Dakar, 17 February 2025 – In keeping with its commitment to women entrepreneurs, the WE! Fund, a subsidiary of FONSIS, is investing FCFA 485 million in two businesses run by women, ARISTARC and Ferme SOPEL. The aim of these investments is to boost the digital and livestock sectors in Senegal, while supporting innovation and the creation of sustainable jobs.
Founded in 2016 by Ms Diyé Dia, Founder and Managing Director of ARISTARC, this innovative company specialises in the development of digital solutions, ranging from web and mobile applications to business intelligence and artificial intelligence tools. Thanks to this investment, ARISTARC will be able to recruit new talent, increase its digital services production capacity and continue its expansion in a fast-growing sector. The aim is to strengthen its position in Senegal and West Africa, while developing local expertise and promoting the inclusion of women in the technology industry.
« Cet investissement représente bien plus qu’un financement ; il s’agit d’une opportunité pour nous d’accélérer la digitalisation au Sénégal et d’inspirer davantage de femmes à se lancer dans l’innovation technologique », a déclaré Diyé Dia. « Nous sommes fiers de contribuer à la construction d’un avenir où les femmes jouent un rôle clé dans le développement économique. »
For its part, SOPEL Farm, founded by Mrs Fatou Touré, veterinary doctor and Managing Director of SOPEL, has the mission of modernising the livestock sector in Senegal. Through its integrated farm project, combining livestock rearing and the production of fodder crops on a 20-hectare site within the Programme des Domaines Agricoles Communautaires (PRODAC), SOPEL aims to improve local meat production and structure the sector's value chain. Thanks to this investment from the WE! Fund, the company will be able to develop a modern, high-potential sheep farm and offer training courses for entrepreneurs in the sector.
« Nous nous réjouissons de ce partenariat avec le WE! Fund, qui nous permettra de moderniser la chaîne de valeur de la filière viande au Sénégal. Nous allons ainsi contribuer à réduire progressivement les importations de moutons et le déficit en viande », a souligné Fatou Touré.
These investments by the WE! Fund, a subsidiary of FONSIS, are part of an inclusive economic transformation strategy. They will accelerate the digitalisation of services, strengthen the local supply of agri-food products and promote female entrepreneurship in the digital and livestock sectors.
About WE! Fund
The mission of the Women's Economic Empowerment Fund (WE! Fund), financed by FONSIS, the AfDB and UNCDF, is to promote the economic empowerment of women in Senegal. The fund targets projects that have a positive impact on women's entrepreneurship, while promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.
About FONSIS
Le Fonds Souverain d’Investissements Stratégiques (FONSIS) a pour mission d’accélérer la transformation économique du Sénégal à travers des investissements stratégiques. Il mobilise des ressources pour co-investir avec le secteur privé dans des projets à fort impact socio-économique, tout en soutenant l’émergence de champions nationaux grâce à des financements innovants pour les PME.
FONSIS also manages the State's strategic assets with an approach focused on long-term profitability.
