Ghanaian Women Farmers Partner with Indian Counterparts to Improve Production and Marketing of Shea Nuts

Key Contact
Dante Ariel Mossi Reyes
Start Date
End Date
Funding Amount
$ 47,735
Topics
AgricultureGenderRural Development
Knowledge-providing Countries
India
Knowledge-receiving Countries
Ghana

Summary

The Ghanaian PagSung Shea Butter and Shea Nut Pickers Association wanted to increase their production, processing, and export of shea nuts. The Self Employed Women’s Association in India had a model program that organizes women workers to obtain work security, income security, food security, and social security. An exchange between the two organizations introduced new marketing and strategic plans for Ghanaian women’s group.

 

Summary Challenge Solution Results Lessons Learned
World Bank Contribution

Partners

 Moving Forward Beneficiaries/Participants Learn More

Summary

The Ghanaian PagSung Shea Butter and Shea Nut Pickers Association wanted to increase their production, processing, and export of shea nuts. The Self Employed Women’s Association in India had a model program that organizes women workers to obtain work security, income security, food security, and social security. An exchange between the two organizations introduced new marketing and strategic plans for Ghanaian women’s group.

Challenge

Members of the Ghanaian PagSung Shea Butter and Shea Nut Pickers Association (PASNSPA), a community-based civil society organization, wanted to increase their production, processing, and export of shea nuts. The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India organizes women workers to obtain work security, income security, food security, and social security, and has been successful in establishing the Rural-Urban Development Initiative. RUDI is a rural distribution network that provides multi-user facilities, reduces incidental expenses, and builds-up an integrated value chain. By doing so, RUDI improves efficiency of agricultural activities and generates more employment opportunities, and an efficient supply of agro-products to rural members. Through the exchange, PASNSPA members aimed to gain first-hand knowledge about the organizational structure, management systems, member involvement and benefits, outreach and incentives in relation to India’s implementation of RUDI.

Solution

A delegation of five women from the north of Ghana were part of a 2-week study tour to India where they visited their counterparts at SEWA to learn how they had developed into an advanced organization of women entrepreneurs who have improved their own livelihood. The study tour started with an orientation on how SEWA was structured (cooperatives, federations, associations, cooperatives, and companies). During the orientation, success stories were shared as well as lessons learned from the early days of SEWA. Details of SEWA initiatives were provided, including the Green Livelihood Campaign and RUDI. Field visits were conducted to various SEWA organizations, including a savings and credit organization, a weaving center, a community learning business resource center, Ganeshpura Tree Growers Cooperative, the SEWA Trade Facilitation Center, and the RUDI food-processing center.

The field visits were complemented with training on micro-planning and participatory rural assessment for deeper understanding on how to develop community member profiles for addressing the needs of their customers and more specific skill training on day-to-day financial management such as bookkeeping.
With new skills in how to develop business plans, the delegation applied these skills in preparing a new marketing plan at a follow-up workshop in Ghana. The workshop was offered to PASNSPA members who were not part of the study tour and was coordinated and delivered by the five study tour participants. The marketing plan included an action plan that made it possible to begin immediate implementation. Further financing was also sought to put into place some of the actions that required additional funding.

Results

Following are some of the direct results from the exchange:

  • PASNSPA members developed new marketing skills that resulted in the incorporation of a new marketing plan as part of the PASNSPA strategic plan. The exchange visit was influential in guiding PASNSPA to brainstorm new ways to restructure its membership framework.
  • A new alliance was forged between PASNSPA and SEWA resulting in expanded communication between the Ghanaian association members and key managers at SEWA in India.
  • The exchange proved to be an empowering experience because of the motivation by the individuals who participated. The Ghanaian group was moved by the experience; four of the five members had never traveled outside the North of Ghana to the capital, much less to India.
  •  Through the exchange discourse with SEWA groups who had already gone through the process of advancing their own organization, the Ghanaian delegation became more confident in their continued effort in implementing further advancements for their own organization.

Lessons Learned

  • Planning is key. Use checklists! Having first time travelers as part of the Study Tour delegation involved much more logistical planning and support than anticipated, including getting passports for the them

World Bank Group Contribution

The Bank played was the main coordinator of the activities in the Exchange; from logistical issues to consolidation processes and monitoring. This role was fundamental in the successful implementation of the Exchange. In addition, the South-South Facility provided funding of US$47,735.

Partner

  • Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) (India) – Knowledge Provider
  • PagSung Shea Butter and Shea Nut Pickers Association (PASNSPA) (Ghana) – Knowledge Recipient

Moving Forward

Following this Exchange, it was decided that PASNSPA member groups should strive to create a stronger membership base, and diversify their activities outside of the shea butter production they were undertaking. This could include embarking on weaving, rice processing, animal raring and other income-generating activities. In 2012, this goal was stressed at training workshops, consultations, and site visits.

Beneficiaries/Participants

The team consisted of the following:

  • A young female farmer
  • A shea butter processor
  • A PagSung executive
  • Two Africa 2000 Network Staff

The participants, during and after the exchange, felt empowered to put in place what they learned and to be a driving force for improving and growing their entrepreneurial efforts in Ghana. Commenting on the experience, Zahera from Ghana said, "We are surprised to see that women from SEWA had started their own business of embroidery that too without any investment. It is proud to see that these ladies are the shareholders of 'Unnat Company'. It is a very big achievement of these ladies that they are successfully fulfilling the market demands and they have become recognized workers". Zahera added that “Ghana women also make good embroidery and so we wish to establish 'Unnat market' in Ghana”.  

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