GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew participates in the 18th ACA annual cashew conference & Expo- Highlights from the 18th ACA Annual Cashew Conference in Cotonou, Benin
The 18th Annual Cashew Conference & Expo, organized by the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), commenced on September 17th in Cotonou, Benin, under the theme "Building Capacities for a Sustainable African Cashew Industry." The opening ceremony, attended by over 450 participants from about 25 countries, was officially inaugurated by Madam Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade. Distinguished speakers included Honorable Babatola Maseru, President of ACA, and Mrs Beate Weiskopf, Project Leader of GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew, who emphasized the importance of strengthening African cashew processing, creating transparent and sustainable value chains, and harmonizing policies across the region.
Following the opening, guests explored the Exposition, which showcased various cashew-based products, including innovative uses of cashew apples and shells.
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Policies to Boost Cashew Processing
The conference kicked off with a panel discussion on “Policies to Promote Cashew Processing in Africa: Are We Making an Impact?” moderated by Mrs. Rita Weidinger, GIZ/MOVE Head of Programme. Key points from the discussion stressed the need to support local cashew processing factories and improve data collection for informed policy decisions. One crucial takeaway was the need for regional cooperation in policy-making to avoid negative impacts on neighbouring countries.
In a next panel sustainability requirements of the European market were discussed. The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which entered into force on 25th July 2024, was in the centre of the discussions. After an introduction by the EU Directorate-General International Partnerships by Mr. Luis Rodriguez and Mrs. Qazal Jamali, the discussion highlighted the importance of the European market for Cashew Kernels, and lack of knowledge on HR risks in the Value chain. Panelists, including representatives from the EU, GIZ, and the private sector, noted that companies need to address human rights and environmental risks within their whole value chain to meet EU market requirements. The session concluded by urging businesses to see this directive as an opportunity to integrate sustainability practices, like traceability, and Human Rights Due Diligence which will prepare them for future global market demands.
Women’s Role in the Cashew Industry
The CasheWomen meeting, a prominent event at the conference, focused on “Exploring Inclusiveness for Holistic and Sustainable Development within the Cashew Sector.” Moderated by Ms. Nunana Addo from GIZ-MOVE Nigeria, the session called for greater inclusion of women in leadership roles within the cashew sector. Panelists highlighted how women are actively involved at all stages of the cashew value chain and advocated for their participation in decision-making processes to ensure more inclusive sector development.
Capacity Building for Sustainable Growth
The session “Enhancing Infrastructure for a Sustainable Value Chain through Capacity Building,” moderated by Mrs. Mary Adzanyo from GIZ/MOVE, highlighted the importance of collaboration among African nations to boost productivity, processing, and marketing of cashew, especially targeting the European market. Another panel, led by Malamine Sanogo of CICC, focused on the contribution of public and development partners to capacity building, with Mrs. Beate Weiskopf presenting the GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew approach and Mrs. Yvonne Chileshe presenting the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States’s (OACPS) approach among others. The panel emphasized that training programs must be tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries, better coordinated among training providers and institutionalized within partner organizations.
Celebrating 10 Years of the Master Training Programme (MTP)
A highlight of the conference was the 10th anniversary of the Master Training Programme (MTP). Mrs. Rita Weidinger shared the success of the MTP in building the sector’s capacity, particularly in boosting women’s participation. The panel called for incorporating capacity-building costs into both private and public sectors to ensure sustainability.
Honoring Mrs. Rita Weidinger
The conference concluded on the 19th of September with a special dinner chaired by Benin’s Minister of Agriculture, M Gaston Dossouhoui where Mrs. Rita Weidinger, Head of the GIZ MOVE project, was honoured for her outstanding and significant contributions to the cashew sector. In her speech, she acknowledged the progress made but reminded everyone that more work remains. She urged stakeholders to remain curious, continue learning, and focus on increasing income for farmers and processors.
The next ACA Annual Cashew Conference is set to take place in Tanzania, affirming the continued momentum towards a more resilient and sustainable African cashew industry.
The conference was supported among others by GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union (EU), and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).