Zira Capital

Gama Conseil is a training center from pre-school to university in Mali.  It includes 12 establishments, including 3 universities (under the brand ESCAE), 3 high schools, 3 technical and vocational training schools and 3 basic schools.  Gama Conseils establishments have served more than 2,800 pupils and learners in the towns of Bamako, Dioïla, Ségou and Sikasso.

The entrepreneur

Gama Conseils was founded by Gaoussou Marico, a chartered accountant with a doctorate in economics. With over 25 years' professional experience in the banking sector and higher education in Mali, he worked as Administrative and Financial Director and Deputy General Manager of Banque Atlantique Mali before joining Compagnie Financière d'Afrique (COFINA) as Deputy General Manager in 2016.

In January 2023, he decided to devote himself fully to his company Gama Conseils, which he founded in 2014.

Partnership with Zira Capital

Gama Conseil is supported by Zira Capital through a capital investment whose objectives are to :

• Support the modernization of equipment at vocational training schools, upgrade training offerings at universities and contribute to the expansion of the university network nationwide.
• Strengthen the accounting and financial function
• Establish a governance policy
• Strengthen the system for monitoring students and learners

Expected impacts

• Consolidation de 70 emplois permanents et de 263 emplois non permanents
• Contribution à l'employabilité des jeunes et femmes
• Formalisation de la gouvernance

Fafa Pâtisserie specializes in the production and commercialization of pastry, viennoiserie and savory products in Mali.

The entrepreneur

Fafa Pâtisserie was founded by Fatoumata Cissé, a 34-year-old Malian woman who has been passionate about gastronomy since she was a child. She grew up in Bamako until she obtained her baccalaureate, then decided to fly to Canada, more precisely to Montreal, where she pursued her higher education. In 2015, Fatoumata returned to settle permanently in Mali. She then decided to devote herself entirely to her first passion, making various birthday cakes and other sweet delights in her own kitchen. Encouraged by the positive feedback from those around her, Fatoumata quickly realized the commercial potential of her culinary creations. So she began producing and marketing cakes, donuts and savory canapés.

Partnership with I&P and Zira Capital

Fafa Pâtisserie is supported by Zira Capital through I&P Accélération au Sahel program, an I&P initiative funded by the European Union. The aim of this partnership is to :

• Set up and fit out the patisserie's first physical point of sale, in order to have a physical boutique
• Increase sales to B2B customers through the implementation of an appropriate sales strategy 
• Support the company in structuring its key functions (HR, accounting, etc.)
• Increase the company's supply capacity and finance the acquisition of production equipment

Rock is a Malian company specializing in the production of industrial slabs and pavers for indoor and outdoor paving.

The entrepreneur

Rock was founded in 2019 by Mohamed Arbi, a 30-year-old Malian entrepreneur with a solid knowledge of the building and civil engineering sector, who was quick to understand customers' expectations in terms of industrial slabs and pavers. He embodies the vision and determination of Mali's younger generation of entrepreneurs.

Partnership with Zira Capital

Rock is supported by I&P and Zira Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The aim of this partnership is to :

• Increase production capacity by fully industrializing the production process and reducing lead times
• Increase sales to B2B customers through the implementation of an adapted sales strategy
• Support the company in structuring its key functions (HR, accounting, etc.)
• Equip the company with an accounting management system and an administrative procedures manual

Sanuva is a company specialized in the collection, sorting and recycling of waste in Mali. The company also offers training and awareness workshops as part of the Social and Environmental Responsibility of Malian SMEs.

The entrepreneurs

Sanuva was created in 2019 by three young Malians trained in France and Mali, Mahamadoun A. Traoré, Moussa Coulibaly and Bamory Coulibaly who came together around their common vision to participate in the sanitation and sustainable development of Mali.

Objet du financement

Sanuva is supported by Zira Capital and I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Develop the recycling unit (work on the unit, installation of a water point, purchase of fire extinguishers) 
• Increase the collection and production capacity through the acquisition of new production equipment and a dump truck
• Strengthen the team with new hires and reinforce occupational health and safety (OHS) standards 
• Organize the key functions (accounting, operational and commercial) of the company through technical assistance 

Expected impacts

• Strengthen the accountability function and increase sales
• Maintenance of existing jobs and creation of 6 new jobs (including 3 day laborers)
• Reorganization of production and reduction of energy consumption in the medium term 
• Compliance with fire standards and reinforcement of health and safety measures