GSA Launches 2015 Quality Campaign

TheGlobal Shea Alliance (GSA) and national associations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria launched the 2015 shea quality campaign in May. An estimated 20,000 women collectors across the region are now learning best practices for collecting and processing shea kernels.

GSA has worked closely with the ACA and Bordless Alliance (BA) since December 2013 under the USAID Toward Inclusive Markets Everywhere (TIME) Program. This program seeks to establish strong links between African cashew and shea farmers and international markets by promoting good farming practices and establishing strong buying relationships. 

In partnership with USAID and the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO), the GSA established the quality campaign to help improve the quality of kernels produced by women collectors and increase their incomes.

The GSA and national associations train women’s groups in local languages and with pictorial training materials, including posters and flipcharts. Following quality trainings, the women participate in market linkages sessions to learn the advantages of aggregating kernels as well as business development skills.

After participating in the trainings, women collectors were eager to share best practices learned, including boiling the water before adding the kernels, boiling kernels for a maximum of 40 minutes, and covering the pot while cooking. One woman noted, “Measuring the boiling time gives the shea butter a much better scent.”

In addition, women collectors also learn how to conserve natural resources while processing. “When we use less firewood and water, we spend less money,” a group member reported. Thus, learning best practices helps increase women’s incomes. One woman said it best: a good kernel makes a good product.

By the end of the quality campaign in 2017, the GSA will train more than 72,000 women across West Africa.