Support to young female entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire
Three finalists of the “Project Pitch” competition of the third edition of the leadership and mentoring program for young women entrepreneurs, African Women of the Future Fellowship (AWF), received the official hand over of material goods on November 13, 2020 at the premises of the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" in Abidjan. The three young women received technical and professional equipment for a total amount of 7,000 euros.
Ouattara Fatoumata whose project aims at processing chilli peppers received a motor pump and its supply connections to draw water from the river, boots and gloves for field work and a tricycle. Olivia Gnaoré Carole, promoter of the Mega'shop brand, is involved in the digital marketing of African fine spices. She received a laptop, a digital scale, a cell phone, a professional mini photo studio, Microsoft software, a computer antivirus and a hard drive. The third finalist, Lokou Aya, owner of a travel agency, acquired a small stand, a laptop and a cell phone. The provision of material goods should help these three young women to increase their production capacities, which will create new job opportunities for other young people.
The tricycle and recipient Ouattara Fatoumata during the ceremony.
Addressing the three recipients, the president of the AWF program asked them to do everything possible to create professional integration opportunities for other women within their companies. “This equipment should be a new source of motivation for each of you. If development partners have invested in your projects, it is because they believe in your potential. You must do everything possible to succeed and to create professional integration opportunities for other women within your companies”, advised Mrs. Sefora Kodjo Kouassi.
As for the Director of the Program for Employment and Promotion of SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Marc Levesque said he was happy to support innovative and women-led projects. Mr. Levesque reiterated the willingness of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Program for Employment and Promotion of SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire, which is part of the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" and operating under the Invest for Jobs brand, to continue this partnership with the SEPHIS Foundation in the hope that the women beneficiaries of the AWF program will be an example of success, a showcase for other young women in Côte d’Ivoire.
African Women for the Future Fellowship (AWF) is an initiative of the SEPHIS Foundation that works in the education and training of young women with the aim of strengthening women’s empowerment and participation. The program is recognized by the African Union as one of the 50 best education initiatives on the continent. During six weeks of intensive training the beneficiaries of this program are trained in leadership, gender and project development strategies.
Out partner, the SEPHIS Foundation, created a beautiful video for more impressions about the ceremony: