A recent study from researchers at California’s Stanford University indicates that the Ghana Shea Value Chain Initiative, a program designed to improve the incomes and living conditions of women in Ghana who are engaged in the shea nut harvesting and shea butter business, has met many of its program targets. Additionally, Olam International, a Singapore-based processor of agricultural products and food ingredients, has signed an agreement to become a major buyer of the initiative’s products.
The study, titled “The Shea Value Chain Reinforcement Initiative in Ghana,” indicates that the initiative, founded in 2009 through the joint efforts of SAP, a business software company headquartered in Germany, and PlaNet Finance, a French-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) focused on microfinance development, successfully organized 1,500 women into a registered network and then trained them in business skills and shea nut processing. The study indicated the women’s incomes increased between 59 and 82 percent.
According to Mritunjay Das, of Olam International’s Ghana outfit, the company’s agreement with the Ghana Shea Value Chain Initiative stems from the company’s desire to buy sustainably-sourced products and the initiative’s ability to meet “an increased demand in the global markets for reliably high-quality products and, at the same time, a request for traceability along the entire supply chain [1]”.
By John Howard-Smith, Research Associate
About PlaNet Finance: Founded in 1998 in Paris, France, PlaNet Finance is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) with the mission of alleviating poverty through microfinance development. PlaNet Finance is currently active in approximately 80 countries and is comprised of eight independent units: PlaNet Finance Advisory Services, which provides technical and advisory services; Planet Rating, a microfinance rating agency; PlaNIS, which specializes in advisory services, structuring and managing microfinance funds; MicroCred, an investor in microfinance; PlaNet Guarantee, which specializes in microinsurance; FinanCites, a social venture capital company; MicroFit, a microfinance software unit; and PlaNet University, a microfinance training center.
About Olam International: Olam International is a Singapore-based supply chain manager and processor of agriculture products and food ingredients sourcing 20 products to approximately 11,000 customers in 64 countries. The company focuses on high-quality and sustainably-sourced products, including cocoa, coffee, cashew, sesame, rice, cotton and wood products.
About SAP: SAP is a business software provider based in Walldorf, Germany. The company operates in 25 industries, including the microfinance industry, serving approximately 105,000 customers in approximately 120 countries. It is listed on multiple stock exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
[1] Release provided to MicroCapital.org by PlaNet Finance: “SAP and PlaNet Finance Hit Critical Milestones for Social Sustainability in Ghana Shea Value Chain Initiative”
MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: PlaNet Finance, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=PlaNet+Finance
MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: Olam International, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Olam+International
MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: SAP, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=SAP
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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