USADF Signs Two Grants to Support Women Shea Butter Producers in Burkina Faso:

WASHINGTON - June 2, 2010 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 2, 2010 – The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) signed two grants to support women’s groups in Burkina Faso.  The grants will benefit Wend La Manegda (WLM) and Wemoukiga.

USADF Chairman Jack Leslie stated, “The shea butter sector in Burkina Faso is dominated by rural women with many years of experience and knowledge.  However, many women lack resources to be successful.  USADF funding will provide these tools to the women in an effort to ensure higher incomes and a better standard of life for them.”

Shea butter is a value-added product that capitalizes on traditional skills and creates significant profit margins for its producers.  Many producers still face numerous difficulties in the production and marketing of shea butter.  Currently, the shea butter industry in Burkina Faso does not meet the demand expressed by international markets.

WLM is comprised of 955 women representing a headquarters office and thirteen women’s groups in the Kadiogo, Oubritenga, and Kourwégo Provinces.  The women work on the production and marketing of shea butter.   The Asssoication is looking to strengthen its economic power of the overall organization by improving their skills and creating marketing strategies to expand access to markets.  The two year grant will providie funding for equipment, purchase of raw materials and packaging supplies, and training.

Located in Nahouri Province, Wemoukiga is comprised of 30 women members who collaborate with 235 women in four rural village groups to produce shea butter.   The Cooperative plays an important role to representing the rural women producers and collectors.  In order to enable Wemoukiga to become an industry leader, the women would like to strengthen the economic power of the overall organization through better production levels, improved product quality, and more exports.  The two year grant will fund new equipment, raw materials, and training.  Further, Wemoukiga will collaborate with other organizations and environmental services for actions to raise public awareness for the protection of the shea tree.

USADF began programming in Burkina Faso in 2008. Burkina Faso’s current portfolio stands at fifteen investment projects totaling nearly $2 million. For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-BurkinaFaso.htm.

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunities to the most marginalized populations in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African countries. Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded in excess of $200 million in African initiated and led development projects.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.

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