ApiAfrique is a social business focused on zero waste.
In 2010, Marina Gning and Jeanne-Aurélie Delaunay created ApiNapi. After 10 years working in the cinema industry, they wanted to raise awareness about washable nappies and natural care products for babies. They opened their shop in Paris.
Two years later, Marianne Varale stepped into their shop. Former cinema costume designer, she also designed washable hygiene products. They got on right away! Marianne joined the team and started developing prototypes.
For several years, Marina travelled to Senegal with her husband, Abdoulaye. She quickly realized that the products she sold in France were very well suited to Senegal. ApiAfrique was born.
Abdoulaye Gning joined the project and the team decided to get help. ApiAfrique was selected by the HEC incubator and the Antropia program of Essec. In 2016, Marina and Abdoulaye moved to Senegal and ApiAfrique started its activities!
Today, ApiAfrique is a Senegalese social business that offers solutions that are innovative, local, and respectful of the environment for women and baby care.
Our vision: promote sustainable solutions that contribute to women’s emancipation, reduce waste, fight against exclusion, and create jobs. We want to distribute practices and products that respect nature and humans alike, through activities that are sustainable and create employment.
Our impact
At ApiAfrique, we choose to do business that changes the world.
We take care to have a positive impact in all of our actions, small and large.
Reduce Waste
From its birth to the age of 1 and a half, a baby uses on average 5,000 disposable nappies. This represents 1 ton of waste that takes 450 years to biodegrade.
And it is the same for sanitary towels for women: 8,000 in a lifetime, 50 chemical products and a ton of waste!
Protect health
There is no regulation on disposable sanitary towels and the manufacturers are reluctant to reveal the exact composition. On average they contain up to 50 chemical products!
For many women, these disposable products lead to discomfort and health issues over the short and long term.
Foster women’s empowerment
Hidden work has too much impact on women and their independance.
Being in Senegal made ApiAfrique able to create safe and legal work with good working conditions for women who have access to new position and work possibilities.
Our team
Board
Co-founder, Marina is in charge of distribution, partnerships, as well as programs with high impact.
Marina Gning
CEO
Co-founder, Marianne is in charge of research and development, sourcing, and training.
Marianne Varale
Administrator
Co-founder, Abdoulaye is in charge of the accounts and impact measures.
Abdoulaye Gning
General Director
Co-founder, Jeanne-Aurélie is in charge of the distribution in France and Europe.
Jeanne-Aurélie Delaunay
Administrator
Seynabou Thiam-Monnier co-founded Yaay in 2014, the first platform connecting Senegalese mothers. Today, the platform connects more than 8,000 women on a daily basis.
Seynabou Thiam Monnier
AdministratorTo develop effective, responsible and transparent actions at all levels, we have set up a board of directors which collectively represents all the shareholders. He acts in the social interest of ApiAfrique and ensures its proper functioning. Its missions: approve the strategic orientations, take the measures that promote the sustainability of the company, supervise and ensure their implementation in accordance with the values of ApiAfrique, respect the standards of governance, ethics and risk management . Its members are chosen for their experience, expertise and independence. Its composition aims to respect the parity and diversity of profiles.
Our Market
Senegal & West Africa
Based in Senegal, ApiAfrique aspires to change the life of women in western Africa!
Girls and women from 15 to 50 years old
Our solutions are aimed at girls and women from 15 to 50 years old. During her lifetime, a woman uses on average 8,000 sanitary protections, which amounts to 1 ton of waste!
For babies and woman in Francophone Africa
In 2017, there are 185 million women in western Africa. This number is predicted to double by 2050.
Clients and charities
Our clients and charities include individual women as well NGOs (health, ecology, gender). We are also working with professionals in the health sector (midwifes, gynaecologists) and local community agents.
