Dynamiser l’entrepreneuriat au Sahel

Launched in 2019 and running through 2024, the I&P Accélération au Sahel programme, funded by the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund, targeted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across 12 countries in West and Central Africa. It combined early‐stage financing (via repayable advances), tailored strategic & technical support, and capacity building for intermediary support structures (SAEs).

By end-2023, the programme had financed 100 enterprises, formed 22 SAEs, and created or maintained about 4,360 jobs, with revenue growth averaging 89%. It also helped its companies raise ~€14 million in external funding (roughly triple the programme’s own financing), though most of that came from just a few enterprises. Key strengths include the personalized support, strong local anchoring, post-financing accompaniment, and improvements in formalisation and internal management. Challenges remain around equitable access (particularly for women founders and smaller, informal firms), the short repayment timeframe for less-structured businesses, uneven impact across sectors and countries, and ensuring uptake of technical assistance recommendations.

The report suggests refining some support mechanisms (e.g. reporting, digital tools, flexibility), fostering better inclusion, and scaling successful elements to deepen impact