Local entrepreneurship in Kaolack: DER/FJ commits 510 million FCFA to boost the empowerment of young people and women

On a national tour of the peanut basin, the General Delegate for Rapid Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth, Dr. Abdoulaye Niane, visited Kaolack after stops in Mbacké and Thiès. With a total budget of approximately 510 million CFA francs, the organization aims to accelerate funding for local professional organizations and strengthen economic inclusion in accordance with presidential directives.

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Following visits to Mbacké and Thiès, the national information and outreach tour of the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth (DER/FJ) stopped in the capital of the Saloum region. Chaired by the Prefect of the Kaolack Department, Mamadou Guèye, the meeting was held at the DER/FJ regional office, in the presence of umbrella organizations and local professional bodies.

A direct response to the directives of the head of state

Speaking to regional economic stakeholders, the Director General, Dr. Abdoulaye Niane, reiterated that he was working from a clear roadmap entrusted to him by the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. "The Head of State wants us to go further, faster, and have a greater impact on citizens, and it is under these conditions that we have launched this work," he stated, explaining the on-the-ground strategy deployed by his department.

The operational objective is to popularize the flagship schemes of Nano-Credit and the BE-YES program, while adapting public action to the real needs of local stakeholders.

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Quantifiable results and a focus on recovery

From a financial perspective, the support dynamic is showing results exceeding initial forecasts in the Kaolack region.

“We will ultimately have 278 groups; that’s the objective we set for ourselves. And halfway through, we already have more than 300 groups. We will meet this challenge,” stated Dr. Abdoulaye Niane. He also specified that the total budget allocated amounts to “approximately 510 million CFA francs.”

Regarding the sustainability of the model, the Director General did not shy away from the issue of loan repayments. He emphasized that repayment performance varies considerably depending on the financing mechanism: while some mechanisms still record low rates, others boast repayment rates exceeding 50%. While acknowledging that the overall recovery rate remains relatively low, the head of the DER/FJ reaffirmed his commitment to improving these indicators to ensure the long-term viability of this financial inclusion mechanism.