West Africa

Entrepreneur Virginie Adounon owns two hair salons in Bohicon, Benin.

In Benin, Hairdressing Offers New Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs

When Virginie Adounon first opened her beauty salon in Bohicon, Benin, she was not keeping track of her sales or giving herself a salary, and she could not save up enough money to make necessary upgrades to her shop. After joining a TechnoServe program called BeniBiz, she gained the skills she needed to run a profitable business, even during a pandemic.

COVID-19, Entrepreneurship
Small and Growing Businesses, Small business, Women entrepreneurs, Women's Economic Empowerment
Nigerian entrepreneur Endurance Boms smiles with pride in front of her small business, which she has maintained despite the COVID-19 crisis. Empowered by business training from TechnoServe's PAYED program, she feels a renewed sense of hope for the future of her family and her personal economic stability.

How Business Training Helps Nigerian Entrepreneurs Navigate the COVID-19 Crisis

When Endurance Boms first opened her small beauty shop in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, she struggled to keep track of her sales and inventory. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her sales slowed to a crawl. A TechnoServe program gave Endurance the business training and support she needs to achieve success as a Nigerian entrepreneur. Now, she can confidently maintain a reliable income source – even during a global crisis.

COVID-19, Entrepreneurship, Micro-Retail
A man picks a cashew apple from a tree in Benin

Digital Solutions Help Cashew Farmers and Trainers in Benin

Cashew has the potential to transform Benin’s economy – and the lives of the smallholder farmers who grow it. However, many farmers lack the technical knowledge they need to get the best harvest from their cashew orchards. TechnoServe is developing a digital chatbot to help farmer trainers quickly access the information they need, allowing them to effectively support more farmers.

Agriculture, Cashews, Labs, Technology
TNSLabs
Elisabeth Atchade lives in Benin with her husband and four children

Addressing Gender-Specific Challenges for Women Cashew Farmers in Benin

For women and girls in the developing world, COVID-19 is exacerbating existing inequities and creating new challenges. In Benin, women cashew farmers like Elisabeth Atchade must juggle many responsibilities, including earning money for the household while also taking on the majority of child care responsibilities. Learn how a TechnoServe program is helping women address these challenges and emerge from the crisis even stronger.

Agriculture, Cashews, COVID-19, Women's Economic Empowerment