Women’s Initiative The Gambia (WIG) helps empower poor women in The Gambia by developing economic activities based on the protection and conservation of the natural environment.  Its activities focus on the production of handicrafts from recycled plastic, the production of organic charcoal and environmental awareness.

The main objective of the project, developed in collaboration with Aethnic, the Responsible Tourism Association, is to install electricity in a WIG charcoal production plant located in Jambour Fula Kunda, on the Gambian coast. The charcoal briquettes are made from solid agricultural waste (coconut and peanut shells, cassava, or millet). The production of this type of charcoal promotes the generation of employment for poor women and protects the ecosystem by helping to avoid deforestation. The electrification of the factory will help ensure the production of 100 tonnes of briquettes per day, which will be marketed by a cooperative of 12 women linked to Women's Initiative The Gambia.