Global Shea Alliance and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a $13 million, five-year agreement to promote shea markets worldwide and improve sustainable production in Africa.
Under the partnership, 40 warehouses will be constructed in Nigeria and 40 women’s groups will be formed and trained to manage the warehouses for shea collection and processing.
“The shea industry is changing and companies, governments, and donors are investing more in sustainable production and improving the benefit to 16 million women collectors and processors,” Moumouni Konate, president, Global Shea Alliance, said, saying further that, “The goal of this critical partnership is to help women collectors and processors organize into cooperatives, obtain equipment and training, and improve the financial benefit from the sale of their products. Stronger and more profitable women’s groups will process more shea, improve quality, and protect the trees.”
During the Global Shea Alliance’s annual conference in Accra, Ghana, Alex Deprez, USAID/West Africa Mission director, said: “We know well the benefits of increased trade for rural communities across Africa. The Global Shea Alliance is pioneering efforts to grow markets and improve the livelihoods of rural women and their families that stand at the base of the shea value chain. We are proud to partner in these activities.”
The partnership will match up to $6.5 million in USAID funds with $6.5 million in private sector funding raised by the Global Shea Alliance to implement promotional and sustainability activities in Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria.
A total of 250 warehouses for women shea collector and processor groups will be built during the period and capacity building, training will be provided to improve the financial positions of the participants.
