Shea Network-Ghana (SNG), in collaboration with the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) and its partners, has organized a series of capacity-building trainings for selected women shea cooperatives in the Tamale Metropolis and Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. The initiative is part of a broader intervention titled “Cooperative and Business Development for Improving Women Shea Collectors’ Capacity in Ghana.”
So far, the training has successfully been held in the communities of Zoborgu, Futa, and Limo, with plans underway to extend the sessions to two additional communities, bringing the total number of beneficiary communities to five. The training targets cooperatives under the Pagsung Women Shea Butter and Shea Nuts Collectors Association and the Yumzaa Women Shea Butter Processors.
The comprehensive training covers a wide range of thematic areas including:
– Cooperative Development
– Business Development
– Warehouse Management
– Shea Aggregation
– Conventional and Organic Shea Production
In addition to enhancing their knowledge base, the exercise is designed to equip the selected women with practical skills, access to networks, and the confidence required to thrive as entrepreneurs within the shea industry. The training also places strong emphasis on improving women’s cooperative governance, marketing strategies, financial management, record keeping, and aggregation capabilities.
Facilitated by the Coordinator of SNG, Mr. James Kpenyog Dakora, the sessions aim to bridge the knowledge and capacity gaps that often hinder the productivity and competitiveness of grassroots women-led cooperatives in the shea sector.
Speaking at one of the training sessions, Mr. Dakora highlighted the importance of capacity development in unlocking the full economic potential of the shea industry. “When women are well-equipped with skills and resources, they not only improve their own livelihoods but also contribute significantly to local economic development and the sustainability of the shea value chain,” he said.
As part of efforts to ensure sustainability and knowledge retention, a practical manual has been developed to guide the women in implementing what they have learned during and after the training period.
This initiative reinforces Shea Network-Ghana’s commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and economically viable shea sector, particularly by investing in women who are the backbone of shea production in Ghana.
Source: www.sheanetworkghana.org/ Adam Abdul-Fatawu Wunizoya