Binta Mané, the "Queen of fisheries" in Senegal

USAID 60th anniversary

Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Senegal

USAID has been in Senegal since the passing of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 which effectively established the Agency to combine the efforts of various foreign assistance programs. For these past six decades USAID has worked together with Senegal and its development partners to create sustainable solutions to economic challenges. A key component to this partnership is to encourage and support the economic growth of women to improve the everyday lives of Senegalese families. In celebration of the 60 year anniversary of USAID in Senegal, the stories of eight women who have benefited from USAID activities and projects in the country are featured.

Binta Mané, the "Queen of fisheries" in Senegal

For more than twenty-six years, Binta has been working in the processing of fishery products. She is supplied by the fisherman of Kafountine. She dries and smokes the fish to sell to markets all over Senegal, including in Pout, Matam, Dakar, Touba, Diaobé, Kaffrine, Kaolack, and Ziguinchor. Recently she has even begun exporting her products internationally to Guinea and Guinea Bissau.  Binta also passes on her knowledge to other women working in fish production. Recently she trained more than 100 women between the communes of Niaguis, Kafountine, Elinkine and Ziguinchor.

In 2019, she joined CultiVert an organization benefiting from the support of the Feed the Future Senegal Kawolor project opened up new perspectives by connecting her to an integrated network of nearly 170 other producers and providers who share their experiences and marketing ideas. Through association with the project she has also been involved in large scale commercial events such as the International Fair of Agriculture and Animal Resources (Foire International de l'Agriculture et des Ressources Animales; FIARA) held annually in Dakar and the International Fair of Kaolack (Foire International de Kaolack; FIKA). These experiences and opportunities have coincided with an increase in annual profits by 22% between 2018 and 2020. 

As a creative woman with new projects in mind, the income from her fish processing business has enabled her to invest in the real estate sector with the construction of a building with more than 10 rooms for rent.