I&P Accélération

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.

ECLIPSE ER Cameroun SAS is a Cameroonian company created in September 2020, specializing in the supply, design, installation, and maintenance of solar power plants and commercial solar energy systems in Cameroon. The company focuses on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) services as well as O&M (Operation and Maintenance) services for the residential, commercial, and mini-grid segments.

To ensure the efficient execution of each project it undertakes, the company uses platforms (equipment suppliers) to remotely monitor the installed solar plants. This enables real-time tracking of solar system performance. Through dedicated sensors and software, Eclipse can monitor energy production, the condition of solar panels, inverter performance, and even the site’s energy consumption.

The entrepreneur

Ismael Touani, an EPC specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field, most of it acquired in Canada, is the founder behind this project, which he describes as the project of his life. His goal is to facilitate access to reliable and green electricity while demonstrating that renewable energy power plant installations in Cameroon can meet the same quality standards found elsewhere in the world.

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact

Eclipse ER Cameroun is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program designed to finance and support around a dozen start-ups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa that offer digital solutions for access to affordable energy. The program is backed by AFD and the EU. In Cameroon, it is implemented by I&P Cameroun/Fako Capital.

This partnership will enable the start-up to finance:

• The purchase of equipment for project implementation;
• The acquisition of new vehicles for staff and material transport;
• The purchase of software allowing the company to increase its digitalized operational processes from 50% to nearly 80%, marking a significant step in its digital transformation;
• The creation of a safety stock to ensure the timely execution of ongoing and upcoming projects;
• The strengthening of its team through the recruitment of new profiles.

BARKA is an agro-industrial company based in Kankan, Upper Guinea, specializing in the production and processing of paddy rice into parboiled rice. The company operates a modern rice mill that transforms raw paddy rice, as harvested from the fields, into parboiled rice ready for consumption. 

The entrepreneurs 

BARKA was founded in 2021 by the KABA brothers with the ambition of transforming their family rice-farming activity into a modern industrial enterprise. 

• Mohamed KABA, the Managing Director, holds a Master’s degree in Risk Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the City University of New York. He initiated the project in 2020 and currently leads the company’s development strategies and partnerships. His expertise in management and finance plays a key role in BARKA’s growth. 
• Kabinet KABA earned a degree in Mathematics from the City University of New York in 2021. After gaining experience as a financial analyst, he joined BARKA in 2022. He currently serves as Acting Operations Director, responsible for process optimization and team coordination. 
• Abdoulaye KABA is the Logistics and Sales Director. He holds a degree in Logistics Economics from the City University of New York (2018) and previously worked as a logistics assistant before joining BARKA in 2021. He leverages his expertise in supply chain management and distribution to actively contribute to the company’s expansion. 

Partnership with I&P and Gola Capital 

BARKA benefits from the support of the I&P Acceleration FARM program. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen the company’s technical and organizational capacities through several key initiatives: 

• Acquisition of a paddy rice cleaning machine to increase the mill’s productivity; 
• Establishment of a strategic stock of 200 tons of paddy rice; 
• Strengthening of financial and commercial management skills; 
• Active contribution to the promotion of the national rice value chain and to the reinforcement of food security. 

ASSAHORE & KO is a honey production and marketing company positioned in the premium segment. The company, best known under its brand name Colonie, was established in 2023. Its clientele includes individuals, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and gourmet shops. Processing and packaging activities are carried out at its production site located in Bingerville, a city within the Abidjan metropolitan area. 

The entrepreneur

ASSAHORE & KO was founded by young Ivorian entrepreneur Alex Assahoré. He holds a Master’s degree in International Marketing from Hult International Business School (2021), a Bachelor’s in Business Economics from Georgia State University in Atlanta (2018), and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the International University of Grand-Bassam in Côte d’Ivoire (2016). Between 2018 and 2021, he completed an internship in the public administration, specifically within the Department of Strategic Studies, Development and Projects of the General Directorate of Economy of Côte d’Ivoire. During that period, he also launched a food kiosk and delivery service, and experimented with selling bracelets and hibiscus leaves. These diverse experiences strengthened his entrepreneurial mindset and ability to innovate. After a two-year preparation phase, which included an in-depth market study on honey and the installation of beehives, Alex Assahoré founded ASSAHORE & KO in 2023. 

