Empowering women entrepreneurs – example through coaching of 4 micro-enterprises in Casamance, Sénégal

COLEAD is supporting four women-led micro-enterprises in Casamance, Sénégal, as part of the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) programme. This initiative illustrates COLEAD’s commitment to the economic empowerment of women in the agricultural sector.

Concrete support for better financial management

Between October and November 2024, a coaching mission was carried out to help these businesses apply the knowledge acquired during the “Accounting and Financial Management” training in December 2023. This support enabled the entrepreneurs to assess the profitability of their activities and to set up simplified management tools such as cost accounting, operating accounts and preliminary budgets.

Promising results

These micro-enterprises specialise in processing local products such as dried mango, ginger and cereals. The support enabled them to identify strategies to improve their profitability. In particular, Hawa Kane, president of the Mame Sadou Kane EIG, became aware of the potential of her business and decided to intensify her agro-food production.

To consolidate the gains, monitoring tools such as production protocols and income and expenditure records were introduced. These tools will enable the entrepreneurs to better structure their activities and make informed decisions to ensure the growth of their businesses.

This approach highlights the development potential of this type of micro-enterprise. Regular monitoring remains essential to consolidate the results of the training and maximise the impact of these initiatives on the local economy. This initiative also illustrates COLEAD’s commitment to supporting women-owned small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises to strengthen their resilience and competitiveness.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.