The second edition of the Femmpact cooperation program concluded on June 25th at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) campus in Rabat. The initiative, a joint effort between the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), is designed to accelerate female entrepreneurship across West Africa.
Quick Facts
- Supported 104 women entrepreneurs
- Developed 18 Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)
- Partnership across Morocco, Germany, Benin, Mauritania, and Togo
A Tripartite Model for South-South Cooperation
Femmpact is a tripartite partnership between Morocco, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the West African nations of Benin, Mauritania, and Togo. The program, executed in partnership with UM6P’s Social and Economic Impact Institute, aims to bolster the West African entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting women-led businesses and the incubator networks that assist them. The initiative focuses on a co-creation model, pooling African and international expertise to build capacity among innovation and entrepreneurship stakeholders.
In a statement, Mohamed Hicham Baiz, Head of the Tripartite Cooperation and Sustainable Human Development Projects Division at AMCI, highlighted the program’s success. “The second edition of Femmpact clearly demonstrates the relevance of innovative partnerships in the service of sustainable development and the economic empowerment of women,” he said.
From Ideation to Market-Ready Products
The program provided structured support for 104 women entrepreneurs from the three partner countries, guiding them from idea generation and market validation to developing innovative business models. A key outcome of the program was the creation of 18 Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). These projects were showcased at the closing ceremony, spanning sectors like agrifood, renewable energy, and technology.
Baiz noted that the 18 MVPs “are proof of the ability of the partner incubators and participants to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of their communities and markets.” He added that the program facilitated knowledge exchange with nine partner incubators from Benin, Mauritania, and Togo, reinforcing the foundations of a stronger, more inclusive regional ecosystem.
Building a Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Speakers at the event emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative. Sebastian Wild, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Rabat, stated that “initiatives like Femmpact confirm that no sustainable transformation can be achieved alone. Alliances, cooperation, and collective mobilization are what make it possible to create real opportunities.”
Bouchra Rahmouni, Director of the Social and Economic Impact Institute at UM6P, added that Femmpact has established a “real human dynamic” that goes beyond a simple partnership framework, underscoring the creative power of projects deeply rooted in African identity.
About Femmpact
Femmpact is a collaborative program executed by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). It aims to promote female entrepreneurship in West Africa by supporting women founders and strengthening the local innovation and incubation structures in Benin, Mauritania, and Togo through a co-creation and knowledge-sharing approach.
Source: Medi1 News
