Djonkoli Kènè: A space for women and youth to engage

This project aims to improve local entrepreneurship support services a key solution for reducing poverty and inequality among women and young entrepreneurs. It is geared toward those aged 40 and under in particular mostly from rural areas and from the Koulikoro and Ségou regions of Mali. Supervision of entrepreneurship initiatives by local stakeholders combined with training and access to financial and material support should make it easier for recipients to engage in job-creating initiatives that are also environmentally friendly. The project is implemented by Carrefour de solidarité international in cooperation with local partner Association Kilabo in Mali as well as intermediaries including farmers’ federations and women’s associations. Project activities include: (1) carrying out a skills development program in entrepreneurship support and gender equality for Kilabo staff working in Mali; (2) holding meetings to share knowledge and experience for people involved in local entrepreneurship support services in the target regions; (3) organizing gender-sensitive thematic meetings with beneficiaries including women young women and young men who are involved in entrepreneurship projects in the target regions; (4) carrying out a gender sensitive advocacy and lobbying training program for leaders of farmers’ federations and women’s associations in the target regions.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) 1mproved local support services for entrepreneurship offered by Kilabo and by farmers’ federations women's associations and village forums in the Koulikoro and Ségou regions of Mali; (2) increased involvement of women young women and young men in wealth-creating initiatives that are also environmentally friendly in the Koulikoro and Ségou regions of Mali; (3) increased mobilization for protecting the right to an adequate standard of living in the Koulikoro and Ségou regions of Mali.