• 7

• Countries Implementing Parkland Protection Activities

PARKLAND MANAGEMENT TRAININGS

• 17,692 Women Trained
• 401,628 Seedlings Raised

To support the implementation of ASP, the General Assembly approved the establishment of the Parkland Restoration Fund (PRF) as well as adopted its proposed terms of reference in April 2021. The PRF is a funding mechanism to support member-led shea parkland restoration activities. On the occasion of our 10th anniversary, His Excellency Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana launched the PRF. Through a call for nominations, we successfully constituted the PRF board which is made up of two private sector representatives, one representative each from women’s groups, nonprofits, a research institution and a fund management firm as well as a GSA Executive Committee member. The board will oversee the general administration of the PRF. Specifically, the board will issue calls for proposals, review and approve proposals, disburse funds to successful applicants and ensure monitoring and evaluation. The board will also be subject to annual internal and external audits. In 2021, the Ghana Shea Landscape Emissions Reduction Project (GSLERP), a collaboration between the Green Climate Fund, Forestry Commission of Ghana, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GSA commenced. As an implementing partner, the GSA is responsible for the setting up of community nurseries, tree planting, parkland management activities, setting up cooperatives, sourcing programs, constructing warehouses for aggregation, conducting quality control and business training for women cooperatives. Additionally, sustainability partners invested in shea parkland management and protection activities to slow down ongoing parkland degradation, re-educate communities on the economic benefits of shea and secure supply for the future as well as contribute to global climate improvement measures. Across the region, Industry observed Shea Month in July with advocacy campaigns and shea and indigenous tree planting. The Secretariat made available a practical planting poster and other resources for member use. Effective engagement with the Ghana Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) also resulted in the release of 40,877 shea seedlings to GSA members and cooperatives for planting across northern Ghana. Overall, 146,882 new shea and indigenous trees were planted in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Togo - thereby restoring 3,672 hectares of shea parklands. 17,692 women shea collectors and processors and their communities also received basic parkland management trainings.

The introduction of improved cookstoves to women shea collectors represented a key part of conservation activities undertaken by private sector partners. Through the use of cookstoves, industry is significantly reducing the amount of water and wood used during processing of kernels and hand-processed butter. In 2021, 7 sustainability partners supported 7,821 women in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana to be taken through the practical steps for the construction of cookstoves using locally-sourced materials. Molds needed for the fabrication of the cookstoves were also donated to women shea cooperatives. In addition to cookstoves, the use of shea waste to produce briquettes was also adopted by sustainability partners.

"I'm very proud to say that every part of the shea fruit is useful. Today, even the waste that we generate from the butter processing has become fuel for our machihines Our cost of production has reduced and our trees are also being protected." -Diaharatou Diasso, Leo, Burkina Faso