Today, the role of women in our various economies is a global reality. In the 1970s, significant paradigm shifts were noted internationally in the way we conceptualized, promoted, and integrated inclusive public policies for women. These policies were in line with the economic and social development of our countries.

The characteristic of countries like ours is that salaried work is the exception and not the rule. In Senegal, according to the ANSD, in its report "Survey on Employment, Remuneration and Working Hours" published in 2024, the number of salaried employees in the formal business sector is estimated at 335,653 employees and in the public sector at approximately 130,000, or a total of just under 500,000 . While the working-age population is 11,662,633 according to the report "National Survey on Employment in Senegal (ENES) First Quarter 2025" published by the ANSD.

As a result, entrepreneurship and self-employment are important drivers of economic and social inclusion. According to a World Bank study, in low-income countries, only 7% of women aged 15 and over are employed, compared to 18% of men .

Building inclusive economic dynamics: female entrepreneurship, an essential lever

It is important to note that addressing issues of women's status and their empowerment has become a global priority in recent decades. Indeed, the holding of international conferences on the status of women (Mexico 1975; Copenhagen in 1980; Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995) is tangible proof of this ( see: Public policies for the promotion of female entrepreneurship in Senegal, Harmattan Edition) . These have contributed greatly to raising awareness around the world with a series of recommendations and resolutions focusing, among other things, on enhancing the economic potential of women in our various economies.

At the African level, in aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 published in 2015, the following points are highlighted:

• the achievement of full equality between men and women in all areas such as social, political and economic rights, including the right to own property and inherit, to sign a contract, to register and manage a business;

• rural women's access to means of production, including land, credit, inputs and financial services.

At the ECOWAS level, Article 63 of the revised treaty stipulates that Member States undertake to develop, harmonize, coordinate and define appropriate policies and mechanisms to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of women by taking all necessary measures.

The amended UEMOA Treaty, in particular Additional Protocol No. 2, relating to UEMOA sectoral policies, provides in Article 2 that "the Union shall implement joint actions with a view to creating a framework favourable to strengthening the role of women in regional integration and the economic and social development of member countries."

Also, the Council of Ministers, by decision No. 03-2018/CM/UEMOA of June 29, 2028, adopted the Union's Gender Strategy for the period 2018-2027, the objective of which is to "contribute to the promotion of a community institutional environment favorable to equality and equity between women and men in the economic, political, social, and cultural fields, by means of a cross-cutting approach to Gender in the policies, programs, projects, budgets and managerial practices of the Member States and UEMOA bodies."

In Senegal, the implementation of these recommendations has enabled the implementation, since the 2000s, of mechanisms and directions to support women's entrepreneurship ( see: Public policies for the promotion of women's entrepreneurship in Senegal, Harmattan Edition ). At that time, the main challenges were access to capital for starting an economic activity, training and strengthening quality production and processing methods, and the availability of packaging in quantity and quality.

An objective assessment has revealed that Senegal has made considerable progress in enhancing the economic status of women. Women's access to capital is now a reality, although there is still a long way to go. The combined efforts of the State through its support mechanisms and the financial system (SFD, Banks) show that progress has been made and women are increasingly considered not as vulnerable groups but as true rational economic agents capable of making timely decisions and creating value. Recently, the U-IMCEC Decentralized Financial System launched a new financial product called "Lingères de U-IMCEC" with financing of 5 to 50 million FCFA and a local coaching system. The objective is to support the transition from income-generating activities to a real business as conceived by Schumpeter, that is, the place where value is created through innovation. This is just one example of the range of redesigned and readapted financial products offered by the financial sector, including banks, which are increasingly targeting this segment of our economy. Regarding state mechanisms, the interest rate subsidy and the reduction of guarantees have significantly strengthened the women's entrepreneurship sector.

Similarly, in non-financial services, significant progress has been noted in strengthening women's human capital, as well as their appetite for risk and self-confidence. The integration of the financial sector, especially microfinance institutions, into their financing chain, in the capacity-building aspect is a reality. On the public policy side, it is worth noting the more than notable progress, especially in the local product processing sector thanks to the interventions of various actors such as 3FPT, ADEPME, ITA, ASN, etc. Today, the challenge is well taken into account. Comparing the packaging that women used in the early 2000s compared to today is a perfect illustration of this. You only need to take a look at the supermarkets to be convinced. Product quality has also improved significantly with a system of traceability control from the raw material stage to the finished product. As has the expansion of production capacity. So, the real challenge that remains for our women is that of finding new consumers, both internal and external.

