CAF Bouwedeou Group

The CAF Bouwedeou Group, based near Lomé, brings together 12 entrepreneurs who collectively support 30 dependants, including 18 school-age children. The members are primarily women engaged in a variety of trading activities, including the sale of food products, fabrics, shoes and cereals. Through their businesses, they work to improve household incomes, support their families and create better opportunities for the future.

Tchakondo is a 46-year-old married mother and an experienced grain trader. Her husband works as a driver, and together they share responsibility for household expenses and the education of their children. Her business plays an important role in supporting the family's financial needs.

For more than 15 years, Tchakondo has specialised in the sale of maize, millet and beans. She operates her own shop, serving customers in her community and generating a reliable source of income through grain trading. Over the years, she has developed strong knowledge of sourcing, stock management and customer demand, helping her maintain a successful business.

Although her enterprise has grown steadily, sourcing products mainly from retailers has sometimes limited her ability to purchase larger quantities and take advantage of better pricing. Increasing access to working capital would enable her to strengthen her supply chain and improve stock availability.

With her share of the loan, Tchakondo plans to purchase additional sacks of maize and millet to increase inventory levels. Buying in larger quantities from wholesalers will help ensure a more reliable supply of products, improve her ability to meet customer demand and strengthen the profitability of her business.

Looking ahead, her ambition is to open additional outlets and expand her trading activities. To achieve this goal, she plans to reinvest part of her future profits into the business while using the remainder to support household expenses and her children's needs.

The members of the CAF Bouwedeou Group believe that access to finance will help them strengthen their businesses, improve stock levels and expand their commercial activities. By investing in additional goods for resale, they hope to increase income, broaden their market reach and improve the financial wellbeing of their families.