Project to support the socio-economic empowerment of 350 female artisans in Niger

Republic of Niger

Amount: € 300,000.00

Overview

The aim of the SAFEM project was to facilitate the socio-economic empowerment of 352 female artisans from 32 localities covering 8 regions of Niger. The female artisan’s fields of specialty included, inter alia, basketwork, leather goods production, embroidery-textile, pottery and cosmetics production. By supporting their efforts to improve their techniques, the quality of their products improved, diversifying the range of goods and gaining access to new markets. The project fostered the integration of gender as a factor in the institutional environment and their marketing strategies. This project therefore supports the AU’s Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6 and specifically the goal to achieve full gender equality in all spheres of live and empower women and girls.

Key results

• SAFEM project facilitated the socio-economic empowerment of 352 female artisans from 32 localities covering 8 regions of Niger.
• The project fostered the integration of gender as a factor in the institutional environment and their marketing strategies. The project directly supported 352 women and, indirectly, 2,450 family members.
• 18 workshops were undertaken to develop the women’s skills as well as 36 practical training sessions. 8 women acted as project ambassadors by presenting their products and designs at the Ouagadougou International Craft Fair (SIAO) in 2012 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
• An extensive marketing campaign was initiated in order to stimulate demand. The campaign was supported by 400 posters, brochures and similar materials were developed.