Partnership with I&P and Comoe Capital

ASSAHORE & KO benefits from the support of I&P Acceleration FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance around twenty SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa operating across the agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock, fish farming, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

• The purchase of raw materials; 
• The purchase of packaging; 
• Marketing and communication activities; 
• The establishment of working capital. 

APA Original Kisubi Tea Limited is a Ugandan beverage company that manufactures a variety of flavoured teas. The origins of this company date back to 2007, when the founder conducted a research trip with smallholder farmers in Mpigi District and was enthused with the idea of flavouring locally available beverages. This led to the birth of APA Tea in 2011 its flagship product, Kisubi Tea, a lemongrass-infused loose-leaf black tea. From humble beginnings with one product offering, the business, today, has a production facility located in Kampala and has expanded its product offerings to 29 SKUs. 

The entrepreneur

Anthea Ibembe is the COO of APA Tea and its de facto chief executive. She has over 10 years of experience in tea spicing and manufacturing, having joined the company while completing her undergraduate studies. Today, at 28, she has earned the company’s leadership, and as Chief Operating Officer continues to guide the company to greater heights. Anthea holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University and a postgraduate degree in Marketing from Edinburgh Business School and is a 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow. 

Partnership with I&P and Inua Capital 

APA Tea is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya. 

This partnership will enable the startup to: 

• Finance the purchase of a single-use laminate tea bagging machine to open new markets within the hospitality sector 
• Provide a working capital buffer to service new markets 
• Support business formalisation efforts 

Africa Spices Limited is a Ugandan agro-processing company that manufactures, markets and distributes spices and seasoning mixes. The company processes herbs and vegetables into ready-to-use mixes for your everyday seasoning needs in the kitchen offering a wide array of selections to match all your cooking and flavouring requirements. Today, Africa Spices has distribution routes covering each major region in Uganda: Central, Northern and Eastern and has grown to ~29 SKUs packaged in 50 g and 100g containers. 

The entrepreneur

Africa Spices was co-founded by Johnpaul Ssengendo, a small-scale farmer and passionate entrepreneur with strong ambitions. While working as an insurance agent with UAP, he visited Zanzibar (Tanzania) and was impressed by the depth and vibrancy of its spice market. Inspired by this visit, he started Africa Spices with Michael Kibuuka – a former classmate in high school and a food scientist working in spice production – using his farm as the source and leveraging output from neighbouring farms. He holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Makerere University.  

Partnershup with I&P and Inua Capital

Africa Spices is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya. 

This partnership will enable the startup to: 

• Finance the purchase of a mixer and grinder machine to improve efficiencies in production 
• Provide sufficient working capital to pursue new markets 
• Support business formalization efforts 

Founded in 2016, CEGEDI (Centre de Gestion des Déchets Industriels) is a Guinean company specializing in the collection, sorting, and treatment of industrial waste, such as plastics, scraps, metal packaging, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It also offers consulting and assistance services, as well as solutions for the disposal and recovery of used oils. To carry out its activities, it operates at four strategic sites:

• Nongo-Contéyah headquarters: Administration and WEEE dismantling center;
• Maferinya site: Sorting, storage, and bioremediation center for contaminated soil;
• Tanènè site: Used oil recycling and refining unit;
• Sonfonia platform: Composting unit.

Entrepreneurs

Sékou CISSE (Managing Director and Co-partner) is an experienced Guinean entrepreneur. He has built up his expertise in logistics since 1975, working with international NGOs before founding his own company, GMS, serving leading clients such as Rio Tinto and GAC. Concerned about environmental issues, he created CEGEDI in 2016 to provide a solution for industrial waste treatment based on the polluter pays principle.

Martin HASSANE (Co-partner) is an expert in renewable energies. As an investment partner, he contributes his expertise in management and strategy to CEGEDI's decision-making process, without being involved in day-to-day operations.

Cegedi is accompanied by I&P and Gola Capital through the CATAL1.5°T program. The funds raised will be used to: 

• Finance the establishment of a unit for converting plastic waste into granules;
• Strengthen governance and financial management;
• Revitalize the sales and marketing function;
• Reinforce staff expertise on climate issues.

Key Impacts 

The expected impacts over the next three years are :

• Recycling of 2,246,400 kg of plastic waste;
• Production of 2,134,080 kg of granules;
• Reduction of 3,677.02 tons of CO2eq.

Find out more

• Site internet 
• Page Facebook de Cegedi