Senegal

20/20 Edtech is a Senegalese start-up born from the vision of contributing to the improvement of the Senegalese education system through technology: thanks to its 20/20 application, the company offers educational content through short videos explaining courses, tests and an evaluation for each user.

Entrepreneurs

20/20 Edtech was founded in 2020 by 2 Senegalese entrepreneurs from 30 years old, Abderrahmane SOW and Ahmadou BA.

Partnership with I&P

20/20 Edtech is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel program dedicated to education. 

This partnership aims to : 

• develop training contents
• contribute to the developement of the operational team
• contribute to the creation of brand image through marketing reinforcement, the business developpement and monitoring UX
   

Ecole Supérieure de Technologie et de Management (ESTM) is a Senegalese higher education institution founded in 2001 and based in Dakar.

ESTM provides initial training in the field of new technologies including telecommunications, computer systems security, electronic payments and secure transactions, etc.

It also provides certification training: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate Project Management Professional (CAPMP), and Cisco Certified Network Associate.

A distance learning offer is also available.

ESTM's ambition is to train responsible and enterprising professionals in line with the most advanced technologies and innovations.

With over 6000 graduates and more than 45 academic, academic, and business partnerships, ESTM has an employment rate close to 90%.

The Entrepreneur

Head of ESTM, Ousmane DIENE, is a computer engineer by training. He has worked for many years for the Cheick Anta Diop University IT department. In 2001, he founded the ESTM, with the support of university professors.

Partnership with I&P  

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to ESTM to:

⇒ Improve the quality of its training by creating new labs for the Multimedia and Renewable Energies programs and reinforcing the current facilities;

⇒ Support the digitalization strategy through the development of an e-learning platform and renovating its computer room;

⇒  The strengthening of their incubator;

⇒  Support the implementation of a scholarship program, especially for young women, and ensure sustainable funding;

⇒  Implement policies and practices to protect learners on campus.

Expected impacts 

⇒ Improving the learning environment by upgrading labs and the strengthening of the school's digitalization strategy

⇒ Increasing the employability of young people with the relaunch of the incubator activities, aligned with the job market expectations;

⇒ Improving social inclusion, especially for young women;

⇒ Improved student protection through the implementation of a formal Safegarding policy;

A company supported by the partnership between I&P and Mastercard Foundation

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. 

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms. 

Read more about the I&P Education to Employment program 

ESTM website 

Fa Confection by Naty is a young company specialized in traditional and professional clothes and articles in Senegal.

The entrepreneur

Fa Confection was founded by Aminata Ka, a Senegalese entrepreneur with a passion for fashion design. She holds a master's degree in International Business from the American Business School in Paris and has a strong experience in the banking sector in France and in Senegal.  

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

This young company is supported by I&P and Teranga Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

• increase production capacity to meet the growing demand
• strengthen the services offered to customers by developing new value-added business lines
• increase the company’s visibility and ensure efficient business development
• structure the company’s activities on the operational, fiscal, accounting and financial levels

Fruits and Berries is a Senegalese company that specializes in the production of fresh fruit smoothies and juices made from blended or squeezed fruit, with no additives, added sugars, conservatices or coloring.The company targets consumers who are aware of the health issues related to the consumption of industrial beverages and who value the nutritional value of fresh fruit-based drinks.

The entrepreneur

Fruits and Berries was founded by Youga GUISSE, a Senegalese entrepreneur passionate about agriculture. He graduated in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol in England and holds a master’s degree in Economic Engineering from the University Pierre Mendes de Grenoble in France. He has more than ten years of experience in digital transformation.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Fruits & Berries is supported by Teranga Capital and I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

• Set up a production unit in keeping with hygiene and quality standards
• Increase the production capacity with more efficient equipment
• Develop a distribution network through partnerships with supermarkets, gas station stores, hotels, cafés and restaurants
• Increase the company’s visibility and build a strong brand image

Frija Décor is a company specialized in the fabrication of wood, metal and upholstery furniture in Senegal.

The company operates in Dakar and collaborates with a network of local artisans. In two years of activity, this young company has already achieved a good reputation allowing to build up a portfolio of customers consisting of individuals and companies including restaurants, hotels, etc.

The entrepreneurs

Frija Décor was founded by a couple, David AMEDEKA and Caroline YOUL:

• David AMEDEKA is a young entrepreneur, trained as a lawyer and has had 5 years of professional experience in communication, sales, teaching of law and marketing before starting his own business. He is in charge of the e-comerce platform and the monitoring of KPIs, the planning and implementation of sales and marketing programs, as well as pricing.
• Caroline YOUL studied Banking and Financial Engineering, with experience in financial analysis through internships and volunteer missions. Within the company, Mrs. YOUL is in charge of the elaboration and follow-up of the dashboard, the follow-up of the customers, the management of the suppliers and the quality control.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Frija Décor benefits from I&P Acceleration in Sahel implemented in Senegal by Teranga Capital whose objectives are to :

• progressively internalize production to ensure product quality, shorten delivery times and increase production capacity
• support the company in its formalization
• increase the company's market share

Socium.Job is a Senegalese start-up that connects African companies to job seekers around the world. Based in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, the company operates throughout West Africa, and is set to expand into the DRC, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso. The company already has nearly fifteen employees divided between the two offices, as well as prestigious clients such as Orange, EY, the Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Électricité and Philip Morris International.

