The DER/FJ national caravan to provide funding to beneficiaries of the Be YES program set off from the Tambacounda department on Monday, September 15, led by the General Delegate, Dr. Aïssatou Mbodj. As part of this program, implemented by the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth with the support of the MasterCard Foundation, special attention is paid to the development of collective entrepreneurship through the financing of Economic Interest Groups (EIGs).

98 EIGs selected in the region including 23 for the department of Tambacounda

In total, 98 EIGs benefiting from the Be YES program were validated in the Tambacounda region, distributed among the four departments: Bakel (27 including 65% women and 4.4% people with disabilities), Goudiry (27 including 70% women and 4.8% people with disabilities), Tambacounda (23 including 65% women and 5.2% people with disabilities) and Koumpentoum (21 EIGs including 81% women and 7.1% people with disabilities).

According to the General Delegate of the DER/FJ, the total amount of funding planned for these 98 beneficiary EIGs is 166,600,000 CFA francs, including 45,900,000 for Bakel; 45,900,000 for Goudiry; 39,100,000 for Tambacounda and 35,700,000 for Koumpentoum. And nearly 1,000 jobs are expected, including 270 for Bakel, 270 for Goudiry, 230 for Tambacounda and 210 for Koumpentoum.

“Be Yes is a program that reflects the objectives of the DER”

Before proceeding with the symbolic presentation of funding certificates for the 23 beneficiary EIGs of the Tambacounda departmental branch, Dr. Aïssatou Mbodj reviewed the many advantages offered by the Be Yes program. "In Tambacounda, I am sure that the branch worked very well because we had the appropriate targets who must receive the training but also the funding. This is the very essence of this program. Be Yes is a program that reflects the objectives of the DER, namely: the right project, the right formalization and the right training before funding," emphasized the General Delegate of the DER/FJ, in the presence of the Prefect of Tamba, Alioune Badara Mbengue, and the First Deputy Mayor of Tamba, Ba Oumou Diallo.

She adds: "I usually say that my goal is for the beneficiary at the country's border to be at the same level as the one at Point E where our headquarters are located. And the day I achieve this goal, I will go and rest. Because it is extremely important that everyone is at the same level, that everyone benefits from the same services. It is a 1.7 billion program that we are going to distribute to the EIGs, without taking into account the cost of training and formalization."

Regarding inclusion, Dr. Aïssatou Mbodj argued that she did not target people with disabilities in the Be Yes program.

Beneficiaries encouraged to be role models for other youth and women in Tamba

The prefect of the Tambacounda department, who mobilized the beneficiaries, first wanted to congratulate the General Delegate of the DER/FJ for the remarkable work she has been carrying out at the DER since her appointment. According to Alioune Badara Mbengue, it is under the leadership of Dr. Aïssatou Mbodj that the DER has taken an important step in extending financing mechanisms to a greater number of beneficiaries, with the implementation of the revitalization of D-hubs, the creativity space in all regions, the consolidation of strategic partnerships, particularly with the Mastercard Foundation and the reinforced support of GIEs.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the government representative urged the economic interest groups (EIGs) to use this funding with rigor, transparency, and determination. "Work together, remain united within your group, be persistent and creative. Your personal success will also be the success of your community. I encourage you to be role models, examples of success for other young people and women in our region. Be proud to carry the torch of entrepreneurship high," said Alioune Badara Mbengue.

“Thanks to the DER/FJ, I am now independent, despite my disability.”

The beneficiaries also took the floor to thank the DER/FJ. In this regard, Sidiki Dia, president of the "Succeed at Home" economic interest group (EIG) and representative of the program's beneficiaries in the Tambacounda department, emphasized the importance of the Be Yes program. "We first submitted our projects. And after being selected, we underwent training to strengthen our financial resource management skills. We were also supported in formalizing our EIG," the young entrepreneur emphasized.

Abounding in the same sense, another beneficiary by the name of Mamadou Diallo, member of the regional union of albinos of Tambacounda, maintained that thanks to the support of the DER/FJ, he is now independent, despite his handicap.

After the Tambacounda stage, the Be Yes caravan headed for Kaffrine.