USADF Signs Grant to Support Women in Ghana:

WASHINGTON - June 24, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 24, 2009 – The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has recently signed a grant with a community group in Ghana that will help alleviate poverty.  The grant will benefit Naasakle Limited located in Accra, Ghana.

Upon reviewing the grant, USADF Chairman Dr. John Agwunobi stated “USADF strives to identify and work with the most impoverished, under-served, and under-privileged communities in Africa. This grant will fund projects designed by one such community to ensure a better quality of life.”

To meet the growing demand for Shea butter, Naasakle was founded by a woman who used to sell her product from a suitcase.  Today, the enterprise buys de-husked Shea nuts from the Christian Mothers Association, who works with 700 women in the Northern Region of Ghana.  Each woman pays dues to belong to the Association.  Beyond providing best practices training for the Association, Naasakle works closely with the Christian Mothers Association to ensure a market and income for the women who live in one of the poorest regions of Ghana.

The eighteen month, $95,000 grant will help Naasakle expand its purchasing power, providing higher incomes to women and meeting market demand for Shea butter products.  Specifically, USADF funds will be used to rent a warehouse, develop a business plan, purchase equipment, train staff in quality control and environmental management, and hire an accountant.

Through the USAID funded West African Trade Hub, Nassakle has participated in trade shows around the United States, securing orders from U.S. based companies.

USADF established programming in Ghana in 1984.  Ghana’s current portfolio stands at twenty-one investment projects totaling nearly $4.6 million dollars.  For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-Ghana.htm .

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African nations.  Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded nearly 1,500 projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.
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