Association des Juristes Sénégalaises/ AJS

What Association des Juristes Sénégalaises/ AJS does

The Association des Juristes Sénégalaises (AJS) is a Senegalese non-profit legal and human rights organization founded in July 1974 in Dakar. It was originally created as the "Amicale des Juristes Sénégalaises" by a group of women jurists — including Mame Madior BOYE, who later became Senegal's first female Prime Minister — to promote equal relationships between men and women and to defend the rights of women and children. Over 50 years, AJS has built its work around three core missions: (1) free legal and judicial assistance delivered through a network of Boutiques de droit (legal boutiques) located across at least eight Senegalese regions (Dakar, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Fatick, Thiès, Kolda, Kaolack, Saint-Louis, Diourbel), supplemented by an itinerant mobile boutique and a toll-free hotline (800 805 805) operational since August 2010; (2) advocacy and legislative reform, with documented contributions to the 2010 parity law and the 2020 law criminalizing rape and pedophilia; and (3) capacity building and legal awareness through sensitization campaigns, training of 180 parajurists and community relays (notably under the EU-funded SEN Résilience II project), and publication of the Revue La Citoyenne and policy studies.

AJS's core service products are the Boutiques de droit (free in-person legal consultations and judicial accompaniment), the Boutique de droit itinérante (mobile outreach to underserved areas such as Nianing), the green-number hotline, legal studies and research publications, and the organization's flagship periodical, Revue La Citoyenne. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led by a small paid staff of 9 employees, supplemented by trained parajurists, volunteer community relays, and partnerships with legal professionals.

The organization is funded almost entirely through grants and institutional donations from international donors and partners, including the European Union (via SEN Résilience II), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, UNDP, UNFPA, BCEAO, Equality Now, ECPAT International, IPAS Afrique francophone, Avocats sans frontières Canada, Carrefour International, American Jewish World Service, and the Fondation Heinrich Böll Stiftung. All services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge; AJS does not generate commercial revenue. The current president, Aminata Fall NIANG (since 2023), also serves on the CENA and represents AJS on the supervisory board of MCA Senegal II, anchoring the organization within Senegal's broader governance and development architecture.

Name

Association des Juristes Sénégalaises/ AJS

Legal name

Association des Juristes Sénégalaises

Website

https://femmesjuristes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AJS is a Senegalese non-profit founded in 1974 that provides free legal aid, judicial accompaniment, and advocacy for women's and children's rights through a network of regional legal boutiques, a mobile boutique, and a toll-free hotline, funded primarily by institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid and Human Rights Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411), All Other Legal Services (541199)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Women's rights advocacy
• Human rights organization
• Legal consultation services
• Gender-based violence support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Institutional Funding: AJS operates primarily through grants from international organizations, foundations, and government programs. Funding sources include the European Union (SEN Résilience II project), UNDP, and various development partners.
2. Donations and Support: The organization receives donations and financial support from partners such as BCEAO and other institutional donors for specific programs and initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Association des Juristes Sénégalaises (AJS) provides free legal aid and judicial support through a national network of Boutiques de droit (legal boutiques), a mobile legal boutique, and a toll-free hotline (800 805 805), primarily serving women and children in Senegal. The organization complements its direct legal services with advocacy for legislative reform (notably laws criminalizing rape and pedophilia in 2020) and capacity-building programs including sensitization campaigns and training of parajurists. All services are delivered free of charge to vulnerable populations across Senegal.