Conquering new markets: a fundamental determinant for women's economic empowerment

Public policies for women's economic empowerment must now focus on potential and/or real market opportunities and the framework for intervention to maximize their benefits, first at the individual level and then at the macroeconomic level. Potentially, Senegal is a market of 18 million consumers, WAEMU of 148 million and ECOWAS of 440 million, as well as the enormous opportunities offered by the AfCFTA. Therefore, offensive strategies for capturing or strengthening new markets must be considered. However, these must be deployed with organization and method for greater control. I remain convinced that development begins at the grassroots, through dynamic organizational strategies in concentric circles. Thus, in relation to market access, local authorities must play an important role in positioning their region, but also the economic agents who reside there (women's organizations, etc.). Trust and reputation are first acquired at the local level. To this end, the implementation of territorialization policies becomes a powerful lever for promoting processed local products. Local authorities must promote local products through economic meetings (organizing local fairs to increase the visibility of women entrepreneurs' products and enable them to establish commercial partnerships, providing support infrastructure, etc.). This approach will allow local authorities to become true catalysts for territorial economic development, capable of transforming local entrepreneurial initiatives into a driver of inclusive growth. Thus, for local authorities, it will be a matter of promoting local products but also of recovering taxes, thereby expanding their budget and their capacity for intervention.

Taking the example of fortified infant flour, which is a market estimated at more than 14 billion CFA francs. If there is one sector where women are most present, it is the processing of local products. By positioning our women in this market segment, we will have made considerable progress on two important points in our quest for sovereignty:

-first, the capture of the financial envelope by internal economic agents with direct effects in terms of redistribution of income and well-being to the populations, therefore of endogenous and inclusive growth;

-then, aspects related to food sovereignty and also to the management of public health issues with certain imported infant products.

In Senegal, according to ANSD statistics "2023 Demographic and Health Surveys", 18% of children under five years old have stunted growth or chronic malnutrition; 4% of children have severe stunted growth . The positioning of women's entrepreneurship in this sector can further help improve these statistics. This is especially true since the processed products offered are often made from local fruits at specific times of the year. This results in a range of diversified products at moderate and accessible prices in both urban and rural areas.

Female entrepreneurship and public procurement: a relationship to be rethought

Regarding the promotion of women's access to public procurement, Article 29 of the Decree on Public Procurement provides for a 2% preferential margin applicable to companies whose majority shareholding is held by women. This preference for women's businesses represents a total potential market of 60 billion FCFA out of public procurement estimated at 3,000 billion FCFA, or 17% of GDP. It is clear that women's businesses are still struggling to absorb this amount. According to statistics, the weight of women entrepreneurs in overall public procurement is around 1%, or 30 billion FCFA. This calls for a rethink of the operationalization of this powerful lever for promoting women's entrepreneurship. The availability of statistics on the structuring of the absorbed budget and the various markets concerned (goods and services, provision of services, works, etc.) would have allowed for a more refined analysis.

In my opinion, to be in line with the new authorities' guidelines, a good part of this envelope must target goods and services with a high composition based on local products. Taking the example of local authorities, as part of the fight against malnutrition, especially child malnutrition, must be encouraged to support health structures, schools, daraas with products based on improved enriched flours according to the level of their budget. This envelope will be reserved, in the form of a market, for women's businesses (group networks, individual businesses, women's cooperatives, etc.). This emulation of the economy at the local level across the entire value chain (from harvesting to processing) will also have positive effects on improving child malnutrition and consequently on the quality of education.

Beyond the important aspects of training and information on procurement procedures, this involves rethinking the ways and means of using this important public policy instrument to better boost local economies and encourage the emulation of a strong local private sector as well as strong female leadership. This is in light of the new strategy for building new development hubs at the national level.

I am all the more optimistic when I listen to the Prime Minister, during the launch of Dakar Ville Métropole 2050, returning to the eminently economic role that local authorities must play in perspective in act 4 of decentralization.

Abdoulaye D Seck

Administrator of the National Fund

Promotion of female entrepreneurship