Côte d’Ivoire
Despite a favorable economic environment, Côte d’Ivoire faces major employment challenges, particularly for young people. The agricultural sector, which contributes a quarter of GDP and employs two–thirds of the working population, could play a key role in the Ivorian economy. The main challenge is to make farming more profitable while ensuring food security.
Although 80% of the country is covered by the electricity grid, only 50% of households in electrified areas have access to it. Some find it difficult to pay their bills, forcing them to use rudimentary, expensive and dangerous lighting and cooking equipment. This lack of access to energy limits living conditions and agricultural productivity, and hinders the development of agri–food activities, particularly among women, who are responsible for 60–80% of food production.
To remedy these problems and promote employment and access to energy, Entrepreneurs du Monde has set up several projects.
Ongoing projects in Côte d’Ivoire :
MAX – Maximizing the socio-economic impacts of rural electrification in Côte d’Ivoire :
The MAX project, led by Expertise France in partnership with the European Union and AFD, aims to promote access to energy services in order to offer new economic opportunities to rural populations, particularly for the processing of agricultural products.
Entrepreneur du Monde’s role in this project is to supply vulnerable people with solar-powered electrical equipment, using a methodology derived from microfinance. The beneficiaries of this project are integrated into neighborhood groups (20–30 people) and receive training in agriculture, electrical equipment and financial inclusion. These training sessions also help to promote electrical equipment, and to obtain credit in kind for productive equipment.
The aim is to enable 1,000 families to gain a better understanding of the economic opportunities offered by the power grid, by offering them a range of productive electrical equipment to reduce the drudgery of work or launch new activities.
EDR – Electricity and Rural Development :
This project, financed by AFD in consortium with IECD and CIED, aims to install a solar platform for cassava processing. Various studies have been carried out to define the energy needs of the selected villages, define the business model and size the platform and associated production equipment. Training modules have been implemented, enabling 180 people to be trained in basic electricity concepts, and 100 households to be assisted in obtaining electricity connections.
Ultimately, this project will enable the creation of women’s groups, who will eventually be supported in setting up a cooperative in order to own the platform.
GBE – Green energy for people :
Between 2021 and 2023, we supported the management committees of 9 communes in installing and setting up 12 solar-powered facilities in schools and health centers.
Entrepreneurs du Monde’s partners in Côte d’Ivoire
