Since march 2009 I am providing technical support to the project Niger Entreprenne en Féminin (NEF) lead by FIDEM, and financed by the Catalan Cooperation Agency (ACCD) and ACC10.
The project counterparts in Niger are the REFAO (West Africa Women’s Entrepreneurs Network) and the Niger Chamber of Commerce CCAIAN, counting also with the support of MECREFF (Mutuelle d’Epargne et de Crédit des Femmes).
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with the position 174 in the Human Development Index. As in most African countries, gender inequalities are strikingly high, being in the position number 154 of the Gender Equality Index. Inequalities show in girl’s access to education, health inequalities, access to employment, working hours and a large etcetera.
Within this context, the project NEF has the objective to foster women’s entrepreneurship in Niger through several actions. One of them is the creation of a Women’s Business Support Office, already in place, having supported and trained more than 100 women entrepreneurs up to date. Secondly the project offers professional coaching to women that have already created their business, and finally the project will select communitarian initiatives to be supported. All of that capitalising the experience in women’s business support of FIDEM.
