Having only very recently begun development of its shea resource, Senegal has made good progress in improving organized shea production, development of a new, high-quality product with a high market value locally and nationally.

Projet de Promotion des Micro-Entreprises Rurales (PROMER), Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Elevage

PROMER is a project of the government of Senegal, established in 1999 with funding from IFAD and WADB. PROMER is active in four administrative areas of southeastern Senegal (Tambacounda, Kaolack, Kolda and Fatick), in which the potential for development of non-agricultural products is very significant.

The objective of the PROMER is to provide the goods and services necessary to facilitate the establishment of micro-enterprises based upon the valorization of local natural products. Under PROMER, production groups of rural women have been established, improved shea processing methods have been developed, technical training programs implemented, and consumer awareness has been built among urban consumers. There remains a need for further work on commercialization and marketing.

As the PROMER project is currently coming to an end, it is hoped that CECI or another national institution may be able to continue and build upon the activities initiated under the project, which has done some very exemplary work on shea development over a limited period of time.

Wula Nafaa: Programme Agriculture - Gestion des Ressources Naturelles

Wula Nafaa is a USAID-funded project which serves a huge area of eastern Senegal, with a focus on decentralised and sustainable natural resource management, natural products development and marketing. Shea products are one of several natural products which will receive attention during the next year of implementation. Other products for development include baobab, mbep gum (from Sterculia setigera), tamarind and possibly gum arabic.

DynaEntreprises

DynaEntreprises is a USAID-funded project implemented (like the CAE in Mali) by the US consultancy firm Chemonics. DynaEntreprises works in the development of rural enterprises, most often through subsectors, and is in many ways comparable to the CAE. The shea subsector has been an important one for DynaEntreprises, as shea trees are found in a large section of one of their target zones. DynaEntreprises has had significant requests to provide technical training and support from shea processors and producers.

Institut de Technologie Alimentaire (ITA)

The Institut de Technologie Alimentaire (ITA) was established in 1963 as a public establishment with a mandate on research and development in food and nutrition. Since 1998, the Institute has been affiliated to the Ministère des Mines, de l’Artisanat et de l'Industrie.

The mission of the ITA is

• to guide and to coordinate the research studies concerning the treatment, transformation, packaging, conservation and the use of local foodstuffs, with the aim of promoting the establishment of corresponding industries;
• to develop new food resources derived of local production which are of good nutritional value and adapted to the taste as well as to the purchasing power of the consumers;
• to provide technical support in the quality control of foodstuffs in the stages of production, marketing, import and export. and
• to participate in the training of the corporate bodies of the food sector.

The ITA is the lead agency in Senegal for the benefit of the investors in the food sector, conducts farm-produce studies in support of specific project activities (including technical and economic studies), and participates in training in universities and high schools of Senegal and within the West African sub-region. The ITA consists at present of 63 staff, among whom there are about fifteen high-level researchers, and about twenty superior technicians.

CECI

While very active in the shea sector of Burkina Faso, and to a lesser extent in Mali and Niger, CECI has not as yet undertaken any shea development activities in Senegal. There has been some consideration that CECI may support continuation of project activities initiated by PROMER.

Industry

Though there are only two well-established companies (Phytopharma and Maison du Karité) which produce skin-care products and cosmetics using shea butter, it must be said that the quality of these products is exceptional, particularly those of Phytopharma, which are currently exported.

Other Institutions

Senegal Discusion Group