Fall 2017 NEWSLET TER
AGOA RECAP NEW SHEA COOPERATIVE WELCOMING VICE PRESIDENTS
Shea nuts at different stages of production (The Alaffia Village, Sokodé, Togo)
On Fair Trade and Transparency Dear Friends of Alaffia,
Today, our annual fair trade inspection began for our shea nut collection, shea butter processing, and grass collection activities in Togo. This year marks ten years that we have been undergoing these inspections, and it seems fitting that we take some time to describe the process to you—what it actually means and how it fits into Alaffia’s mission of alleviating poverty through economic empowerment. Alaffia is certified “fair trade – fair for life” by the Institute of Marketecology (IMO), part of the ECOCERT Group, an international control and certification organization. Fair trade certification is essentially a third party verification that we do what we say we do: pay fair wages, provide safe and healthy working environments, protect the ecosystem for future generations, and promote sustainable communities through fair trade premiums. The verification is carried out through an intensive, annual inspection which includes field site visits and interviews with our collectors, review of our internal control systems, and inspection of our shea butter processing facility. This year, due to the recent expansion of our shea nut purchasing activities to the Savanna region in northern Togo, there are two inspectors, one from Madagascar and another from Kenya. They will spend a total of three weeks with our Regional Director of Transparency and Sustainability. The success of the inspection, and the ultimate decision, depends on transparency in both record keeping and communication within Alaffia. Transparency ensures that all players – from the individual shea nut collectors, to Alaffia shea butter processors and management, to the IMO inspectors – see and understand the same things. It ensures collectors know the price they receive and understand the principles of fair trade. It ensures Alaffia shea butter producers understand their rights to fair wages and safe conditions as well as their responsibilities for quality production. Furthermore, transparency ensures that you, our friends and customers, can truly see and verify what we do. Not only do we give you direct updates, but you can also read the results of our inspections at the Fair for Life website. The annual inspection is an intense time for our team in Togo, but we feel it is a necessary step in our efforts to provide total transparency in the Alaffia supply chain. We encourage you to visit the Fair for Life website to learn more about our certification and the details of the program. As always, we thank you for your continued support.
—Prairie Rose Hyde, Co-Founder
The Relevance of Cultural Diversity This past August, Alaffia participated in the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Ministerial Forum held in Lomé. The Act lessens tariffs for qualifying Sub-Saharan African nations in order to support the continued growth of businesses, encourage regional integration, and foster U.S.-African trade relations. Close to 40 countries convened during the three-day forum. During AGOA, Alaffia presented how we are achieving our mission of alleviating poverty and advancing gender equality in Sub-Saharan Africa at forums and with tours of our cultural center in Lomé. The Social Enterprise Approach to Economic Growth and Trade: The Alaffia Model summarizes our participation in AGOA and is available on our website. It highlights the economic, social, and cultural preservation benefits resulting from Alaffia’s empowerment projects, showing the possibility of meeting Fair for Life standards and achieving real economic growth while embracing traditional aspects of Togolese culture.
Olowo-n’djo Tchala speaking at the AGOA Ministerial Forum
Cultural diversity is more than relevant in the global market; it is an essential part of it. According to Olowo-n’djo in a video produced by Dark Rye Magazine in 2014, “It’s [this] diversity that we all have that makes us unique, that creates joy and pleasure in life. And that’s what we live for.”
Djapak Shea Butter Cooperative In the north of Togo, temperatures soar as parched roadways become sand traps during the dry season. Water is difficult to come by, food security precarious, and job opportunities limited. It is here Alaffia has begun developing its 7th cooperative—dedicated to shea butter production—in the mountainous village of Djapak. Alaffia has contracted an initial 2,000 shea nut collectors and will continue adding thousands more to this region. A new shea butter facility in Djapak will yield roughly 200 permanent jobs. To both accommodate production needs and address water scarcity for nearby communities, Alaffia has also drilled multiple wells it will maintain. As part of our commitment to the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) Sustainable Shea Initiative, Alaffia is building 35 warehouses for shea nut collection and other community use. These will be donated to our partner communities. GSA is providing partial support for Alaffia’s outreach in the north, allowing additional conservation training and reforestation to occur as we push into underserved, ecologically stressed areas. Djapak offers numerous jobs and extends the reach of our development projects the length of the country. Furthermore, it will serve as a northern shipping-receiving point, providing additional support to the transportation of raw materials. Perhaps most important, the new cooperative communicates how far we have come since opening our first shea butter cooperative in 2003. We are hopeful beyond words for what Djapak will bring to the north of Togo.
Djapak Co-op Inauguration, December 12, 2016 (L to R: Olowo-n’djo Tchala, U.S. Ambassador David Gilmour, Regional Governor of Tandjouaré Lamboni Kolani)
Alaffia Welcomes New VPs
In addition to our new shea cooperative in the north of Togo, Alaffia would like to announce three new members joining our family in Olympia.
• Chris Jackson, Executive Vice President • Daya Fields, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Product Development • Liz Ammon, Vice President of Sales L to R: Liz Ammon, Chris Jackson & Daya Fields with Maman Nafissatou
Their experience will bring fresh insight and expertise as Alaffia continues to redefine the potential of shea butter and coconut oil as effective hair, face, and body care natural ingredients. Please welcome our new team members.
Wild crafted, fair trade body, face, and hair care products for holistic beauty. A percentage of sales for each product goes toward our empowerment projects in Togo, West Africa: (AS OF 01/19/2017) REFORESTATION 57,575 Trees Planted SCHOOL SUPPLIES 32,842 Student Recipients BICYCLES FOR EDUCATION 7,482 Bikes Distributed MATERNAL CARE 4,463 Births Funded SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 10 Schools Built 360-866-0080 or visit us at alaffia.com
READY FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE