The impact of COVID-19 on women: Nicole GAKOU, Senegalese female entrepreneur

Date: Friday, June 19, 2020

Nicole Gakou is an engineer in information systems and a business manager. She is also the President of the Union of Women Entrepreneurs of Senegal (UFCE). In this interview with UN Women, she sheds light on the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses led by women. The UFCE includes 500 women distributed in the regions of Dakar, St Louis, Ziguinchor, and Thiès who are active in all sectors of activity. Today, 46% of these women are in agro-food processing (agriculture, livestock and fish farming), 36% in services, and less than 1% work in laboratories of cosmetic industry. Over 90% of UFCE members are in the formal sector and the rest of the members are accompanied to achieve this.

COVID-19 response: UN Women puts women farmers in Senegal at the heart of the solution

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020

As part of the program to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable households launched by the Government of Senegal in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UN Women Senegal Program supports the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection (MFFGPE) for the implementation of the program titled "Household basket: women are part of the solution".

I am Generation Equality: Fatou Warkha Sambe, video-journalist combating gender-based violence

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

I have always been a women’s rights advocate. I created various associations in my neighborhood where I gathered the girls to raise awareness and discuss issues of concern to them. In Senegal, when we talk about the suburbs, we think of vulnerability because young people do not always have the opportunity to finish their studies. Since I had the chance to pursue higher education, I never miss an occasion to talk about violence and other gender issues that are relevant to our realities as youth.

UN Women Executive Director calls for action to end female genital mutilation and child marriage in an event in Senegal

Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019

UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, represented the United Nations at the first African Summit on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage taking place in Dakar, Senegal on June 16-18. The summit aims to translate the commitment of governments, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders into action on the ground that eliminates these harmful practices.

UN Women Executive Director to attend the 1st African Summit on FGM and Child Marriage in Senegal

Date: Friday, June 14, 2019

UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, will represent the United Nations at the 1st African Summit on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage (CM), taking place in Dakar, Senegal on June 16-18.

UN Women, UNODC and OHCHR strive to improve women's access to legal aid in Senegal

Date: Monday, May 13, 2019

On May 9th, 2019, UN Women Senegal Program hosted a workshop on the "Improving Access to Legal Aid for Women" project. The objective was to plan the activities to be carried out jointly with UNODC and OHCHR and to determine the implementation, coordination and monitoring methods of the project.

UNV supports the efforts of UN Women towards gender equality and women empowerment in Africa

Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Since its creation in 2010, the partnership between the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has engaged hundreds of talented men and women from diverse backgrounds to serve as volunteers advocates for women's rights in Africa and the world. In 2018, UN Volunteers have been an important component of UN Women’s capacity on the ground and have been at the forefront of promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.

UN Women Partners with BNP Paribas to Promote Women's Economic Empowerment through Climate Smart Agriculture in Senegal

Date: Monday, March 25, 2019

UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, and the BNP Paribas Group announced the launch of the Project “Supporting Women in Agriculture and Sustainable Development in Senegal (PAF/AgriFed).

International Day of Zero tolerance to FGM: translating policy into concrete actions at the grassroots to end FGM in Senegal

Date: Friday, February 8, 2019

The Government of Senegal, through the Ministry of Woman, Family and Gender, marked this important day with an event that brought together UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF, the Ministries of Health, Justice, Education and Youth, and also civil society and youth organizations.

Building peace and human security for sustainable and inclusive development with local border communities in Mali and Senegal

Date: Saturday, January 12, 2019

UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa (WCAR), in partnership with the Senegalese National Commission for Border Management (CNGF/NCBM), held a two-day capacity-building workshop for border communities in Senegal and Mali on an “integrated border management approach to promoting and sustaining peace and human security for social and economic development”.

Media Advisory: UN Women and Key Stakeholders to host Gender Ataya in Dakar

Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2018

UN Women is organizing the first edition of "Gender Ataya" on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 on the 8th floor of the African Institute of Management (IAM), Dakar. The Gender Ataya is designed to open spaces for young people to contribute to inclusive and equitable development and decision-making processes within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. It will provide a platform for young people to engage in dialogue with themselves and decision makers including government, CSOs and...

Women of Exception: "Have the idea and start.”

Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Awa Caba, is an engineer in computer science from Senegal. As soon as she finished her University studies, she started her own startup called Sooretul which stands for ‘ it is not so far ’ which strives to connect women producers with consumers that live in an urban area. What made you want to become an entrepreneur? When I was young, I liked going to the field with my parents. I would spend every weekend in the field with my father who works in the agronomy sector. After my...

“Agriculture is purely Feminine!”

Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Mboyo Sow is 23-year-old young entrepreneur from Louga. Sow is currently working with ‘BAY-TECH Africa’, an application that helps farmers to better choose their crops depending on the type of soil, quality of the water, as well as other environmental factors and resources. Mboyo Sow, an entrepreneur working with BAY-TECH Africa Photo: UN Women/ Alpha Ba What inspired you to be an entrepreneur? I have always wanted to work for myself! I prefer to take my own direction and...

“When our confidence grows, we can reach our goals!”

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Maah Koudia KEITA is a 30-year-old musician and activist. Maah is the founder of the association ‘Care Albinos’, a Senegalese Association for the cause of the Albino community. The association has existed since 2012 and has been active in spreading awareness on Albinism issues. Maah Keita, co-founder of Care Albinos Association Photo: UN Women/ Alpha Ba What inspired you to create Care Albinos Association? I co-founded the Care Albinos Association together with members of...

"Do not be afraid, we are doing this for Africa!"

Date: Monday, August 13, 2018

Dicko SOW is an agronomist specialized in plant production, an entrepreneur and co-founder of the startup Dictaf Corporation specializing in crop production, extension services and agricultural solutions. Dicko Sow,  co-founder of the startup Dictaf Corporation Photo: UN Women/ Alpha What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? Being an entrepreneur was above all, a way to flourish in my field, and to feel more useful in the Senegalese community and in Africa. Working in...

Media Advisory : UN Women Executive Director visits Senegal to put women in agriculture at the heart of the gender equality agenda

Date: Monday, July 23, 2018

UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka begins today an official visit to Senegal, with the purpose of highlighting the importance women’s economic empowerment in agricultural sector in Senegal, to encourage closing the gap in discriminatory laws and to promote women leadership and political participation.

Climate-smart innovations improves agriculture and livelihoods of rural women in Mali

Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2018

When Fatou Dembele’s plants started to die, she thought the soil was ruined and worried about her livelihood. “We thought the land was sick,” Dembele says. “We didn’t know that parasites attacked the roots of the plants and killed them.” The growing number of parasites caused by rising temperatures and humidity is just one of several problems in her village caused by climate change. In Mali, a country where half of the population engaged in agriculture are...

UN Women conducts first protocol training in West Africa region

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2018

UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa recently held the first senior drivers’ diplomatic and etiquette course, the first of its kind in the region.

Senegal: A fruit and vegetable processing unit renovated in Ndame Lo

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2018

After four months of hard work and with the support of UN Women, the women of the Ndam Lo Women's Promotion Group (GPF) finally have their fruit and vegetable processing unit renovated. Hence, they are motivated to increase their production to meet the marketing standards and demand.

The President Macky Sall launches HeForShe campain in Senegal

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2018

The President of the Republic of Senegal, HE Mr. Macky Sall officially launched the HeForShe movement, at the same time declaring to take on the campaign as a HeForShe Champion.