Fatima Ndiaye is a respected community development specialist with over 12 years of experience working with rural and urban communities across West Africa. She specializes in participatory approaches to community development, with particular expertise in women's economic empowerment through sustainable enterprises.
As the founder of the Women's Economic Empowerment Network (WEEN), Fatima has developed innovative models for community-based enterprises that combine traditional knowledge with sustainable practices. Her work has helped establish over 30 women-led cooperatives that generate income while addressing environmental and social challenges.
Fatima holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Development from Cheikh Anta Diop University and has completed specialized training in social entrepreneurship at the African Leadership Academy. She is a sought-after speaker and trainer on topics related to community-led development, women's economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Through her partnership with Dilulu, Fatima shares her expertise as both a speaker and mentor, helping communities develop participatory approaches to sustainable development and supporting emerging leaders in the field of community development.
Fatima brings specialized knowledge and experience in several key areas of community development and sustainable enterprise.
Fatima specializes in participatory approaches that engage community members as active agents in their own development. She has developed methodologies for community asset mapping, needs assessment, and collaborative planning that ensure local ownership and sustainability of development initiatives.
With a focus on gender-responsive approaches to economic development, Fatima has pioneered models for women's economic empowerment that address both practical needs (income, skills) and strategic interests (decision-making power, leadership). Her work has helped thousands of women establish sustainable livelihoods.
Fatima has developed innovative approaches to enterprise development that integrate environmental sustainability, social impact, and economic viability. Her methodology for "triple bottom line" community enterprises has been adopted by organizations across West Africa.
With expertise in analyzing and strengthening value chains for agricultural and artisanal products, Fatima helps communities identify opportunities to capture greater value from their products. Her approach emphasizes fair trade principles and sustainable production practices.
Fatima has pioneered community-based financial systems that increase access to savings, credit, and insurance for marginalized populations. Her village savings and loan association (VSLA) model has been adapted for various contexts and has helped over 5,000 women access financial services.
With a commitment to evidence-based approaches, Fatima has developed participatory monitoring and evaluation systems that enable communities to track their own progress and learn from their experiences. Her methods emphasize both quantitative and qualitative indicators of success.
Fatima brings a wealth of experience from her work with communities, organizations, and initiatives across West Africa.
Founded and leads a network that supports women's economic empowerment through sustainable enterprises across West Africa. Developed innovative methodologies for community-based enterprise development that have been adopted by organizations in five countries. Established partnerships with government agencies, international NGOs, and private sector companies to expand the network's reach and impact.
Led the design and implementation of community development programs in rural Senegal, Mali, and Gambia. Developed participatory methodologies for community engagement that increased local ownership and sustainability of development initiatives. Trained over 200 community facilitators in participatory approaches to needs assessment, planning, and evaluation.
Managed programs focused on women's economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in urban and peri-urban areas of Dakar. Developed and implemented a model for women's savings and credit groups that was later adopted by the national microfinance strategy. Established partnerships with local government and private sector entities to create market opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Conducted research on traditional economic systems and their relevance for contemporary development challenges. Documented indigenous knowledge and practices related to sustainable resource management, cooperative economics, and community governance. Published findings in academic journals and practitioner-oriented publications.
Fatima offers engaging presentations on a range of topics related to community development, women's empowerment, and sustainable enterprise.
This presentation explores how women's economic empowerment can catalyze broader social and environmental changes in communities. Drawing on case studies from Fatima's work across West Africa, it examines the ripple effects of women's increased economic agency on family well-being, community decision-making, and sustainable resource management.
Book This TopicThis presentation challenges conventional approaches to financial inclusion and presents alternative models that address the complex realities of economically marginalized communities. It explores community-based financial systems, solidarity economics, and integrated approaches that combine access to financial services with capacity building, market linkages, and social support.
Book This TopicThis workshop introduces participants to the principles and methodologies of participatory community development. It covers practical tools for community engagement, asset mapping, collaborative planning, and participatory monitoring and evaluation. Participants learn how to facilitate processes that build on community strengths and ensure local ownership of development initiatives.
Book This TopicThis presentation explores models for community-based enterprises that integrate social, environmental, and economic objectives. It examines case studies of successful triple bottom line enterprises from West Africa and provides a framework for developing business models that create multiple forms of value for communities and ecosystems.
Book This TopicHear from those who have worked with Fatima as a speaker, trainer, and mentor.
Fatima's presentation on women's economic empowerment was transformative for our organization. Her deep understanding of the challenges facing women entrepreneurs, combined with practical strategies for addressing these challenges, provided exactly what we needed to redesign our programs. Her engaging style and use of compelling case studies made complex concepts accessible to our entire team.
As Fatima's mentee, I've gained not just knowledge and skills, but a new perspective on community development. She has a remarkable ability to help you see the strengths and assets in communities that others might overlook. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping me develop a community enterprise project that has now secured funding and is creating opportunities for young women in my village.
Fatima's workshop on participatory approaches to community development was the highlight of our annual conference. Participants particularly appreciated the balance of theory and practical tools, and the way she drew on her extensive field experience to illustrate key concepts. Many attendees have reported implementing her methodologies in their work with remarkable results.
Whether you're interested in booking Fatima as a speaker, engaging her as a trainer for your organization, or applying for mentorship, we'd love to hear from you.
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