Economic crisis in Kédougou hits hard on micro energy businesses
12 May 2017Due to the economic crisis that hit the region of Kédougou last year, Energy 4 Impact was forced to end its operations in the area. The region’s economy depends mostly on gold mining, but with one of the main mines closing in 2016, the area’s economic stability took a hit, making it a challenge for entrepreneurs to sell clean energy products to customers in their local communities. Fatoumata and the other 50 women entrepreneurs that we supported in the region could no longer sustain their businesses. Very few of them could provide the minimum required up-front capital or collaterals (25%) to enable them to get a loan or repay credit to the suppliers. Energy 4 Impact now concentrates its efforts on neighbouring Tambacounda, supporting 160 women in the sale of energy services and products, as well as productive use of energy through solar refrigeration. Click here to follow the stories of Germaine Dione and Oumy Ngom in Tambacounda.
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