Empowering Cashew growing Communities in Togo and Benin through Value Addition and Certification via the Matching Grant Fund

Imagine a world where the food we eat not only nourishes us but also builds stronger communities and a healthier planet. In Togo and Benin, this vision is taking root within the cashew industry, transforming lives and landscapes

From July 2nd to July 11th, 2025, a field mission took place across Togo and Benin. The mission was under the GIZ Matching Grant Fund (MGF) program and its main goal was to see how efforts to make cashew industry more sustainable are making a real difference. We focused on key areas like organic and Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification, boasting women’s empowerment through new product ideas and strengthening farmer groups.

The GIZ/MOVE-ComCashew team set out to check certification progress, see how new farming methods were being adopted, review business linkages for farmer groups and capture success stories from project beneficiaries and women-led initiatives in adding value to cashew. It also provided a platform for direct dialogue with farmers, partners and community members.

Promoting Sustainability on the Ground

The Matching Grant Fund project, part of the Business Support Facility for Resilient Agricultural Value Chains, is a collaborative effort. It's co-funded by the European Union (under the Samoa agreement with the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States – OACPS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).  The Matching Grant Fund project  is implemented in collaboration with key partners including South Grown, Tolaro Global, the Union Régionale des Coopératives de Producteurs d’Anacarde de la Borgou-Alibori (URCPA-BA), the Fédération Nationale des Producteurs d’Anacarde du Bénin (FENAPAB), the Union Régionale des Coopératives de Producteurs d’Anacarde de l’Atacora-Donga (URCPA-AD) and  Export Trading Group’s (ETG).

The mission took place in several  regions in both countries: Kara, Sokodé, and Bafilo in Togo; and Parakou, Copargo, Kouande, Soubroukou, Tamarou, Goussouambou,Ouenou  and Gararou in Benin. Activities ranged from visiting farms working towards certification and  inspecting  biochar (a charcoal-like substance that improves soil) production facilities, to monitoring  cashew apple processing by farmer groups. The team also met with private sector partners. In total, the team visited 6 MGF projects currently being implemented in Togo and Benin and 2 new projects.  
These 6 MGF projects alone supports 16,500 farmers, with approximately 45% of them being women.

Certification Progress: Building Farmer Confidence, Carbon Credit generation and the role of digitalization

In Togo, the first phase of  organic certification  for 34 farmer groups under SCOOPS GAMELE is almost complete, with internal checks finalized and an audit pending. Farmers shared how they have gained a better understanding of chemical-free farming, the importance of "buffer zones" (areas that protect organic farms), and overall safer practices.  Despite delays in certification, producers remain  highly motivated, seeing the clear path to better markets and higher incomes. Plans are underway to establish a cashew processing facility in Kara or Sokodé to provide a local market for certified nuts.

In Benin, the Rainforest Alliance certification process has mobilized 3855 of farmers through URCPA-AD, and ETG, and other cooperatives. Producers have been trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), composting, beekeeping, and agroecology through the URCPA-BA project.  Visits to model farms showed clear improvements: higher yields, healthier soils, and more sustainable land management. Some farmers even highlighted social benefits, like a reduction in child labor and better access to education for their children. While farmers are thriving, for many, the struggle to balance farm work with children's education was a harsh reality, often leading to difficult choices. But now, as proudly affirmed Orou B. Esther proudly shared: "Thanks to Rainforest Alliance training, we now allow our children to focus on their studies and this month for the first time, 4 (out of 6) of our children successfully passed their High Secondary School exams".

 

An example of progress is seen with the FENAPAB project. Here, data from 5,176 producers, including farm size, production levels, and geolocations, has been digitized using the Farmerlink app. This ensures full traceability of their products and helps track the potential for carbon credit generation for each farmer, opening up new income opportunities.  

 

Women at the Center of Cashew By-Product Innovation

A key highlight of the mission was the success of women-led initiatives in in using cashew by-products (cashew apple valorization and cashew shell transformation). In Benin, 1,075 women were trained by Tolaro Global to process cashew apples into “Pomme Émincée” (cashew apple meat) and other by-products. This initiative has created a new income stream, turning previously discarded apples into a source of family nutrition and business profit. "With the production of cashew apple meat, now we earn more money and can send our children to school without migrating to neighbouring countries " declared Seibou Rabi.

120 women were also trained by URCPA- AD in transforming cashew shells into biochar and charcoal, reducing dependence on firewood while lowering production costs for small businesses. Beneficiaries expressed pride in reducing environmental degradation while increasing household incomes.

"Learning to produce briquettes (charcoal from cashew shells) has reduced my costs and given me energy independence," said Faziliatou Salifou, a young entrepreneur in Cashew apple juice production.

 

Monitoring and Broader Impact

Beyond certification, the project’s impact spans social, economic, and environmental benefits, demonstrating a powerful model for climate resilience and poverty reduction. Farmers have adopted healthier practices, women have become key economic actors, and communities have embraced more sustainable farming systems, contributing directly to global goals for sustainable development. Additionally, the project’s contribution to reducing deforestation through briquettes (charcoal from cashew shells) production and promoting child education by discouraging child labor was widely recognized as a blueprint for responsible supply chains.

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from GIZ and its partners to address gaps, support scale-up, and improve market access for the thousands of cashew producers involved.

The mission highlighted the transformative power of strategic investments in sustainable farming, women’s economic empowerment, and cooperative development.  As certification processes advance and value chains become more inclusive, the future for cashew communities in Togo and Benin looks bright. We anticipate increased incomes, healthier environments, and stronger social outcomes.  With continued support, these producers are not only building better lives for themselves; they are shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in West Africa, offering a powerful example for communities worldwide. Their journey reminds us all of the profound impact that focused investment and local empowerment can have on our shared global challenges.