• 460,225

• Women Trained

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS

• 40,118 Women Trained

Over 40,000 women collectors in five countries received trainings on cooperative development, business development and kernel aggregation. Trainings in cooperative development include group formalization, establishment of a leadership structure through elections, and adoption of a constitution. Through business development trainings, and their newly formalized structure, cooperatives are able to better manage the warehouse, negotiate and deliver on contracts, while ensuring equal distribution of benefits to all members. During the 2018 season, 13,000 MT of kernels were traded through warehouses donated under the program so far, resulting in 46% increased income for beneficiaries.

In addition to adopting improved business practices for their shea businesses, women collectors are leveraging business development trainings such as record keeping, and profit calculation, to expand into additional income-generating activities.

“ Most of us never went to school but we are happy that the trainings are helping us to operate our businesses very well. Nowadays, we are also able to manage our profits, so that it’s enough to sustain us and our children for a longer time.”
-Delphine Ouoror, Gosso, Benin