“58% of SMEs in Africa are owned by women. But what type of SMEs and for what purpose?” This is the fundamental question posed by Khady Fall Tall. A guest on the Seneweb Éco program this Sunday, March 8th, the president of the Association of West African Women (AFAO) believes that behind these encouraging figures lies a much more fragile reality. Indeed, many businesses created by women struggle to achieve long-term viability. “Sometimes women start a business after selling all their assets, and the sustainability of the organization becomes a concern,” she explains.

The phenomenon of "stagnant companies"

She also mentions what she calls "dreary businesses," highlighting a structural precarity linked to social constraints. "When you look at these 'dreary businesses,' most are set up by women. At 2 p.m., they are forced to hand in the keys," she added, thus illustrating the ongoing conflict between domestic and professional management.

The complexity of accessing public procurement

Access to public procurement remains a major challenge for women entrepreneurs. Despite ongoing reforms, significant technical obstacles persist. "The technical barrier is still there," affirms Khady Fall Tall. She acknowledges, however, notable progress, particularly the introduction of a form of affirmative action. "What's important in the reform is that they understood the need for a boost and for affirmative action in favor of women, with a percentage allocated to women's organizations," she explained.

However, for the president of AFAO, reserving a quota is not enough if the technical and organizational capacities are not in place. "It's one thing to set the percentage, but it's another thing to be able to capture and meet the conditions to secure those 2%, because awarding a public contract is very complex," she insisted.

A plea for capacity building

She therefore advocates for strengthening the information and skills of women entrepreneurs so that they can meet rigorous administrative requirements. "A lot of information, a lot of mobilization of women and strengthening of their capacities are needed so that they can meet the standards and compete properly," she believes.

For Khady Fall Tall, the issue goes beyond the purely economic sphere to encompass an imperative of social equity. "What the State puts in place as resources at the level of public markets must be distributed equitably. We cannot ignore more than half of the population," she emphasized in conclusion.