In the Tchologo region, in northern Côte d’Ivoire, many women make a living from agriculture and the processing of local products. Despite their expertise and the quality of what they produce, access to markets remains a major challenge. Limited visibility, poor access to market information, and difficulties connecting with buyers often restrict economic development opportunities for women’s groups.
To address these challenges, AmazoOn du Web, a women’s association that promotes information and communication technologies among women, has developed an integrated approach combining digital inclusion, support for women’s groups, and the creation of marketing opportunities. This initiative is part of the ACT Femmes project, funded by the Government of Canada (GAC), and Confluences 2, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). It was highlighted during the “Faces of Transformation” photo exhibition, held in May 2026 in Ferkessédougou, Côte d’Ivoire.
The exhibition was not only an opportunity to present the projects’ achievements. It also brought together actors who rarely meet: local authorities, public services, community organizations, the Office for Assistance in the Marketing of Food Products (OCPV), restaurant owners, hotel operators, and women’s groups.
This gathering created a space for dialogue around the difficulties rural women face in marketing their products and the possible solutions for improving their access to markets.
The panel organized around the theme: “Rural women, digital innovation, and access to markets: what synergies can strengthen the marketing of local products in Tchologo?” made it possible to share experiences and identify concrete avenues for action to improve rural women’s access to markets.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Tchologo Digital Market, a platform established as part of the ACT Femmes project with support from AmazoOn du Web. Open and accessible to everyone, it aims to increase the visibility of products offered by beneficiary women’s groups, facilitate their promotion, and help connect them with potential buyers. An online form also allows orders to be placed directly through the platform.
The exhibition also introduced Nour, an inclusive digital assistant developed by AmazoOn du Web and available at nour.amazoonduweb.org. Through conversational artificial intelligence, Nour supports women entrepreneurs, traders, and producers in marketing their products, creating marketing content, and developing their online visibility. It therefore helps reduce barriers related to digital skills and facilitates women’s access to the digital economy, particularly in rural areas. Its upcoming availability on the Play Store will open new opportunities for women’s groups, who will be able to access these services directly from their smartphones.
These initiatives are based on a simple idea: today, mastering digital tools has become an important lever for developing an economic activity.
The approach led by AmazoOn du Web is not limited to creating digital platforms. It also relies on strengthening beneficiaries’ skills. Through information and communication technology (ICT) training provided as part of the project, women gradually acquire the knowledge needed to use digital tools in their economic activities.
These skills are a major asset in enabling them, over time, to access broader marketing platforms such as E-grenier, an OCPV digital platform, and other opportunities offered by the digital economy.
Driven by a concrete commitment to support women’s groups in selling their goods, AmazoOn du Web took the initiative to contact OCPV. This proactive approach led to a working session at OCPV’s offices in Korhogo, during which the two parties discussed concrete ways to connect women’s groups with structured marketing channels.
It was as a natural follow-up to this meeting that OCPV was invited to participate in the panel organized during the “Faces of Transformation” photo exhibition in Ferkessédougou. This participation illustrates the willingness of the various actors to work together to sustainably improve rural women’s access to markets.
The stand visits were one of the most important parts of the activity. The women’s groups were able to present their products directly to traders, restaurant owners, hotel managers, and other economic actors in attendance.
These exchanges made it possible to discuss market needs, supply possibilities, and prospects for commercial collaboration. Several contacts were established between the women producers and potential buyers, opening the way to future economic opportunities.
Beyond promoting local products, this approach created a genuine space for economic networking, opening new prospects for collaboration for rural women.
Through the “Faces of Transformation” photo exhibition, the ACT Femmes project, with support from AmazoOn du Web, demonstrated that it is possible to build bridges between digital inclusion, local economic development, and women’s empowerment.
By combining training, digital tools, institutional partnerships, and connections with buyers, this approach helps gradually remove the obstacles that limit economic opportunities for rural women.
This experience illustrates the potential of digital technology as a driver of inclusion and development for rural communities in the Tchologo region.
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
Join our community of supporters passionate about ending world hunger.
