Bowel Diop

Bowel Diop is a social and solidarity economy specialist passionate about knowledge sharing and social innovation. An expert in project design and fundraising, she is actively committed to advocating for the rights of girls and women in Africa. With 9 years of experience, she combines technical expertise with the ability to inspire change through her interventions and training programs.

Currently serving as Project Director at Baobab Institute, Bowel manages a $2M fund to scale up family planning integration in Francophone West Africa.

Previously the Program Director at Makesense Africa, she developed and led impact-driven programs in 9 countries, showcasing her ability to share and adapt her expertise to various contexts. Her leadership is reflected in managing a portfolio of 256 projects, an innovation fund of 112M FCFA, mentoring over 200 social entrepreneurs, and overseeing an international team.

A passionate trainer, she excels in facilitating workshops and coaching entrepreneurs. Her unique pedagogical approach combines design thinking, collaborative practices, and impact-driven methodologies. Bowel Diop has raised over $2M to develop innovative programs that merge economic performance with social impact.

Engaged in agroecology with Naangue SARL and founder of Yittë (which means “priority” in Wolof), she frequently speaks on impact entrepreneurship and development challenges in Africa.

Yittë, her online African feminist platform, has two main components:

1. Educate:
   • Publishing articles on topics relevant to African women.
   • Highlighting inspiring figures.
   • Broadcasting podcasts in French and local languages to raise awareness among a broader audience.
2. Empower:
   • Sharing practical tools for business management, finance, and personal development.
   • Organizing entrepreneurship support programs with a methodology focused on impact and sustainability.

The platform stands out for its inclusive approach, with a special focus on using local languages to reach grassroots communities. It blends pedagogy and social innovation to equip women to become key agents of change in Africa.

Fluent in Wolof and Fulani, and holding a Master’s degree in Social and Solidarity Economy, Bowel is recognized for her ability to build bridges between diverse cultures and perspectives. A lifelong learner, she is dedicated to developing new economic models that place humanity and equity at the center of social transformation in Africa.

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Bowel Diop, spécialiste en économie sociale et solidaire  sénégalaise experte en conception de projets et levée de fonds, engagée pour les droits des filles et des femmes en Afrique. Ancienne Directrice des Programmes Makesense Afrique, elle a mobilisé 2M$ et géré un fonds d’innovation de 112M FCFA. Experte-conseil, elle pilote des projets d’autonomisation économique. Entrepreneuse en agroécologie (Naangue SARL), elle construit des modèles de développement équitables centrés sur les droits des femmes.