“I have seen firsthand the phenomenal impact of the project SOCODEVI has carried out with the cooperatives of Côte d’Ivoire, particularly FAHO. The impact is visible in terms of wealth creation, transparency, the promotion of gender equality, and the provision of quality services to the population, which are sorely lacking. Bravo to SOCODEVI and long live the co-ops.”
These were the words of Marcel Lebleu, Director General of Global Affairs Canada’s West and Central Africa Division, upon concluding his visit to PROCED project operations in the Abengourou region in November. Mr. Lebleu was accompanied by Canada’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Anderson Blanc.
They certainly had a full schedule! They were first able to meet with women members of the Kouakou N’Dramankro group who benefited from the support of SOCODEVI and its Foundation in setting up a poultry farm and pursuing traditional chicken raising. Their exchanges served as an opportunity for the women in the group to attest to the project’s impact on improving their living conditions.
The delegation then met with the leaders of the FAHO cooperative and the network of women leaders to discuss the SOCODEVI Field Schools and the women’s leadership and mentoring program.
More agroforestry, more resilience!
A visit to the shade tree nursery established in 2020 for the FAHO cooperative also gave the delegation a chance to observe the progress of this investment to help the co-op and its members develop their resilience and combat climate change thanks to agroforestry. The significant progress observed with the FAHO cooperative earned it the title of Best Cocoa Cooperative in Abengourou, awarded by the Ivory Coast Coffee-Cocoa Council in 2020.
Anderson Blanc warmly congratulated SOCODEVI’s work with Ivorian cooperatives.
“The testimonies of the local communities we met with show the incredible work and impact of the project on women’s empowerment. Hats off to SOCODEVI and the great work that is being done. These are just the first steps in a collaborative effort to support the advancement of Côte d’Ivoire and the communities.”
-Anderson Blanc, Canada’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire
SOCODEVI’s support is provided through the PROCED project, funded by Global Affairs Canada up through early 2024. The project’s goal is to improve the living conditions of cooperative member households, and women in particular, in targeted regions of Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; to promote women’s empowerment; and to help develop the cooperative enterprise.