Our Story
Ours is a story of determination, passion, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Born in the garage of our founder, Mariama Fatajo, in Kololi, The Gambia, West Africa, on March 27, 2012, Tefa started out as Tefa Global Solutions, a small business providing general agriculture development consultancy with just 4 staff members.
As a migrant business, Mariama had experienced firsthand the challenges that small farmers faced in trying to make a living from agriculture. She was determined to make a difference, and set the direction of the business towards growing small businesses to improve the owners' income, just like her, and the nation's tax base. Despite the many obstacles she faced, Mariama's vision and drive helped Tefa to grow and evolve over the years. In August 2015, the company moved to a warehouse store location in Sukuta, Greater Banjul Area, and increased its staff to 6 employees. This move allowed Tefa to expand its services and to work with a wider range of clients in the
agriculture sector.
In November 2017, Tefa evolved into Tefa Development Services and moved to a professional office location in Bijilo, The Gambia. This move signaled a major turning point for the company, allowing Tefa to build its brand and attract more clients from a wider range of industries. With a team of professionals dedicated to promoting sustainable economic growth and development, Tefa was able to provide tailored services and solutions to clients in each region.
Tefa is a true blue WorlBank offshoot. Our founder, Mariama Fatajo, was awarded the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship to pursue a Master's in Sustainable International Development at Brandeis, which provided her with the skills, knowledge, and opportunity needed to grow Tefa in the USA. Our business expansion to the United States has been made possible through the income generated from the technical assistance we have provided to World Bank-funded projects. In March 2023, Tefa expanded its operations to the United States by establishing Tefa USA, which became the headquarters of global operations. With a team of 27 professional staff members, Tefa USA provides a wide range of services to clients in the US and around the world, including capacity development, export market development, and investment promotion services.
Today, Tefa is a thriving international development business with a global network of offices and a team of professionals dedicated to promoting sustainable economic growth and development through small business development. Our story is one of perseverance, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, and we are proud to continue making a positive impact on the world for years to come.