Our work in social and sustainable entrepreneurship

We take a collaborative approach, co-designing innovative projects with relevant stakeholders to create supportive institutional and operational environments, facilitate public-private dialogue, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. We support the development of robust entrepreneurial ecosystems and stimulate job and enterprise creation.

Through strategic partnerships with public partners and entrepreneurship support organisations as well as tailored deployment of experts, we implement programmes that advance regulatory reforms, improve the business climate, and foster investment and entrepreneurship. Our projects cover eight main areas.

Supporting the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems

We also help to organise business sectors and clusters, foster public-private partnerships, and link entrepreneurship with scientific research to boost innovation.

Promoting entrepreneurial culture and business capacity

We develop educational tools, raise awareness among young people, promote entrepreneurial and innovation culture, and empower women and underreached populations. We also strengthen business capacities in areas like business planning and accounting, and improve market access both locally and internationally.

Facilitating access to finance

We boost access to financing for companies and startups through grants, zero-interest no-collateral loans, repayable advances, and participatory and innovative finance mechanisms. We partner with microfinance institutions and support the development of financial products tailored to MSMEs and structured investment products.

Technical assistance for business climate reform

Supporting frameworks for new technologies

We help shape national strategies on emerging technologies (e.g., disruptive innovation, AI, geospatial) and promote international cooperation in these areas.

Accelerating economic digitalisation

We implement technical cooperation projects to accelerate digital transformation in enterprises, help MSMEs adopt new technologies, and support the development of state-led startups.

Enabling the transition to an inclusive, sustainable economy 

Our work focuses on several key areas. We support the private sector in its shift toward environmentally responsible production, assist with industrial decarbonisation, foster corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate duty of care, support the social economy, develop the circular economy, help business ecosystems integrate circularity, implement mechanisms that drive economic development for local populations, support greentech, and foster the development of new technologies that contribute to environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Promoting diaspora entrepreneurship

France has made it a priority to promote African entrepreneurship as a way to contribute to a shared future between Europe and Africa’s youth. This priority was made clear by President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 during the New Africa-France Summit, then again in May 2023 at the Presidential Council for Development, and finally at the Presidential Council for International Partnerships in 2025. As such, we are working to support diaspora entrepreneurship between Europe and Africa, thereby contributing to the development and organisation of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Our activities align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national strategies for private sector development. Our Contract of Objectives and Means, an agreement between our agency and the French government regarding our budget and strategic priorities for the coming years, commits us to supporting innovative MSMEs and promoting inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems as a key strategy to reduce poverty.

We also contribute to the Choose Africa entrepreneurship initiative. We work towards achieving the goals of the Presidential Council for International Partnerships (CPPI), which include the promotion of African entrepreneurship, as a way to foster a shared future between Europe and Africa’s youth. 

We co-design programmes with stakeholders to foster inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. 

Our services support the upskilling and shaping of organisations through technical assistance, grants, and expert assignments to create funding mechanisms, entrepreneurship training, and innovation platforms that support long-lasting ventures.

Our comprehensive range of services continues to grow. Our goal is to address all stages of the entrepreneurial journey, across diverse sectors and levels of advancement. It focuses on four key aspects:

• Digital entrepreneurship: Support local digital and startup innovation networks, develop policy frameworks, enhance digital access among underreached groups, and build digital skills for companies.
• Women’s entrepreneurship: Improve women’s access to finance, better employment conditions, and leadership through tailored projects and job-creating initiatives.
• Green entrepreneurship: Support the green transition by developing green enterprises and promoting sustainable and equitable production methods.
• Cultural and creative entrepreneurship: Strengthen the cultural and creative industries, mainly in Africa, by supporting innovative and digital entrepreneurship, as well as showcasing talent. We help reinforce cultural entrepreneurship via cross-cutting activities to promote local ecosystem growth and support the cultural and creative industries throughout their development phases (legal framework, technical and financial support, network development, etc.).