Rethinking Rural Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries: Towards Inclusive, Sustainable, and Growth-Oriented Ecosystems.

Rural entrepreneurship is generating increasing interest in management sciences and development economics, particularly through the growing use of ecosystem-based approaches. However, dominant models of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) remain mainly focused on urban, innovation-driven, and industrialized contexts, thereby struggle to capture the complexity of rural entrepreneurial dynamics.

Indeed, rural contexts face significant structural challenges: persistent poverty, geographical isolation, limited access to infrastructure and capital, inadequate public services and increased vulnerability of populations (women, young people, minorities, etc.). Nevertheless, these same territories are abundant in unexploited natural and human resources, representing a strategic lever for inclusive growth, community resilience, and the transition to sustainable territorial development. Rural entrepreneurship is often leveraged as a tool for income diversification, poverty alleviation, and local capacity building, extending beyond a purely production-driven rationale.

In the current literature, mainstream models of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) generally focus on urban and technological contexts. They are thus inappropriate for rural reality, ignoring the dynamics specific to marginalized regions. This doctoral project aims to bridge this gap by attempting to rethink rural entrepreneurial ecosystems (REEs) through a fundamental reconsideration of the conditions, actors, and mechanisms that shape rural entrepreneurship. It adopts a critical, inclusive, and context-sensitive perspective to explore how REEs can be designed and analyzed by integrating the dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The aim is to identify the contextual factors that influence the performance and sustainability of rural entrepreneurship, as well as the underlying logics that guide the actions of key stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, public institutions, local authorities, and communities.

From a scientific perspective, the project aims to improve the conceptualization of entrepreneurial ecosystems by integrating the specific characteristics of rural territories, an aspect that is currently underexplored in research. From a managerial perspective, it will provide valuable information to field practitioners and support organizations involved in rural entrepreneurship. At the societal level, it will contribute to the development of more inclusive, equitable and context-sensitive policies and practices to meet the real needs of rural populations in developing countries.

Candidates are expected to carry out their research full-time within the structures of EUROMED University.

• Research and Publications
• Conduct original and high-quality research aligned with the doctoral program's scientific objectives.
• Publish at least four research articles in peer-reviewed indexed (Scopus/WoS) journals before the thesis defense.
• Present research findings in national and international conferences, workshops, or symposia.
• Academic Contribution and Collaboration
• Participate in research seminars, doctoral training sessions, and interdisciplinary activities organized by the research laboratory or the doctoral school.
• Collaborate with supervisors, co-supervisors, and research partners to ensure methodological rigor and scientific relevance.
• Contribute to ongoing research projects or institutional initiatives when relevant to the doctoral topic.
• Pedagogical and Institutional Engagement
• Support teaching activities or tutorials within the host department (as part of doctoral training or institutional service).
• Participate in university outreach, innovation, or knowledge transfer activities.
• Adhere to the ethical standards and integrity guidelines governing academic research.

Education: Master's degree or equivalent in entrepreneurship, management sciences, development economics, or a related discipline.
Skills: Strong grasp of theoretical frameworks in entrepreneurship, critical thinking, proficiency in academic English, and interest in issues related to diversity and inclusion.
Qualities: Rigor, curiosity, initiative, and openness to rural contexts and challenges faced in the Global South.
Assets: Field experience in rural areas or with development projects; interest in public policies and social innovation.

CV, a cover letter, the PhD project, diplomas, and academic transcripts.

The application file must be sent to the Doctoral Studies Center (CEDoc) of the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes by email no later than October 26, 2025, to the following contacts:

Administrative Affairs Officer of the CEDoc: Mrs. Boutaina Jai Mansouri: b.jai-mansouri@emadu.ueuromed.org

Director of Research and of the CEDoc: Prof. Abdelghafour Marfak: a.marfak@euromed.org

• Pr. Salwa Aligod (s.aligod@ueuromed.org)