Technology Improvement for Sustainable Quality Organic Shea Butter Production in Kumbungu District, Northern Region, Ghana
Through the financial and technical support of the UNDP GEF Small Grants Program, Ripples Ghana obtained Fair Trade/Organic Certification, which gives the women further access to international markets thereby increasing their market and customer base. The Fairtrade Certification has allowed the women to increase production and the prices of their products to the Fairtrade minimum price. According to the last assessment report, the shea butter sold by Ripples Ghana on the international market through the Fairtrade Certification has doubled the women?s earnings. Indeed, they have the opportunities to increase their profit margins by 200%.
The significant obstacles to the benefits associated with increased production is the deteriorating health conditions of the women producers due to the drudgery nature of the shea butter production process. The technology being used in the shea business is rudimentary and drudgery, slow with low recovery rates. This situation limits the ability of the women to meet external orders for their products.
This project seeks to infuse improved technology and innovations into the production of quality organic shea butter for the economic and social prosperity of the rural poor and marginalized women in the northern Ghana. This will be achieved through training of women in improved butter production processes, infusion of improved technologies into the hand-based shea butter production process and establishing effective marketing system. Ultimately, the project is about improving quality of life of the rural women whilst ensuring sustainable management of the savannah shea landscape. The introduction of improved technologies will minimize the drudgery in the production of shea butter and help an estimated 5,000 women producers to gain direct access to the international markets. This project will contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger) 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth, 9, (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 12 (responsible consumption and production) and 15 (sustainable life on land).
To enable the women, secure the full advantage of the Fair-Trade certification and to help them earn sustainable income with improved technologies in the shea butter production process a grant of US$167,000 is being awarded the Ripples Ghana to support 14 shea producing centers in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. The grant has four components namely: acquisition of improved technologies in shea butter production; training of women in sustainable organic shea production; rehabilitation/upgrading of shea butter production centers; and effective shea waste management. Through the project intervention, additional 2,000 marginalized poor women would be mainstreamed into the shea production value chain.
The significant obstacles to the benefits associated with increased production is the deteriorating health conditions of the women producers due to the drudgery nature of the shea butter production process. The technology being used in the shea business is rudimentary and drudgery, slow with low recovery rates. This situation limits the ability of the women to meet external orders for their products.
This project seeks to infuse improved technology and innovations into the production of quality organic shea butter for the economic and social prosperity of the rural poor and marginalized women in the northern Ghana. This will be achieved through training of women in improved butter production processes, infusion of improved technologies into the hand-based shea butter production process and establishing effective marketing system. Ultimately, the project is about improving quality of life of the rural women whilst ensuring sustainable management of the savannah shea landscape. The introduction of improved technologies will minimize the drudgery in the production of shea butter and help an estimated 5,000 women producers to gain direct access to the international markets. This project will contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger) 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth, 9, (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 12 (responsible consumption and production) and 15 (sustainable life on land).
To enable the women, secure the full advantage of the Fair-Trade certification and to help them earn sustainable income with improved technologies in the shea butter production process a grant of US$167,000 is being awarded the Ripples Ghana to support 14 shea producing centers in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. The grant has four components namely: acquisition of improved technologies in shea butter production; training of women in sustainable organic shea production; rehabilitation/upgrading of shea butter production centers; and effective shea waste management. Through the project intervention, additional 2,000 marginalized poor women would be mainstreamed into the shea production value chain.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Ripples OR Ghana
Country:
Ghana
Area Of Work:
CapDev
Chemicals
Chemicals
Grant Amount:
US$ 30,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 1,000,000.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
GHA/SGP/UNDP/CAP-CRC-2021-GHA-RBA
Status:
Currently under execution
Project Characteristics and Results
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Indicators
Empowerment
Number of CBOs / NGOs participated / involved in SGP project
3
Livehood
Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project
200
Livehood
Number of households who have benefited* from SGP project
1200
Livehood
Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project
1200
Biophysical
Reduction in the amount released into the environment or elimination of POPs through the SGP Kilogram (Kg) of Mirex (C10H12) eliminated or release into the environment prevented
100
Biophysical
Number of innovations or new technologies developed / applied
2
Partnership |
| Terra Afr1000 |
SGP Country office contact
Dr. George Buabin Ortsin
Phone:
233-242-977980
Email:
Ms. Lois Sarpong
Phone:
+233 505740909
Email:
Address
UNDP, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme P.O. Box 1423
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
Visit the Ghana Country Page