SEPHIS Foundation and Mastercard Foundation launch AWF AGRI program in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal

This initiative, with a budget exceeding 3 billion FCFA, aims to strengthen the economic empowerment of young women entrepreneurs in the agri-food processing sector in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. The launch event brought together representatives from the Ivorian government, financial institutions, technical partners, the private sector, and women entrepreneurs in agricultural value chains. The program seeks to support 1,000 women-led small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal by 2028.

It is built on four key pillars: strengthening entrepreneurial capacities, access to semi-industrial processing units, market access, and access to financing. In Côte d'Ivoire, the program plans to support 550 young women entrepreneurs, finance 220 projects, conduct compliance audits, provide specialized technical assistance, and facilitate participation in national and international trade fairs. The AWF AGRI program also aims to contribute to the creation and improvement of over 12,000 jobs for young women in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, fostering sustainable economic impact.

The President of the SEPHIS Foundation's Board of Directors highlighted the crucial role of women in the African agricultural economy and the challenges they face, such as access to financing, modern equipment