At 30, Gourouza, a trained agronomist, embodied the reality of many young graduates across West Africa. After completing his studies, he moved from one internship to the next, hoping to secure stable employment in the livestock sector. His ambition remained strong, but opportunities were limited.
A position with a private veterinary in Madaoua marked a first turning point. There, Gourouza observed a simple but decisive truth: the market exists, and demand is real. What was missing was neither production capacity nor technical expertise, but visibility and access to customers beyond a small personal network.
Determined to act, he launched his own livestock breeding and trading activity. Income followed, modest but steady, ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 FCFA (CHF 4 to 7) per month. The business relied mainly on family, acquaintances, and a handful of WhatsApp contacts. It worked, but it remained confined to a local market, with little room to grow.
Gourouza’s trajectory changed when he was selected for a digital marketing training programme, funded by the IMS Foundation and implemented by Swisscontact. Over two months, he was introduced to a new way of thinking about his business.
Beyond digital tools, he gained a clearer understanding of how markets function. He learned how to structure a compelling offer, build a professional online presence, manage customer relationships, and track sales systematically. Gradually, he realised that digitalisation is not simply a communication channel, it is a strategic growth lever. A concrete way to move beyond a limited local market and reach a far broader customer base.
The impact was swift. As soon as he applied his new skills, demand increased. Orders first came from other regions of Niger, then from neighbouring countries. Today, Gourouza ,exports to Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, and Mauritania.
His business has undergone a profound transformation. Order management, coordination with transporters, and sales monitoring now rely on clear and organised processes. What was once an informal livestock trading activity has evolved into a structured enterprise capable of serving regional and cross-border markets.
The figures highlight the scale of this change. Monthly revenue now reaches approximately 2,000,000 FCFA (CHF 2 800), with an estimated monthly profit of 400,000 to 500,000 FCFA (CHF 556 to 695). The contrast with his initial situation is striking.
Yet the most significant transformation goes beyond financial gains. Gourouza has moved from being a job seeker to becoming a business creator, someone able to anticipate demand, make strategic decisions, and invest with a long-term perspective.
The growth of Gourouza’s business is generating tangible benefits for the local economy. He now employs one staff member responsible for deliveries and animal care, is investing in land acquisition, and is gradually professionalising his enterprise. Future plans include livestock insurance, the purchase of a dedicated transport truck, and the development of a stronger regional network.
This trajectory illustrates a fundamental principle for long-term partners: investing in the digital skills of local entrepreneurs creates a lasting multiplier effect. By connecting markets, strengthening business competitiveness, and creating jobs, digitalisation transforms informal activities into structured enterprises with regional reach. The impact goes far beyond an individual success story, contributing to the consolidation of economic ecosystems in which private initiative becomes a driver of shared prosperity, capable of sustaining and growing well beyond the lifespan of a project.
This project is financed by the Irene M. Staehelin Foundation. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.