The USAID Suxali Jigeen project, administered by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been supporting the empowerment and leadership of women in the Thies and Diourbel regions for the past four years. The project’s accomplishments were celebrated in a closeout ceremony in Thienaba on January 11.
Central to Suxali Jigeen was a loan program established by USAID’s local partner Association Rurale de Lutte contre le Sida (ARLS) to support income-generating activities for women-owned or managed businesses. The credit line of approximately 50,000,000 FCFA, enabled 1300 women to access loans to help start, supplement, and grow small business ventures.
Thanks to the increased line of credit and financial literacy training, these women have improved their businesses and contributed to paying for family expenses including health, education, and home repairs. “A woman who contributes to her household and community financially is more likely to be heard and to have influence with the local decision-making bodies,” said USAID economist Seynabou Diallo.
In addition, the Suxali Jigeen project has improved women’s understanding of how the local government works and how they can participate in their communities as spokespersons and political actors. The project strengthened the operations of Radio Gindiku FM, whose programming gives voice to women’s issues in the region. “Women reporters at Gindiku are helping raise key issues like women's access to land, parent’s participation at school and even how to stay healthy and safe during the pandemic.” said Marieme Kaire, President of ARLS.
And Suxali Jigeen has worked with over 100 women in 15 different communes to prepare them to run for political office. USAID is committed to working toward the empowerment of women, especially in rural regions of Senegal, to achieve equality in all aspects of their life economically, socially, culturally, civically, and politically.
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About USAID
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) promotes and demonstrates American values of democracy and its vision of a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. Together with our Senegalese partners, USAID/Senegal provides assistance that saves lives, expands economic growth, provides education opportunities, strengthens governance and civil society, and supports Senegal’s national development plan, the Plan Sénégal Emergent. www.usaid.gov/senegal
