Description of the project: E-FAITOU facilitates access to solar energy for women farmers in Senegal through an innovative and inclusive concept of mobile multi-service trucks offering rental of solar equipment and post-harvest processing equipment (dryers, mills, refrigerators), charging stations, and digital platforms. Women farmers’ chores are alleviated through mechanized processing of their harvest, facilitated access to market information and education. They can increase productivity thanks to productive solar equipment and access new income generating activities through direct access to online services. This original pilot project, started in Senegal, is expected to develop across all of West Africa.

Climate impact: Solar technologies are well developed and increasingly affordable. Because of their strong potential for climate mitigation and economic development (Rural Electrification Alliance report), they should be widely disseminated. The amount of kW and CO2 mitigated through use of the productive solar stations and electricity production (solar generator on the trailer) is estimated at more than 3000 tons over 5 years.

Gender impact: Supported by 4 French-Senegalese women entrepreneurs who put the empowerment of rural women at the heart of their vision, this project significantly alleviates the burden of women’s agricultural work while increasing their productivity and opening up new opportunities for creative income generation. Access to online services strengthens financial inclusion and access to information and education, thus empowering micro-entrepreneurs and strengthening the rural economy.

Scalability / replicability: E-FAITOU works in close collaboration with local agencies supporting the beneficiaries -be it groups or micro-entrepreneurs- to identify their needs in planning the route of the service vehicle fleet. After phase 2, covering the rural areas of Senegal, E-FAITOU plans to expand to Benin during phase 3, thanks to a strong entrepreneurial economic model that was awarded by the CTCN / ECOWAS and PFAN.