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Starting a business

Assistance after returning

Would you like to set up a business? Then the PLASEPRI programme can help you. PLASEPRI stands for Plateforme d’Appui au Secteur Privé et à la Valorisation de la Diaspora Sénégalaise en Italie (Platform for the Support of the Private Sector and the Development of the Senegalese Diaspora in Italy).  

Among others, PLASPERI promotes small and medium-sized enterprises in Senegal.

The PLASEPRI platform can help you with things such as:

  • Finding training courses in key areas of running a business
  • Applying for financial support to start a business
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Preparation for working life

Are you wondering what life will be like for you after school, for example in vocational training or self-employment? Would you like information to help you prepare?

The APTE-Senegal project (Amélioration des Performances de Travail et d’Entreprenariat) supports you with the transition between school and working life:

  • You can take part in training that is designed to help you meet employers' expectations.  
  • You can learn technical and practical skills for working life (through work placements, courses, open days, and more). In some regions, the focus is on agriculture, while in others, it’s on mining and industry.
  • You can exchange ideas with representatives from the private sector.
  • You’ll learn more about the demands of working life.
  • You can join entrepreneurship clubs that enhance your career.

 
This project is being run at 50 technical and vocational colleges and at 200 middle schools in the following six regions: Diourbel, Kédougou, Kolda, Sédhiou, Thiès and Ziguinchor.  

The project is implemented in cooperation with partners such as the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and local partners (Caritas Kolda, Caritas Ziguinchor, Jeunesse et Développement and YMCA).

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Starting a business for young people

The “Skills development project for young entrepreneurs in the emerging sectors” (PDCEJ) can promote your vocational development.

This project assists you to start your own business or create a start-up in the following sectors:

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Renewable energies
  • Agriculture
  • Hides and skins

The project also offers you apprenticeships and training in these sectors.

Please note the conditions for participation.

This link provides more information about the project: https://pdcej.sn/

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Vocational reintegration

The French migration agency in Senegal, OFII, provides help with starting a business and launching a new career.

Their services include:

  • Training courses on business start-ups
  • Training courses on personal and career development
  • Help with finding suitable job offers
  • Job placement
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Job opportunities for returnees and young people

The Senegalese Association for the Support of Decentralisation and Citizens' Initiatives (ASADIC-TAATAAN) helps returnees and young people to earn a living.

Their services include:

  • Advice on starting a business
  • Coaching sessions for entrepreneurs
  • Job placement
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Job placement and starting a business

The Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Assistance (ACTED) helps people gain access to training and healthcare.

Their services include:

  • Training courses on business start-ups
  • Training courses on personal and career development
  • Help with finding suitable job offers
  • Job placement
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Training and starting a business

The Senegalese association CONFESEN helps people with training and starting a business. Their aim is to reduce poverty in Senegal.

Their services include:

  • Vocational training
  • Placement in “green jobs”, for example through traineeships or qualifications
  • Help with starting a business, for example by preparing business plans
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Financial support for project promoters between 18 and 35 years

Young returning Senegalese can receive financial support. This aid is intended to help them start their own economic project. 

The offer is for young people aged between 18 and 35. 
 

 

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Financial support for returnees

"Fonds d’Appui à l’Investissement des Sénégalais de l’Extérieur" provides financial support to returnees. This aid is intended for investment.

The offer includes loans of between FCFA 5 and 15 million. The investment must be made in Senegal. 

Projects in the following sectors are possible: 

  • Agriculture
  • Fisheries and aquaculture 
  • Tourism 
  • Information and communication technologies 
  • Creative industries
  • Handicrafts 
  • Textiles 

Projects from the following sectors are NOT eligible to apply: 

  • Transport
  • Property
  • Trade

Projects outside the capital will be given preference. 

The conditions for a loan are as follows: 

  • Repayment period: 5 years
  • Deferral of payment: 6 months
  • Own funds: 10%
     
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The internet meets farming

Yeesal AgriHub would like to bring the benefits of the internet to the agriculture sector. The idea is to produce a creative kind of farming that also appeals to young men and women. Yeesal AgriHub runs various projects and works with different organisations.

Anyone who works in agriculture can become a member. Benefits for members:

  • They can take part in training courses;
  • They receive job offers;
  • They can use the network.

You have to pay a membership fee, but there is a sliding scale so the exact amount will depend on how much you earn.

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Start-ups for farmers

The Programme des Domaines Agricoles Communautaire (PRODAC) helps people who would like to work as farmers in Senegal. PRODAC provides different kinds of help:

  • loans
  • advice
  • land
  • equipment
  • help with farm management.

There are offices in various regions throughout Senegal. If you would like the address of an office near you, just ring the number below.

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A loan for your business

DER awards different kinds of loan. They could be of interest to you if you work in one of the following areas, for example:

  • farming
  • skilled trades
  • IT
  • transport
  • tourism.

The loans are available to women of any age and to young men under 40. For further information please complete the contact form on the website.

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Loans for businesses

The Fonds de Garantie des Investissements Prioritaires (Priority Investment Guarantee Fund (FONGIP)) provides loans in the following areas:

  • Farming - livestock
  • Agroindustry
  • skilled trades
  • Textile
  • Cultural industries
  • Infrastructure
  • Renewable energy
  • Transport
  • Tourism
  • Social Housing
  • Information and communications technology.

Only Senegalese nationals are eligible for a loan. The loans are designed for small and medium-sized enterprises.
You do not have to repay the loan in full.

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Assistance with financing

The Fonds d'Appui à l'Investissement des Sénégalais de l'Exterieur (Support Fund for Investments by Senegalese Abroad (FAISE)) can help you to start a business. There are different kinds of financial support. What is more: women are eligible for special funding, but they have to apply for it.

The website has information about the different kinds of funding. You can also apply via the website. You can read the terms and conditions for applications here.

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Employment agency for young people

The Agence Nationale pour la Promotion de l‘Emploi des Jeunes (ANPEJ) is the Senegalese employment agency that works specifically with young people. The agency will advise you on how to start a business. ANPEJ will also help you with the financing.

You must be between 18 and 35. The advice is free of charge.

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Advice: starting a business

The Agence de Développement et d’Encadrement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (Agency for the Development and Coordination of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ADEPME)) helps people to set up a business. ADEPME’s services include:

  • training
  • advice on preparing a business plan
  • help in building up a network.

ADEPME’s advisory services are free of charge, but you have apply to ADEPME.

If you are still in the very early stages, please contact the Agence de Promotion des Investissements et Grands Travaux (National Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Projects, (APIX)).

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Registering a company

The Agence de Promotion des Investissements et grands Travaux (National Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Projects (APIX)) will help you to set up a business. It will explain what steps are involved in this.

And it will give you the paperwork and application forms you need. APIX will also help you to fill in the forms. The advice is available to everyone. The advice is free of charge. But some of the official procedures involving government authorities may cost money.

When you have completed all the steps with the different authorities, please contact the Agence de Développement et d’encadrement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (Agency for the Development and Coordination of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ADEPME)). This agency will help you with the next steps you need to take.

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