The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) has signed an agreement with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) to Promote Climate Resilience in Togo and Burkina Faso.

The 2-year agreement entitled, “Towards Climate Resilient Shea Communities in Togo and Burkina Faso” is worth USD 996,700 with GSA brings an additional USD 400,000 in co-financing to the project.

The project will lessen the climate vulnerability of 7,500 women who harvest shea in Togo and Burkina Faso and the 30,000+ people who live in their communities by raising revenue from activities like shea and apiculture and enhancing community-led parkland management practices.

According to Rita Effah, AfDB ACCF Coordinator, shea is a global food and cosmetic commodity that provides livelihoods to African communities, and it is critical to protect its supply chain by strengthening climate resilience and economically empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women shea collectors and processors.

 “This project in Togo and Burkina Faso will enhance the resilience of communities and help address the root causes of gender inequality and the impacts of climate change in the project area. Addressing gender inequalities is at the core of tackling climate change in Africa.”

 “Climate plays an important role in the lives of women in rural areas as it significantly affects the most important source of employment to them, agriculture,” said Simballa Sylla, President of the GSA.

While the GSA has done much to mitigate these issues and diversify income sources for women in shea, Simballa stated, “we are pleased to gain more support through this project and work with the African Development Bank Group to deliver tailored gender-transformative solutions for climate resilience.”

The objective is to empower local people to develop the skills, information, and resources required for sustainable shea production and access to various livelihood options through climate-friendly processing procedures. Capacity building and equipment will be provided to strengthen the business acumen of women shea collectors and improve their communication skills in order to achieve this goal.

The Global Shea Alliance is a non-profit industry organization with 663 members from 38 countries, including women’s cooperatives, brands and retailers, suppliers, and non-governmental organizations. The GSA supports industry sustainability, quality practices and standards, and demand for shea in food and cosmetics through PPPs.