I&P Accélération

JOKALANTE is a Senegalese company specialized in delivering agricultural, climate, and financial information in rural areas through accessible digital channels (SMS, voice messages, USSD, and a voice chatbot). Its services are primarily aimed at smallholder farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and public institutions. Its inclusive approach is based on multilingual content dissemination and interactive engagement with farmers, enabling two-way communication and improving service delivery.

The entrepreneur

Ms. Ndeye Amy KEBE is a Senegalese entrepreneur and instructional design engineer specialized in information and communication technologies (ICT) for development. She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training from the University of Lille 1 and has extensive, diverse professional experience spanning education, digital transformation, project evaluation, and finance. 

Thanks to her experience, she has developed strong skills in project management, supporting digital transformations, and innovating technological solutions—contributing to digital inclusion in rural areas, improved access to agricultural information, and the promotion of sustainable economic development in Africa. In 2016, she founded JOKALANTE, which she leads with a team of 19 people, and for which she received two consecutive awards in 2018 for social innovation. 

Partnership with I&P 

JOKALANTE receives support from the I&P Acceleration FARM program, whose main objectives are to: 

• Consolidate the company’s business model; 
• Diversify its customer base; 
• Strengthen the capacities of the leadership team; 
• Improve administrative and financial management; 
• Increase social impact and scalability. 

Founded in 2002, FAPEL GUINÉE is a pioneering company in Guinea, committed to developing innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions tailored to local realities. The company has developed eco-friendly cookstoves powered by recycled used motor oil and/or biodiesel, incorporating advanced pyro-gasification technology. 

These systems make it possible to produce cleaner cooking energy, either by valorizing waste (used oils) or by using renewable biofuels. They therefore provide a sustainable cooking solution that contributes to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, preserving forest resources, and improving household living conditions. 

To carry out its industrial activities, FAPEL GUINÉE operates a modern production site in Labé, about 400 km from Conakry, which brings together all its industrial operations. This site includes several specialized workshops, notably welding, carpentry, painting, and upholstery. 

The entrepreneur

Aguibou BARRY is a recognized inventor in the fields of energy and water management. He began his career in 1996 at GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), before dedicating himself in the early 2000s to researching solutions to water shortages and the recurring breakdowns of treadle pumps in Labé. In this context, he designed in 2004 the reciprocating piston water pump, patented by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). 

Aguibou BARRY is a founder with proven technical expertise and extensive experience. He has leveraged his inventions to offer practical solutions adapted to local needs, particularly in the water, energy, and agro-industry sectors

Partnership with I&P and Gola Capital

I&P has partnered with Gola Capital to: 

• Finance the production of 3,000 cookstoves and set up a dedicated cookstove production workshop; 
• Strengthen governance and financial management; 
• Revitalize the sales and marketing function; 
• Build staff capacity on climate-related issues. 

Key impacts

The expected impacts over a 3-year horizon (2029) are: 

• Production of 3,000 cookstoves; 
• Reduction of 41,421 tons of CO2e; 
• Creation of 20 new jobs. 

JOHINA CENTER is a Cameroonian company specialized in the processing and marketing of aromatic plants, spices, and natural seasonings. Officially established in 2021 (but active since 2018), the company offers a wide range of products (pepper, ginger, turmeric, dried herbs, etc.) in powder form or as ready-to-use blends. It stands out for its “natural” approach, with no chemical additives, and for its strong presence in modern distribution networks and local trade fairs. 

The entrepreneur 

JOHINA CENTER was created in 2021 by: 

• Akuah Ndefuh : Founder and Managing Director. She has a strong academic background (Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resource Management). Before becoming an entrepreneur, she gained significant professional experience in project management and community development. She is described as a passionate leader who successfully grew JOHINA from a small-scale artisanal activity into a recognized semi-industrial business in Cameroon. 

Partnership with I&P 

This partnership aims to: 

• Improve production capacity: through the acquisition of higher-performance equipment (industrial grinders, dryers, packaging machines) to meet growing demand; 
• Optimize the supply chain: by strengthening relationships with local smallholder producers of aromatic plants to ensure consistent raw material quality; 
• Strengthen internal management: through technical assistance to improve accounting and financial management and deploy a more ambitious marketing strategy; 
• Social impact and compliance: support the company in job creation (especially for women) and in improving working and hygiene conditions (QHSE standards). 