Product overview

The Association des Juristes Sénégalaises (AJS) is a non-profit organization offering legal assistance and human rights services primarily for women and children in Senegal. Its core offerings consist of a network of Boutiques de droit (legal boutiques) providing free legal consultations and support, supplemented by a mobile legal boutique (boutique de droit itinérante) serving underserved regions, and a free hotline (800 805 805) for victims of violence. The organization also publishes research studies and the Revue La Citoyenne. AJS operates through three main missions: legal and judicial assistance, advocacy and legislative reform, and capacity building and awareness raising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boutiques de droit (Legal Boutiques Network) A network of physical legal consultation centers providing free legal advice, guidance, and support to populations, particularly women and children, across multiple regions of Senegal including Dakar, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Fatick, Thiès, Kolda, and Kaolack. Services include legal counsel, accompaniment, and legal case handling.
• Boutique de droit itinérante (Itinerant Legal Boutique) A mobile legal boutique that travels to regions where AJS does not yet have a permanent Boutique de droit, offering free legal consultations, confidential listening, and adapted assistance, particularly for women and girls.
• Numéro vert gratuit 800 805 805 (Toll-Free Hotline) A free green number hotline established in August 2010 providing listening and support services for victims of violence.
• Legal Studies and Research Publications Studies and key research documents on legal barriers, economic empowerment of women, gender-based violence, and children's rights to support advocacy and policy reform.
• Revue La Citoyenne A publication by AJS covering topics related to citizenship, women's rights, and legal issues.
• Capacity Building and Sensitization Programs Awareness campaigns, training, and legal education programs for vulnerable populations, community relays, parajurists, schools, and institutions aimed at promoting knowledge of and access to rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,340 cases of women victims of violence documented and assisted in 2017 through legal boutiques
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Konrad Adenauer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead foundation for the SEN Résilience II project in partnership with EU and AJS, supporting resilience and legal access programs.
• Carrefour InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing the itinerant legal boutique initiative in Nianing and Malicounda area.
• Avocats sans frontières CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ASFC in October 2025 to train Senegalese human rights organizations on legal defense techniques and capacity building.
• Fédération Sénégalaise de Randonnée Pédestre (FSRP)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided technical support for the organization of the 50th anniversary hiking event.
• UNFPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection for visits to adolescent counseling centers and sensitization activities.
• ECPAT InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized regional workshop in Saly to end sexual exploitation of children, with support from IBCR and AJS participation.
• IPAS Afrique francophonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish mechanisms for access to medical abortion in cases of rape and incest, targeting human rights organizations, women's organizations, and justice actors.
• PASNEEG (Projet d'Appui à la Stratégie Nationale pour l'Équité et l'Égalité de Genre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sensitization caravans on gender-based violence in Thiès region and advocacy for discriminatory legislative reforms.
• Fondation Heinrich Böll StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the advocacy workshop on discriminatory provisions in the Family Code regarding paternal power and legal marriage age.
• Equality NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for regional training of lawyers from 13 African countries on litigation before the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights using the Maputo Protocol.
• LISCA (Ligue Sénégalaise contre le Cancer)minorOthersAJS is a member of LISCA's board and participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Cancer Screening Center.
• AWLN Senegal (African Women Leaders Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJS participated in the official launch of the Mentorship Program in November 2025.
• CISV (International Voluntary Service for Peace)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploratory meeting held at AJS headquarters in February 2025 to identify potential collaboration areas.
• MCA Senegal II (Millennium Challenge Account)minorOthersAJS President Aminata Fall NIANG represents AJS at the Supervisory Board of MCA Senegal II's second compact.
• National PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gender integration in peacekeeping operations and GBV response training for police forces.
• Gendarmerie NationaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivileged partner of AJS; collaborated on International Women's Rights Day celebrations in March 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fondation pour l'Égalité des Chances en Afrique (FECA): Africa-focused foundation promoting equality and rights through legal aid and advocacy. Comparable in regional scope and thematic focus on women's rights, though operating from a different entry point.

Direct peers

• ECPAT International: Global network organization working to end sexual exploitation of children; co-organized a regional workshop with AJS in Saly. Highly comparable on child protection mandate and on the combination of legal advocacy and capacity-building activities.
• Avocats sans frontières Canada (ASFC): Canadian legal aid NGO active in West Africa; formally partnered with AJS in October 2025 to train Senegalese human rights organizations on legal defense techniques. Direct peer given overlapping mission, region, and capacity-building methodologies.
• Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF): Pan-African feminist legal empowerment network supporting women's rights NGOs across the continent. Highly comparable to AJS in mission (legal aid, advocacy for women's rights), model (local NGO membership, coalition advocacy), and geographic focus on West Africa with Senegalese partners.
• International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA): Global association of women lawyers with national chapters in African countries, providing legal aid to women and children and advocating for legislative reform. FIDA Senegal's mandate — free legal assistance, advocacy on family law and gender-based violence — directly mirrors AJS's work.
• Avocats Sans Frontières: International NGO providing free legal aid and accompaniment to vulnerable populations, including women and children, in fragile states. Operates a comparable model of legal clinics, parajurist training, and judicial accompaniment — directly comparable to AJS's Boutiques de droit network.

Emerging players

• Equality Now: International human rights organization focused on legal advocacy for women and girls; a formal partner of AJS on regional Maputo Protocol training. Comparable in advocacy focus and target issues, though operating at a global rather than national level.
• Haki na Sheria Initiative: Kenyan NGO using paralegals and community-based justice approaches to expand access to justice for marginalized populations. Conceptually comparable to AJS's parajurist and itinerant boutique model, though focused on Kenya.

Broad incumbents

• Legal Resources Centre (South Africa): South African public-interest law organization providing legal aid, litigation, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. Broadly comparable on combining legal services, strategic litigation, and reform advocacy — though significantly larger and operating in a different country.
• Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria): Leading African human rights center with rights-advocacy, litigation, and capacity-building programs addressing women's rights and access to justice. Comparable on convening role across African human rights organizations and on legislative reform advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-des-femmes-juristes-s%C3%A9n%C3%A9galaises-ajs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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