Project profile — A Thousand women: I am a woman, I exist, I participate

• Senegal (100.00%)

• Education policy and administrative management:
Education policy and administrative management (11110) (20.00%)
Teacher training (11130) (5.00%)
• Secondary Education: Vocational training (11330) (20.00%)
• Post-Secondary Education: Higher education (11420) (5.00%)
• Government And Civil Society, General: Women's rights organisations and movements, and government institutions (15170) (50.00%)

• Trade development (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Gender equality (principal objective)

This project seeks to empower some of Senegal’s most vulnerable and marginalized women by increasing their active participation in the economy and in their community’s development. The project adopts the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) approach, which recognizes the knowledge and skills that women have acquired throughout their life and in their everyday work, to make it easier for them to access training programs tailored to their needs. Project activities include: (1) developing and delivering technical and vocational training programs in growing sectors, based on the VAE approach and tailored to the needs of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized women; (2) supporting the selected women as they develop their businesses, market their products and join the workforce; (3) training the instructors, directors and officers of ministries involved in gender equality so they can provide more effective support to the selected women; (4) conducting outreach, advocacy and promotion activities related to the role of women in the economic and social development of communities; and (5) supporting collaboration and networking with economic associations to promote women’s participation. The project expects to benefit 1,000 vulnerable women trained in a trade and supported as agents of change in their community. Also, 500 people working in the structures of partner ministries will receive training in gender equality and VAE methodology. In addition, 200,000 people will be engaged and educated on the importance of the economic, social and civic inclusion of some of the most vulnerable women.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased inclusion of women as social and economic development actors; and (2) increased influence of women as active citizens in their communities.

Results achieved as of March 2026 include: (1) enrolled 1,382 women in adapted training programs, including 835 during the reporting year, 1,210 of whom obtained a recognized professional certification based on the methodology of Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE), exceeding the project's initial target; (2) organized local campaigns, radio broadcasts, and awareness-raising activities through which 143,366 people in targeted communities were directly sensitized to the importance of women's participation in decision-making; (3) continued strengthening institutional support mechanisms, with 78.57% of partners now offering services adapted to the needs of the most vulnerable women; (4) continued capacity-building activities for vocational training stakeholders and support structures, particularly in gender-sensitive pedagogy and the VAE approach; and (5) implemented concrete environmental activities in partner institutions, including awareness campaigns, the creation of micro-gardens, and the development of green spaces, contributing to strengthened environmentally responsible practices.

• Proactive disclosure