Poverty Reduction Through Business: Stories of Entrepreneurial Impact
Table of Contents
- Business Innovation Driving Inclusive Impact
- Ecological Packaging and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Benin
- Business Success Beyond Limiting Circumstances: Sadia’s Entrepreneurial Journey
- What These Success Stories Teach Us About Reducing Poverty
- Innovative Business Models for Community Empowerment
- Creating Lasting Change Through Inclusive Strategies
Business Innovation Driving Inclusive Impact
Melvina Covo and Sadia Karimou Issifou started with an idea and the determination to improve their lives. Like many small business owners in Benin, they faced challenges—limited financing, unclear direction, and few opportunities to grow. But with support from the BeniBiz program, they found the tools and training they needed to strengthen their businesses, increase their income, and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Ecological Packaging and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Benin
Melvina Covo, an agro-quality engineer and mother of two, founded Emballe Bénin Service, a company that produces ecological packaging using paper and cardboard. Driven by a desire to reduce plastic waste and create sustainable alternatives, Melvina launched her company with strong technical expertise but limited resources.
She quickly ran into the challenges many early-stage businesses face: lack of access to financing, limited production capacity, and unstructured internal systems. “As a start-up, microfinance institutions are not necessarily adapted to our needs,” Melvina shared.
Her turning point came when she joined the BeniBiz program, a joint initiative implemented by TechnoServe and funded by the Government and Embassy of the Netherlands in Benin. Through practical training, Melvina gained financial management, marketing, and leadership skills. She also learned how to separate her personal finances from her business accounts and build a growth plan tailored to her goals.
“BeniBiz helped us understand that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have other sources of financing adapted to their needs,” she explained.
Since joining the program, Melvina’s revenue has increased by 25%. Her improved business strategy and marketing approach allowed her to reach new customers and expand her client base. In 2023, she participated in a national business plan competition and won fourth place, receiving a grant of 2,000 USD. This funding enabled her to invest in a new machine, a key step in scaling up production.
“This gave us the tools to approach our growth projects with courage and calm,” she said.
Melvina is now focused on expanding Emballe Bénin Service and training more young people in ecological packaging. She hopes to contribute to environmental sustainability while creating decent jobs for others. “We have hope in this industry we are going to build to protect our environment,” she added.
Business Success Beyond Limiting Circumstances: Sadia’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Sadia Karimou Issifou, a 34-year-old entrepreneur, was selling poultry meat when she first heard about BeniBiz. At the time, she earned between 90 and 300 USD per month and struggled to grow her business. “I wasn’t in the entrepreneur database,” she said. “I felt invisible.”
“I wasn’t in the entrepreneur database,” she said. “I felt invisible.”
Sadia Karimou
Living with a disability, Sadia refused to let her circumstances limit her. When she joined the program, she found something she hadn’t expected—confidence. “BeniBiz taught me to know myself,” she said. With support from the program, she expanded her business to include food paste products, increasing her income streams.
Today, Sadia earns up to 2,300 USD per month. She has purchased a two-lot plot of land and is recognized as a successful entrepreneur in her community. “Right now, I’m revealing a success to you,” she said proudly.
The impact of her business extends beyond her own life. Sadia has taken on the responsibility of raising a young girl, providing for her education and well-being. “Before, I was a burden to others. Today, I’m the one taking care of people,” she said.
Sadia is now working toward opening her own farm, investing in cold storage, and transforming her shop into a full supermarket. “Being disabled is not a fatality,” she said. Building her business allowed Sadia to support herself—and others—and move closer to the life she had imagined.
What These Success Stories Teach Us About Reducing Poverty
Melvina and Sadia’s journeys show how business development can be a powerful tool for reducing poverty. Tailored training, access to finance, and personalized coaching helped them turn challenges into growth. Their stories reflect what happens when SMEs receive the support they need to thrive: income increases, new jobs are created, and communities benefit.
Innovative Business Models for Community Empowerment
Through the BeniBiz project, thousands of entrepreneurs in Benin are improving their livelihoods and building stronger, more resilient businesses. In 2023 alone, BeniBiz supported over 4,000 businesses, more than half led by women or youth. The program supports long-term economic prosperity by helping entrepreneurs build inclusive, sustainable business models.
Creating Lasting Change Through Inclusive Strategies
Real change happens when people are given the tools and opportunities to shape their futures. Through entrepreneurship and inclusive business strategies, individuals like Melvina and Sadia are showing that poverty reduction through business is not only possible—it’s already happening.
