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We empower women to play a stronger role in the economy

How we are helping to drive
gender equality in the world of work

Creating good jobs through tailored support

© Mburu

Women are disproportionately affected by unemployment, underemployment and poor working conditions and often have no social protection. In 2022, 72 per cent of men had jobs, while only 47 per cent of women did. Yet jobs are the key to people lifting themselves out of poverty in the long term and securing a livelihood for themselves and their families. At the same time, the economic empowerment of women is vital for sustainable, social and just development. This is where we come in: we provide tailored support to companies so that they can create more and better jobs for women in our partner countries in Africa. In the long term, this will help advance gender equality in the workplace and contribute to the German Government’s feminist development policy.

Senegal

Local bakery brand creates good jobs for women

© Mburu


In Senegal, most job-seekers are young women. This trend is particularly marked in rural areas, although the potential for growth here is considerable due to the agriculture sector. In fact, this is where the bakery brand Mburu established by the Senegalese entrepreneur Isseu Diop has found its niche, marketing bakery goods and drinks made from local products at village kiosks where all the workers are local women.

Invest for Jobs supports Mburu through staff training. So far, 46 people have been trained in production, marketing and company culture. Jobs have been created for nine more people. Invest for Jobs is also supporting Mburu’s plans to open 15 new kiosks, creating further opportunities for open-minded and motivated women in the region.

More about this project

OUR PROJECTS

Further current project examples

Promoting women and youth in rural construction
Rwanda

Promoting women and youth in rural construction

Invest for Jobs supports EarthEnable in empowering women, youth, and people with a low level of formal education to enter the rural construction sector. The company's training and coaching programmes in masonry and business management enable disadvantaged people to start their own construction businesses or secure jobs. Read more

Economic empowerment of gender-based violence survivors
Rwanda Agri-Business

Economic empowerment of gender-based violence survivors

Survivors of gender-based violence in Rwanda are often economically dependent on their perpetrator. With support of Invest for Jobs, the non-profit organisation Health Poverty Action provides empowerment through training opportunities. It equips participants with the necessary skills for employment within the country’s largest tea companies. Read more

Improving access to menstrual products
Ethiopia

Improving access to menstrual products

Invest for Jobs is supporting Ethiopian enterprise Mela for Her with training courses on how to produce and sell reusable pads. The aim is to create 130 jobs in Addis Ababa and rural areas of Ethiopia, particularly for women and people from vulnerable groups. Read more

Promoting sustainable business activities

© iStock / kckate16

Sustainability is becoming more and more important for companies. We can support you in establishing digital, low-emission and resource-efficient business models on the ground. In addition, we provide customised support to companies in new environmentally relevant sectors, such as renewable energies and the circular economy. Together, we can thus create future-proof jobs and company structures.

Find out more

Contact

We are looking forward to hearing from you

Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to work together with companies to create up to 100,000 good jobs and to improve working conditions and social protection in its African partner countries.

Partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

Find out more about our services for companies, universities, chambers and associations: https://invest-for-jobs.com/en/offers

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