Dakar city markets in Senegal are significant hubs for female artisans who engage in craft sales as a primary source of income. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 150 randomly selected female artisans in Dakar city markets. Data on their engagement with various empowerment strategies and sales performance were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. Among the surveyed artisans, 72% reported participating in at least one training programme designed to enhance their craft skills and business acumen. However, only 45% of these participants saw an increase in their average monthly sales by more than 10%. The primary theme identified was the effectiveness of mentorship programmes in boosting artisan productivity. The findings suggest that while training programmes are effective in improving artisans' skill sets, there is a need for better integration and support to translate these skills into higher sales outcomes. Artisan associations should prioritise mentorship initiatives alongside traditional training programmes to facilitate smoother business transitions and market entry among their members.
Ndour et al. (Wed,) studied this question.