THE CHALLENGE

In Africa, women’s jobs are often precarious: primarily working in the informal sector and in agriculture, they are even more at risk because of climate change (lack of access to water, increasing scarcity of arable land, etc.)

To accelerate the development of the African continent and to inscribe the ethic of a durable economy, it is necessary to respond to the dual challenge of the low levels of economic inclusion for women and a degrading environment. This is why information and communications technologies (ICTs) represents a formidable tool for progress.

Faced with this constant, a number of local projects are developing innovative digital solutions adapted to the problems of their countries. For example, Patricia Zoundi and her project titled ‘Quickcash’ that provides basic banking services to rural populations and more particularly to women in Ivory Coast. Another example is Acacias for All, a Tunisian association run by Sarah Toumi that fights against desertification and creates stable employment for woman through permaculture.

These projects propose concrete and actionable solutions but they frequently lack human resources and labour. Absorbed by their daily activities and tasks, they are not able to continue developing their projects and build their impact. This is where Follow’Her comes in.

The SOLUTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING

We are three friends in our last year of business studies: Sophie, Juliette and Julia, who share the same convictions: we think that women are major actors in the development sphere and that increasing efforts in the development sphere is an urgent current need.

Two generations of Follow’Her students have already assisted with 10 initiatives in 2015 and 2016. We are the third generation. From July 2018, we will be working on the ground to support 5 local entrepreneurs that are running digital projects for ecological impact with the aim of helping women gain their own autonomy. In putting to use their abilities and skills acquired in business school (developing and implementing business strategy, communications support, impact measuring and evaluation, market studies, etc.), will allow them to develop their programs and optimize their impact.

A focus on one of the missions financed by the crowdfunding campaign:

Our involvement with Canaan Land

Agrilab is a project run by the Ivorian entrepreneur Patricia Zoundi. The idea is to create a space dedicated to training women in sustainable agriculture practices and in the use of digital tools that will help them transfer money and sell their products.

In September, the Follow’Her team will work as volunteers for Patricia, helping her set Canaan Land in motion.

THE IMPACT OF GIVING

Becoming involved with Follow’Her will help women gain access to the same opportunities that men can. It also means direct involvement with the economic development of their countries and supporting innovative local innovations.

« Investing in woman is not only the right thing to do,

it is the smart thing to do ». -Ban Ki-Moon

The 10 000 € from our campaign will help us finance the 5 missions that we will carry out. Thanks to your donations, we will be able to support crucial initiatives that are working innovatively, using ICTs, to empower women, and protect the environment.  These activities will benefit hundreds of women and create new employment in heretofore untapped locations!

Your support is critical for our work. You are the first actors of our community and we look forward to building and growing our network with you. Thus, we welcome with enthusiasm your ideas and suggestions.

Do not hesitate to follow up on the progress of our project on social media including Facebook, Twitter and our website.

Thank you very much!