How digital service centres let young entrepreneurs thrive in Senegal
Digital Service Centres Empower Young Entrepreneurs to Thrive in Senegal GENEVA, Switzerland, August 22, 2025 – In Senegal, a new wave of young entrepreneurs is transforming innovative ideas into thriving businesses, thanks to two digital service centres established at universities in Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor. Supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its West Africa Competitiveness Support Programme – Senegal Component (PACAO-Senegal), these centres provide critical resources such as free computers, high-speed internet, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. By equipping young founders with the tools and skills needed to succeed, the centres are fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and driving economic growth in the region. Empowering Innovation Through Technology and Mentorship Located at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis and Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor, the digital service centres serve as hubs for aspiring entrepreneurs. Since their inception, they have supported hundreds of young innovators by providing access to cutting-edge technology and expert guidance. In 2024 alone, the Saint-Louis centre assisted 501 individuals, while the Ziguinchor centre worked with 241 project holders. These centres are not only bridging the digital divide but also enabling young Senegalese to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses that address local challenges and create jobs.The success stories of two young entrepreneurs, Djiby Diop and Ousmane Traoré, highlight the transformative impact of these centres. Djiby Diop: Revolutionizing Agriculture with Technology Djiby Diop, a 32-year-old IT graduate, discovered his entrepreneurial calling at the Saint-Louis Service Centre. With a passion for agriculture but limited practical skills, Diop leveraged the centre’s resources to launch Dior Bi, a company focused on producing organic fruits and vegetables. Through mentorship and access to tools, he developed a prototype for an automatic irrigation system designed to optimize water usage and boost agricultural yields—a critical innovation in a region prone to water scarcity.“I found out about the Centre thanks to a friend. When I arrived, I lacked practical skills, but I had one thing: the will to become an entrepreneur. The Centre gave me the tools to make it happen,” Diop said. His work is a testament to how the centres empower young people to address local challenges with innovative solutions, contributing to Senegal’s agricultural sector and food security.Ousmane Traoré: Modernizing Livestock ManagementOusmane Traoré, a 27-year-old master’s student in forestry, turned his passion for farming and business into two groundbreaking ventures with support from the Ziguinchor Service Centre. Inspired by a youth employment forum in 2021, Traoré launched Gaynako, a startup that produces sustainable livestock feed from agricultural waste and bulrush, abundant in Senegal’s wetlands. By 2024, he upgraded Gaynako with a digital platform to streamline livestock management, improving efficiency for farmers.Traoré’s innovation didn’t stop there. He also created Yaralma, a digital platform that allows urban residents to invest in livestock raised by professional ranchers. “With increasing urbanization, many people can no longer keep livestock at home. Thanks to Yaralma, they can buy livestock on the platform and entrust it to professional breeders while receiving real-time updates on their animals,” Traoré explained. Employing a team of six, his ventures are modernizing Senegal’s ranching industry, creating jobs, and connecting rural breeders with urban investors.A Catalyst for Economic and Social ImpactThe digital service centres are part of a broader effort by the ITC to promote entrepreneurship and economic development in West Africa. By providing access to technology, training, and mentorship, the centres are enabling young Senegalese to transform simple ideas into viable businesses. These ventures not only generate income but also address pressing challenges such as unemployment, food security, and sustainable resource use.The success of entrepreneurs like Diop and Traoré underscores the centres’ role in fostering innovation and resilience. Their businesses are creating ripple effects in their communities, from improving agricultural practices to modernizing traditional industries like ranching. As these young founders plan to scale their ventures, they aim to leverage the skills and networks gained from the centres to reach new heights.A Model for Global EntrepreneurshipSenegal’s digital service centres offer a replicable model for other developing economies seeking to empower young entrepreneurs. By combining access to technology with mentorship and networking, the centres are unlocking the potential of a new generation of innovators. The ITC’s PACAO-Senegal initiative demonstrates how targeted investments in youth and digital infrastructure can drive economic transformation, create jobs, and foster sustainable development.As Djiby Diop and Ousmane Traoré continue to grow their businesses, their stories inspire others to tap into the resources offered by the digital service centres. With ongoing support from the ITC and local partners, Senegal’s young entrepreneurs are poised to lead the country’s economic future, proving that innovation, determination, and the right tools can turn dreams into reality.
