotra governorates.
• Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP) A food security program building resilience of Yemeni households through increasing food availability, access, and utilization in livestock/dairy, horticulture, food processing, and fisheries sectors across Taiz, Sana'a, Al-Hudaydah, Dhamar, Abyan, and Lahj governorates, with FAO building the capacity of selected field technical teams and targeting 133 producer groups with 1,745 total members.
• Emergency Social Protection Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Project (ESPECRP) A World Bank and UNDP funded project providing nutrition-sensitive cash transfers, temporary employment programs, and sustainable livelihoods support for areas affected by hunger, malnutrition, and climate shocks, including matching grants (e.g., $15,000 grant to Athar Agricultural Association) and institutional capacity building for MSMEs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased fishing productivity and income for fishermen through modern equipment and training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor implementation partner for multiple projects including ESPECRP, SFISH, and youth employment initiatives. UNDP provides funding oversight and technical guidance for development programs targeting food security and livelihoods in Yemen.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for youth employment in creative, heritage and culture sectors. UNESCO provides technical expertise and funding for cultural preservation and creative industry development programs.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for FSRRP and food security projects, building capacity of field technical teams and providing expertise in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors.
• Social Fund for Development (SFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization - SMEPS is affiliated with SFD, Yemen's main social development fund implementing poverty reduction and employment programs.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical assistance and expertise for employment creation and skills development programs targeting youth and vulnerable populations.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports industrial development and private sector growth through technical cooperation and capacity building programs.
• Yemeni Banks (Yemen Kuwait Bank, CAC Bank, Saba Islamic Bank, National Bank of Yemen, Kuraimi Bank, Tadhamon Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal banking partners supporting financial inclusion and providing banking services for SME development programs.
• UNOPSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations office providing project management and procurement services for development implementations.
• World Food ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency coordinating on food security and livelihood projects, particularly in fisheries and agriculture sectors.
• Global GivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline fundraising platform connecting donors with development projects, facilitating diaspora and international giving.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group's private sector arm providing investment and advisory services for private sector development in frontier markets including Yemen. Comparable mission on MSME/private sector development, but operates as funder/advisor rather than implementer.

Direct peers

• FINCA International: Microfinance and MSME development organization operating in developing and conflict-affected markets. Comparable business model focused on financial inclusion and small enterprise support, though typically through credit rather than grants.
• Mercy Corps: Major INGO implementing livelihoods, MSME support, and economic recovery programs in conflict-affected countries including Yemen. Comparable as a donor-funded implementing partner running cash-for-work, grants-to-MSMEs, and value-chain development programs in fragile states.
• BRAC: One of the world's largest development NGOs, operating microenterprise and SME support programs across multiple countries. BRAC's enterprise development model (microfinance, training, grants to small businesses) closely mirrors SMEPS's MSME support approach, with similar donor-funded, grant-distribution mechanics.
• Social Fund for Development (SFD): SMEPS's parent organization and Yemen's principal social development fund implementing poverty reduction and employment programs. Directly comparable as a Yemeni government-affiliated entity running SME/livelihood programs in the same governorates with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): INGO with significant Yemen operations providing economic recovery and MSME support to conflict-affected populations. Comparable as a multi-donor-funded implementing partner running cash transfers, business grants, and livelihoods programming in fragile contexts.

Broad incumbents

• UNDP Yemen: UN agency providing funding oversight and technical guidance for many of SMEPS's largest programs. While UNDP operates at scale and across all development sectors, it partners closely with SMEPS on the ground and represents the broader institutional ecosystem in which SMEPS operates.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German development agency funding private sector development and economic recovery programs in Yemen. Comparable as a donor funding similar SME/livelihood programming through implementing partners, though at much larger global scale.
• ILO Country Office for Yemen: UN agency providing technical assistance for employment creation and skills development targeting youth and vulnerable populations in Yemen. Overlaps with SMEPS on labor market and entrepreneurship programming.

Emerging players

• World Vision Yemen: INGO implementing livelihoods and economic recovery programs in Yemen with similar grant-and-training delivery model. Comparable as a peer implementing partner for some donors, with somewhat narrower sector focus than SMEPS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMEPSYEMEN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@smeps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smeps

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about smeps