New Silk Roads New Silk Roads
New Silk Roads is a boutique consultancy agency operating from Cairo, Tunis, and Amsterdam. We specialise in supporting impact-driven organisations and businesses through services such as organisational learning, fundraising, facilitation, research, events, and impact evaluations.
Founded in 2013, our work is deeply rooted in the values of the historic Silk Roads: trust, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange. These values guide us in connecting our clients to extensive international networks, knowledge, and financial resources. We have implemented various projects, ranging from fellowships and funder learning journeys to coaching changemakers on fundraising and comprehensive research publications in technological trends, climate transition, and contemporary culture.
Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP)
The GGJAP is a four-year regional project focused on accelerating SMEs to grow sustainably and create decent jobs for young people. We provided technical fundraising support to the Flat6Labs accelerator to prepare the $3.5 million tender and secure their first multi-year, regional programme.
As part of the GGJAP consortium, New Silk Roads is also assisting with the accelerator design and positioning, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and internal team upskilling. Additionally, our team is developing a specialised e-learning curriculum, which features multi-lingual digital courses on business innovation, impact measurement, and access to finance, specifically designed for SMEs in the Arab states region.
UNESCO Alternative Funding Models for Heritage Communities
How can alternative funding models better support communities who actively create and maintain heritage, often outside formal institutional frameworks? Together with UNESCO Netherlands and 100 Funds, we investigated a range of funding models that are aligned with Faro Convention principles, which center heritage within citizens' right to participate in cultural life and as a resource for human and economic development. New Silk Roads contributed to the brochure by providing guidance on innovative financing and governance models from lease-to-own mechanisms and non-extractive loans to participatory grantmaking and p2p art publishing and financing platforms. The brochure #Onbetaalbaar (in Dutch) can be found here: https://unesco.nl/onbetaalbaar.
Evolving Practices of International Cooperation Peer Learning Journey
New Silk Roads facilitated a two-year peer learning journey on international cooperation for the Funders International Network for Development (FIND) member community.
Our role included co-developing the learning journey blueprint and facilitating interactive online deep dives alongside an in-person meeting in Brussels. The peer learning journey explored topics such as locally-led development, innovative funding instruments, and collaborations with African philanthropy, with New Silk Roads curating speakers and producing an interactive digital knowledge product.
Green Growth Summit
New Silk Roads initiated and launched the Green Growth Summit (GGS) in Tunis (2024) and Cairo (2024, 2025). A regional learning platform, the GGS transformed lessons from early movers in the green economy into actionable insights to localise and accelerate regenerative economies.
Across three editions, the GGS convened 600+ green transition frontrunners, facilitated South–South collaboration between entrepreneurs and Africa-focused climate funds, raised awareness on green sector impact investing, and created a donor task force in Tunisia focused on the green economy.
New Silk Roads also raised an additional ~100K EUR in sponsorship to expand the summits’ reach and impact.
DOEN: Impact Investment in Arts and Culture
New Silk Roads conducted a feasibility study for DOEN Ventures for a new impact investment fund for the cultural and creative sector in Europe. Together with 100 Funds, we interviewed over 40 impact investors, artists, and cultural entrepreneurs to discuss the opportunities and challenges for impact investment in arts and culture, specifically in the Netherlands. Subsequently, New Silk Roads is advising DOEN Ventures, Moleskine Foundation, and Opes Impact Fund with setting up the impact investment fund for culture and creativity in Europe, sourcing investible cultural ventures in Europe, and making introductions to potential LPs.
Read the full study here.
Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts: Learning Partner
New Silk Roads is currently the learning partner for the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts, a philanthropic collaborative programme that champions the power of socially engaged arts in driving positive social change across Europe. The Alliance is currently in its pilot phase, and includes a fellowship bringing together 15 socially engaged arts leaders alongside a range of advocacy activities.
Beginning with the development of a learning framework for the programme, we are conducting an evaluation of the pilot phase that will drive sustainable learning in future cycles of the programme.
Summer 2025 Updates
From Cairo to Tunis to Amsterdam, the sun is (mostly) shining and summer vacation is calling. But first—some highlights from New Silk Roads and our partners' collaborations these last few months.
Annual Report 2024
Annual Report 2024 Now Available!
Winter 2023-2024 Updates
As winter turns to spring, we're delighted to share the latest updates from New Silk Roads. In 2024, our work to support a just green transition continues, including launching the Green Growth Summit, featuring flagship one-day events in Tunisia (April 30, 2024) and Egypt (May 14, 2024). We partnered with Flat6Labs on a 4-year program, together with UNDP and we developed a research product with EnDev and RVO.