Sinergi Burkina

POCERAM is a Burkinabè company specialized in the production of fired clay bricks and improved cookstoves. It was founded in the 1980s by Mamoudou TRAORE, a pioneer in the development of the handicraft sector in Burkina Faso. In 2012, he handed over the management of the company to his children, with leadership ensured by Bintou TRAORE. She quickly made her mark and brought renewed momentum to the business: in less than five years, the company supplied over one million fired clay bricks for the construction of housing and buildings in Burkina Faso, raised more than USD 500,000, and generated more than one hundred direct and indirect jobs. 

The entrepreneur 

Bintou is an experienced manager with more than fifteen years of experience in management and commercial roles within companies such as AIRTEL Burkina, COLINA, and SENFA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from CESAG and a Master’s degree in Marketing from ISPP. She joined the family business in 2012 as Sales Manager before becoming Managing Director in 2020. Her strategic vision and her ability to lead teams and mobilize partners are a central driver of POCERAM’s growth. 

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital 

Through the CATAL1.5°T program, I&P has committed alongside POCERAM BRIQUETERIE to: 

• Increase the company’s production capacity to 10,800 bricks/day through the acquisition of a modern, environmentally friendly, high-performance kiln; 
• Expand its customer base and visibility; 
• Provide specialized technical support to improve accounting, financial management, and internal organization; 
• Support the company toward achieving an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) certification. 

Key impacts 

• Annual reduction of more than 680 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2029 thanks to bioclimatic fired clay bricks; 
• Improved thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the homes and buildings constructed; 
• Formalization and long-term sustainability of 12 jobs within the company; 
• Strengthened worker health and safety through the formalization of an OHS management system. 

Félin Express, founded in late 2023 in Ouagadougou, offers solar-powered electric mobility solutions tailored to African realities, combining scooter rental and sales with maintenance, insurance, and charging stations. In less than a year, the company has traveled more than 180,000 km, installed around 40 solar systems, and already avoided more than 11 tons of CO₂.

Entrepreneurs

Abraham BALIMA : An experienced manager, he has led teams and industrial units for the international Newrest group in Africa and Latin America. Upon his return to Burkina Faso, he co-founded Félin Express in late 2023 to offer professionals reliable, accessible, and field-appropriate solar-powered electric mobility, drawing on his rigor and all his past experience. 

Karim Ouedraogo : With a PhD in electronics and a background as an embedded systems engineer, he has spent nearly 20 years leading high-level technical projects in France for the automotive, rail, and nuclear industries. As co-founder of Félin Express, he designs the energy architecture, selects equipment, and ensures the technical reliability of the scooters and solar stations.  

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital

I&P has partnered with Félin Express to:

• Strengthen the company's capabilities through the acquisition of new electric scooters and the installation of new solar stations;
• Strengthen the team's capabilities through the recruitment of key profiles;
• Develop and launch a digital platform for real-time monitoring and optimal fleet management;
• Set up specialized technical support to improve accounting, financial management, and internal organization.

Main Impacts

• Annual reduction of more than 292 tons of CO₂ thanks to solar electric mobility;
• Reduction in noise pollution and improvement in air quality in urban areas;
• Creation and sustainability of skilled jobs, with technical training for young people and the gradual inclusion of women;
• Increased energy independence for users, reducing dependence on the public grid and imported fuels;
• Implementation of an innovative digital platform for real-time monitoring, optimization, and proactive maintenance of the fleet.

Learn more

• Félin express website
• LinkedIn Page 
• Facebook Page 

SolarDev, a Burkinabe company, facilitates access to solar energy for SMEs through turnkey energy leasing solutions that combine reliability and sustainable savings. In less than three years, it has financed 389 kWp of installations, reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 1,036 tons.

Entrepreneurs 

Sylvestre Coulibaly : With a background in finance, he worked for major international banks before joining a West African investment fund. He co-founded SolarDev in 2021 with the ambition of making solar energy accessible to SMEs. He oversees strategy and development. 

Cédric Sama : An expert in project financing and organization, he has carried out assignments for international players in the energy and development sectors. At SolarDev, he ensures the soundness of contracts, internal structuring, and smooth operational functioning. 

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital

I&P has partnered with Solar Dev to:

• Finance and build additional installations;
• strategically strengthen the team;  
• provide the company with a centralized digital platform for monitoring installations;  
• set up a technical assistance mission for accounting and financial matters.  

Main Impacts

• Installation of more than 300 kWp of additional capacity for the benefit of local businesses;
• More than 259 tons of CO₂ avoided over the next few years;
• Reduced pressure on the public grid, benefiting the most vulnerable users;
• Creation of several direct jobs in technical and administrative functions;
• Strengthening of the company's organizational and monitoring capabilities. This development is also accompanied by recruitment, team strengthening, and improved digital performance management.

Learn more

• SolarDev website
• LinkedIn page
• YouTube channel  

SOLAFRIQUE is a Burkina Faso company founded in 2014, specializing in access to water and electricity through solar solutions tailored to rural and peri-urban areas. The company designs and installs agricultural irrigation systems, solar mini-grids and solar kits for households, based on flexible payment models such as Pay-As-You-Go. The company is also developing renewable energy training courses to strengthen local skills. Its aim: to make clean energy accessible to all, while improving the living conditions and economic autonomy of rural populations.

The entrepreneur

Ernest ASSO, a 37-year-old engineer from Burkina Faso specializing in solar pumping systems, is the founder of SOLAFRIQUE. With over 10 years' experience in renewable energies, he combines technical expertise, social commitment and entrepreneurial vision to democratize access to energy and water in rural areas.

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital

Solafrique is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a 4.8 million euro program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Burkina Faso, this program is implemented by Néré Capital.

This 196 million F CFA financing will enable SOLAFRIQUE to :

• Expand its infrastructure by increasing the capacity of the Wapassi mini-grid and installing a new solar power plant in Namogo, in order to electrify 750 new beneficiaries in rural areas;
• Develop shared solar irrigation solutions, by setting up mutualized systems to improve farmers' access to water and strengthen local food security;
• Create jobs and strengthen its impact, consolidating over 30 existing positions, generating some 20 new jobs, and reaching over 10,000 beneficiaries with clean, affordable energy. 

Agro-Emballage specializes in the production and commercialization of woven polypropylene bags. Agro-Emballage aims to support the agri-food industry by making their products more competitive through the provision of packaging that is adapted and attractive in terms of design and quality. It also installs and maintains machinery.

The entrepreneur

Agro-Emballage was founded in 2018 by Célestin KANAZOE, an engineer specializing in mechanics and renewable energies from Mohamed 1er University in Oujda (Morocco) who has several years’ experience in entrepreneurship. With the support of his wife Estelle DJIGUIMDE, he began his entrepreneurial adventure by repackaging food products in attractive packagings. That’s how he began importing packaging for commercial purposes. Building on this success, he now plans to become the national leader in the production of polypropylene woven bags.

Partnership with Sinergi Burkina

Agro-Emballage is supported by Sinergi Burkina through an equity investment that aims at : 

• Structure and improve governance
• Finance working capital and optimize inventory
• Help set up the unit
• Increase the company’s intervention capacity
• Formalize jobs