Feeding the future. Strengthening and digital transformation of the agri-food sector in Senegal
Senegal
Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsSenegal
Location
-
€ 2,000,000
Committed
Committed
€ 0
Used
Used
Description
The initiative aims to contribute to the generation of inclusive employment and decent work in Senegal, aligning with SDG 8, and referring in particular to targets 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5. Digital transformation and training in the IT sector are a characterizing element of the proposal, which therefore also aligns with target 4.4 relating to SDG 4. Underemployment and unemployment represent one of the main challenges for the country, given the number of young people that every year enter the labor market in search of employment. The analysis of value chains highlights a very significant lever in the food economy sector (production and processing), already one of the main providers of jobs, mainly engaging women. However, the sector is affected by various critical issues that limit its potential for expansion and job inclusion, and its capability to respond to the growing market demand of urban areas. The project focuses in particular on the regions of Dakar, Thiès and Fatick, where the majority of the country's food processing SMEs are present, and where the expanding urban areas offer greater market opportunities, with the aim of strengthening this production sector as a factor of work inclusion, especially for women and youth. Attention to equal gender opportunities, even in a sector characterized by a predominantly female workforce, is necessary due to the identified disparity in economic treatment in companies, and it’s applied through the disaggregation of dedicated indicators and through the selection criteria of target SMEs and beneficiaries of the internships which are expected to be activated. The intervention logic aims to achieve this objective: a) improving the technical skills of the staff of SMEs active in the sector and their IT skills for access to the formal market, through technical training, accompanying the certification of products for formal distribution, IT training for digital marketing, strengthening connections with the hotel and restaurant sector; b) strengthening the self-entrepreneurship and strategic business orientation of SMEs, through business training and coaching of selected enterprises, support for the purchase of technical and IT equipment for the enhancement of production and digital transformation, the accompaniment of local authorities to the creation of ecosystems favorable to the launch of start-ups. c) promoting the employment inclusion of women and youth in the food processing sector, through continuous training courses and job matching for young people, the activation of stage allowances and internships at sector companies, the experimentation of internships for advanced professional training in Italy in the framework of circular migration. The multisectoral intervention logic is addressed through a diversified partnership, coordinated by IPSIA, an NGO with many years of experience in the agri-food sector in Senegal. ENDA Graf Sahel will follow the technical support of companies in the production sector, while Fondazione Aurora will lead the management and financial component, as well as the valorisation of the resources of the Senegalese diaspora, and JengaLab will accompany the digital transformation of the enterprises. The Municipality of Milan will bring its experience in the creation of urban ecosystems favorable to youth entrepreneurship and in the creation of professional internships in Italy.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | € 2,000,000 | € 0 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| National NGO | IPSIA - ISTITUTO PACE, SVILUPPO, INNOVAZIONE ACLI ONG/ON | 22000 |
Project data
Sectors
Policy markers
SDGs
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