The entrepreneur

Socium.Job was created in 2021 by Samba Lo, a young Senegalese entrepreneur trained in applied mathematics at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. Samba Lo began his professional career in the world of consulting and finance at Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Rothschild, Axa but also within a FinTech specialized on blockchain issues. Following his experiences, he decided to specialize in the Tech sector - first as head of product of the start-up Skeat, specialized in the digitization of the ordering process for establishments (bars, restaurants, etc.), then by founding SociumJob.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Socium.Job is supported by I&P Accélération Technologies, a €2.5 million program that aims to finance and support fifteen digital start-ups in Sub-Saharan Africa, supported by AFD through the Digital Africa initiative. In Senegal, Teranga Capital is in charge of implementing this program.

This partnership will enable Socium.Job to :

• accelerate its deployment in French-speaking Africa
• strengthen its market positioning and the skills of its team

Afrikamart is a Senegalese agritech that facilitates the pick-up, shipping, and trading of fresh fruits and vegetables between small producers and urban retailers via a digital platform.

The entrepreneurs

Afrikamart was founded in 2018 by Mignane and Albert Diouf, a young Senegalese couple, to address agricultural loss issues present throughout the production chain, from producer to retailer.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Afrikamart is supported by I&P Acceleration Technologies, a €2.5 million program that aims to finance and support 15 digital start-ups in Sub-Saharan Africa, supported by AFD through the Digital Africa initiative. In Senegal, Teranga Capital is in charge of implementing this program.

This partnership will allow this start-up to : 

• increase the development of Afrikamart's business model
• promote job creation
• Expand its network to more than 5,000 operators throughout Senegal by the end of 2022

Multiservices Agricoles (MSA) is a company in Senegal specialized in the processing of locally grown paddy rice.

Since 2020, the company has specialized in the production of parboiled rice through a process of pre-cooking paddy rice in water, allowing the grain of the cereal to absorb the vitamins and minerals present between the hull and the grain of the rice. The production unit is located in Rosso (northern Senegal), in the Senegal River Valley. In 2021, MSA produced 34 tons of parboiled rice, which is sold in traditional markets, convenience stores, gas station stores, wholesalers, e-commerce sites and to individuals.

The entrepreneurs

MSA was founded by Ibrahima BEYE and Sidy Yeslem CHEIKH SIDY VALL.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

MSA benefits from I&P Acceleration in Sahel program implemented in Senegal by Teranga Capital, whose objectives are to :

• Support the company in its distribution strategy (modern trade)
• Strengthen the company's positioning in the traditional segment

About Teranga Capital

Teranga Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Senegalese SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Olivier Furdelle, Teranga Capital is the third African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires under the I&P Développement 2 program. The network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Ivory Coast (Comoé Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). → Find out more about Teranga Capital

Senegal has several medical schools and faculties, well known in the sub-region. Among them is the University of Health Sciences of Dakar (USSD), a private institution created in 2016 by academics and members of the medical community eager to provide quality training to young aspiring health professionals. The university offers courses in the fields of medical sciences, pharmacology and dental sciences. USSD is driven by the values of excellence, responsibility and ethics. 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

A graduate in military medicine and an associate professor in parasitology-mycology, Oumar Ndir undertook the creation of the USSD shortly after retiring, eager to train skilled health professionals adapted to local needs. He is in charge of the educational provision, the administration, and the financial activities.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to USSD to:

  ⇒ Strengthen the quality of teaching through the acquisition of equipment for practical training and the upgrading of the library

⇒ Diversify its training offer by offering intermediate degrees, more accessible to low-income students.

⇒ Support the digitalization and the development of blending learning, but also to integrate telemedicine, a first in Senegal.

⇒ Improve the well-being of students on campus by improving the security system, equipping the health clinic and purchasing vaccines.

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Increase graduates’ employability through the development of an accessible training offer, in line with local needs.

⇒ Improve access to healthcare in rural areas through telemedicine.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more 

USSD

I&P Education to Employment program

The Senegalese education sector's liberalisation has led to the significant development of higher education schools and private universities, providing students with a wide choice. 

Among them, one group stands out, the ISM group with its approximately 10,000 students and its 12 campuses throughout the country (Thiès, Saint-Louis, Mbour, Kaolack, etc.). Located in Casamance in south of the country, the ISM Ziguinchor management school was created in 2006. Its objective is to train the leaders of tomorrow, by promoting a hand on learning and an entrepreneurial approach. Its curricula are based on the LMD system and offer courses in various fields such as finance, law, human resources, management, etc. These programs are open not only to students but also to young professionals.  

At the same time, to fight the school dropout rate that affects the region, ISM Ziguinchor has launched in 2019 the École des Savoirs-Faire (ESF), a technical and vocational training school. The ESF allows high school dropouts or non-baccalaureate holders to acquire professional skills that facilitate their insertion into the labor market. In addition to vocational certificate programs, ESF also offers intensive preparation courses for the Baccalaureate exam. 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Georges Bernard Ndeyes is the general administrator of ISM Ziguinchor. He was trained in management at ISM, followed by a degree in history from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar.  He returned to ISM in 1988, where he served as project manager and then assistant to the director¸ in charge of implementing the group in Casamance. 

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to ISM Ziguinchor to : 

⇒ Make targeted investments (equipment, pedagogical content, teacher training and academic partnerships) 

⇒ Strengthen their digital capacity through the acquisition of more modern computer equipment 

⇒ Promote greater social inclusion within the school by funding scholarship programs, with a focus on women's empowerment. 

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Improve the attractiveness of the training offer throughout the Casamance region and in neighboring countries 

⇒ Strengthen the local employability of youth 

⇒ Enable youth, women and vulnerable populations to access adequate training through a scholarship system 

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION 

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation in its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a joint financing program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. 

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies will receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms. 

More information

www.ismcasamance.sn

Learn more about the I&P Education to Employment program