OHEL International is an Ivorian construction company founded with the ambition to meet the growing demand for housing in Côte d’Ivoire while integrating an environmentally friendly approach. Its core expertise lies in the use of Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (BTCS), made from lateritic soil, sand, and cement, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint of construction.

Over the years, OHEL has built a strong reputation as an eco-friendly construction company thanks to the quality of its projects. The company has completed more than 500 buildings (schools, clinics, sports complexes, villas, apartment buildings, latrines, etc.) and collaborates with individuals, public institutions, private companies, and international organizations.

The entrepreneur

Marina NOBOUT is an Ivorian entrepreneur and the sole shareholder of OHEL. A commercial engineer by training, she began her career in 2001 in the real estate sector (SIEGIM-CI) before holding senior management positions in several security and construction companies.

In 2010, she founded OHEL to address two key challenges:

• The housing deficit in Côte d’Ivoire (estimated at 500,000 units);
• The need for low-carbon solutions in the construction sector.

Her leadership has earned her several distinctions, including the International Marrakech Ecology Award (2016) and the BTCS Leader Award in Côte d’Ivoire (2022).

Partnership with I&P and Comoe Capital

I&P has partnered with Comoé Capital to support OHEL through:

• A reimbursable financing of 129,459,539 FCFA, disbursed in three tranches based on performance KPIs;
• Technical assistance in accounting: implementation of an ERP system, recruitment and training of an accountant, and strengthening of financial reporting;
• ESG and climate support: staff training and enhancement of the environmental impact of BTCS construction;
• Commercial and technical development: design of a marketing strategy and optimization of BTCS brick production through new equipment.

Main impacts

• Climate: reduction of 2.072 tCO₂eq per BTCS house built;
• Gender: woman-led enterprise;
• Social: job creation.

SheTOSS is a Senegalese company specializing in the installation and maintenance of prefabricated domestic biodigesters, a technology that converts organic waste into biogas for cooking and bio-compost for agriculture. Founded in 2022 by Frédérique Sheridan, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the energy transition in rural areas.

The entrepreneur

Frédérique Sheridan, a Dutch entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of SheTOSS, a company specializing in domestic biodigesters for rural areas. With degrees in physiotherapy and pediatric physical therapy, she completed Stanford's Seed Transformation Program in 2022.

Based in Senegal since 2013, she led VITALITE Senegal, connecting more than 11,000 households to solar energy, and co-founded a clinic in Thiès. After VITALITE's post-COVID difficulties, she launched SheTOSS to continue her commitment to the climate sector. Winner of the PFAN award in 2018, she also trained more than 100 young people in the basics of solar energy with GIZ in 2024.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

I&P has committed to working alongside SheTOSS:

• To finance 100 biodigesters and working capital to accelerate installations as part of its partnership with PNB, which plans to install 500 biodigesters.
• To assist the company in structuring its administrative and financial functions, supporting its growth and strengthening the quality of its internal management.
• To provide SheTOSS with a strategic partner to help it achieve its objectives.

Main impacts

CHOCOLATERIE NOHI is a Cameroonian company specialized in the artisanal production of chocolate and related products. It promotes local cocoa by offering natural and healthy products, ranging from chocolate bars to confectionery, spreads, and semi-finished products. Following a logic of local development and value creation, the company contributes to supporting rural communities and aims to become a key player in the chocolate sector in Cameroon and Central Africa.

Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2017, CHOCOLATERIE NOHI was created by two young Cameroonians, Nozawo Tchoffo Hippolyte and Boyoguino Yambena Pierre. Hippolyte, an engineer in industrial chemistry and environmental engineering, worked for several years in the industry before dedicating himself to his company while training small producers in good post-harvest practices and organic cocoa cultivation. Pierre, an engineer in the same field, managed his family’s plantations before joining the company as Operations Director. He oversees the company’s plantations and also contributes to training more than fifty small cocoa farmers grouped within a cooperative.

Partenariat avec I&P et Fako Capital

Chocolaterie Nohi is supported by I&P FARM, a €40 million program aimed at financing and supporting 28 start-ups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on the Francophone countries of West, Central, and East Africa, in the agricultural sector, supported by PROPARCO. In Cameroon, the implementation of this program is managed by Fako Capital. This partnership will enable the SME to:

• Purchase raw materials: acquisition of cocoa beans and other local ingredients to support increased production volumes;
• Enter the market through commercial actions to be deployed: recruitment of a sales team and implementation of a targeted campaign to strengthen brand awareness and sales.