The University for Development Studies (UDS) has entered into a partnership agreement with Global Shea Alliance (GSA) which seeks to create a business attachment program for 150 young Ghanaians seeking to learn about and work in the shea value chain. Global Shea Alliance is a non-profit organization established in Ghana as the premier platform with the mission to design, develop, and deliver strategies that drive a competitive and sustainable shea industry worldwide, and improve the livelihoods of rural African women and their communities. The mission of Global Shea Alliance resonates well with UDS mission which seeks to transform communities through practically oriented and community-based, problem-solving teaching and research.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place on Tuesday June 21, 2022, in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Tamale, Ghana. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye singed on behalf of University for Development Studies, while Mr. Aaron Adu, the Managing Director signed on behalf of Global Shea Alliance. The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, Prof. Terry Ansah signed for the Faculty. The signing was witnessed by Dr. Franklin N. Mabe of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences who worked tirelessly to secure this partnership, and Dr. Shaibu Baanni Azumah, a UDS alumnus and Director of Action for Shea Parklands at the Global Share Alliance who initiated the partnership in 2021. Also present at the signing was Madam Vera Akoto-Adjepong from Global Shea Alliance.

Under the Shea Business Empowerment Program (SBEP) with funding from the Mastercard Foundation, the Global Shea Alliance partners UDS to improve the lives of women shea collectors with the goal of creating 90,000 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for women in the five (5) Northern regions in Ghana. The current partnership with UDS seeks to strengthen cooperatives and SMEs in the shea value chain in northern Ghana by providing critical skills development. UDS will identify and select 50 students each year for the next 3 years of the program to be attached to women cooperative and shea business. The students will spend two months on attachment to the women cooperatives. The purpose of this partnership will enable beneficiary students to develop business interests in the shea industry and foster economic growth in shea communities. Students will assist the women in bookkeeping and entrepreneurial skills development.

UDS will conduct periodic field visits to monitor and supervise students’ activities. The GSA will conduct due diligence of each business/cooperative that will receive a student and will put in place safeguarding measures to ensure the student's dignity is at all-time protected. Students will be provided a monthly stipend to cover their living expenses on the attachment. The implementation of the three-year partnership valued at USD 75,000.00 will be coordinated by Dr. Franklin N. Mabe in UDS.

Story by:
Dr. Franklyn Mabe
(Snr. Lecturer, the Faculty of Agriculture)