The article discusses the challenges faced by rural women in Senegal due to gender norms that hinder their access to financial and agricultural services. It highlights pilot projects conducted by CGAP and myAgro that aim to provide insights into how companies can better cater to the needs of rural women by addressing these societal norms. The projects are focused on understanding and overcoming the barriers that prevent women from benefiting from such services, with the goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women in rural areas of Senegal.

The article discusses the innovative approach of myAgro, a social enterprise that helps smallholder farmers in Africa to save money for seeds and fertilizer using a mobile layaway platform. The company has a particular focus on serving rural women, who often face barriers in accessing traditional banking services. myAgro's model allows farmers to make small, incremental payments towards their inputs, which helps them to invest in their farms and increase their harvests. The article highlights the impact of myAgro's work on empowering women farmers by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, thus contributing to the broader goals of gender equality and poverty reduction in the region.

The article discusses the escalating crisis in Mali, warning of a potential collapse and 'Somalization' of the country, which could destabilize the entire Sahel region. The M5-RFP, a coalition of religious leaders, politicians, and civil society, is demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita following invalidated election results. The crisis stems from recent elections but is rooted in deeper issues that have worsened under Keita's rule, including the spread of jihadism over 70% of Mali's territory. The Malian soldiers are ill-equipped to handle the situation, leading to daily casualties. The article also touches on the complex dynamics in the Sahel, including ethnic conflicts exacerbated by climate change, and the failure of regional and international efforts, such as the G5-Sahel and ECOWAS, to stabilize the region. It suggests that the solution for Mali lies in the main actors finding common ground and establishing strong institutions to address the challenges facing the region.