Abidjan, 22nd Jan 2022 (AIP)- The SEPHIS Foundation and GIZ’s program for employment and promotion of SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire (Invest for Jobs) have implemented training programs and technical support by donations of equipment to women entrepreneurs.

These two institutions launched, on Friday, January 21, 2022, the new program to accelerate women’s businesses, called “Extension”, for the training and support of businesses run by young women in strengthening their management capacities and their access to the distribution market and to financing.

The SEPHIS Foundation has a line of credit of one billion FCFA per year to facilitate the training of women entrepreneurs to better absorb funds and to educate themselves financially.

These women entrepreneurs, thanks to the support of German cooperation, also make empowerment and leadership “a priority”, according to the director of the Invest for Jobs program, Marc Levesque, who welcomed the success of this program. for the benefit of women from diverse and varied backgrounds and professions.

Created in 2009, the Sephis Foundation has been working for 13 years to strengthen the participation and leadership of women in five African countries.

The program dedicated to women entrepreneurs, “African women of the future fellowship” (AWF) has enabled Sephis, since 2018, to accelerate the ability to access large retail outlets for 156 female SMEs, by strengthening their sales force. and development in their field of activity.

“In two years of collaboration with Ecobank, we have disbursed 25 million FCFA for the benefit of beneficiaries who have expanded their production units. Women entrepreneurs need to be equipped to conquer bigger markets. Our Extension program is essentially based on the life of the company, financial education and market penetration strategies. We are very grateful to GIZ and Invest for Jobs who have understood the interest of investing in the development and positioning of activities carried out by women”, rejoiced the president of the board of directors of the Sephis Foundation. , Sefora Kodjo.

Source: Agence Ivoirienne de Presse