Entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Senegal, particularly among women, who represent 40% of entrepreneurs and are responsible for creating over 1.2 million direct and indirect jobs, accounting for about 20% of the country’s employment.
However, women face numerous challenges on their entrepreneurial journey. Among the external barriers are gender stereotypes, social norms, the persistence of an unequal system, and the heavy burden of unpaid domestic work, to which women devote eight times more time than men. Added to these are internal obstacles, such as cultural and psychological barriers.
Local partnerships for women’s entrepreneurship
Based on diagnostics conducted with local partners, the IYBA-SEED Senegal team has designed specific activities to strengthen and promote the women’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in Senegal, thereby addressing the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the country.
To amplify the impact of its initiatives, IYBA-SEED Senegal collaborates with organizations that work specifically with women entrepreneurs in Senegal, aiming to better understand and identify urgent issues and develop relevant tools and activities for the project’s implementation.
Ideas discussed include:
- Producing and enhancing gender-specific studies.
- Developing tailored educational tools.
- Launching awareness campaigns.
- Strengthening the capacity of ecosystem actors.
Workshop on women's entrepreneurship
On June 6, 2024, a workshop brought together around fifteen organizations active in women’s entrepreneurship. This moment of exchange and reflection facilitated the mapping of the ecosystem and its needs, summarized in this study titled "State of Women's Entrepreneurship in Senegal" and supplemented by a literature review.
It is important to note that the IYBA-SEED program focuses on young SEED entrepreneurs and early-stage and pre-startup businesses led by young people (aged 18–35) or women (of all ages), with the goal of structuring these ventures and fostering job creation. Consequently, this study does not cover the numerous networks, organizations, and initiatives related to so-called "subsistence entrepreneurship" in Senegal.
A study to better understand Senegal’s women's entrepreneurship ecosystem
This study provides an overview of various public and private structures and programs that train, support, advise, and offer networking opportunities to Senegalese women entrepreneurs at the local, regional, or international levels. It also includes a selection of studies, reports, books, academic research, and scientific articles that provide insights into women’s entrepreneurship in Senegal, as well as an additional directory of other relevant initiatives and organizations focused on women’s leadership and entrepreneurship.
The document presents a mapping of structures across different categories with specific mandates on women’s entrepreneurship, including: communities and networks ; privately-initiated support structures (SAE); public institutions and agencies; financial stakeholders; training providers; media; and other specialized organizations working on gender equality.
