How Kolo Nafaso initiative is rewriting women’s economic story

Every year in March, the world pauses to celebrate women for their resilience and contributions.

At AAK, however, this moment is more than a calendar observance.

It reflects a commitment made over 15 years ago: that responsible business means uplifting the people at the very heart of AAK’s supply chain women.

In 2009, AAK launched Kolo Nafaso in Burkina Faso as a small but ambitious initiative.

The premise was both simple and transformative: to build direct relationships with the women collecting shea kernels and ensure they capture a larger share of the value they help to create.

Kolo Nafaso, meaning “the house of benefits of shea kernels” in the Dioula language, was never conceived as a charity programme; it was built on respect and recognition.

The women who collect shea are not passive beneficiaries of development initiatives.

They are smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs and pillars of their communities.

Above all, they are economic actors who deserve a fair seat at the table.

Over the years, what began as a modest pilot has grown into one of AAK’s most impactful sustainability initiatives and the largest direct sourcing programme of its kind.

Today in Ghana, Kolo Nafaso reaches more than 250,000 women.

Yet, this number represents far more than scale; it represents transformation. 

Identities

Behind every figure is a woman with a name, a family, and aspirations, many of which have historically been constrained by structural barriers.

The AAK enterprise has come as a major intervention for women empowerment

Through Kolo Nafaso, AAK is working to change that narrative by ensuring that women at the heart of the shea value chain are recognised, respected, and fairly rewarded.

To understand the significance of Kolo Nafaso, it is important to consider the realities that previously defined rural shea supply chains.

Across West Africa, women have long been the backbone of shea collection, a physically demanding and culturally significant activity that has often been economically undervalued.

Before the collection season, many women needed access to cash to support their households and prepare for the months ahead.

Without access to formal credit, they often relied on traders who offered advance payments at unfavourable terms, limiting their earnings.

In many cases, there was little certainty around buyers, pricing or when payments would be made.

Distance presented another major challenge.

Women frequently travelled long distances to sell their kernels, losing valuable time and income to transport arrangements.

With no formal transaction records, many also remained excluded from financial systems that could provide access to savings, credit and other services.

Addressing challenges

Kolo Nafaso was designed to address these challenges through a more inclusive and transparent supply chain model one that supports women across the entire value chain.

One of the most transformative aspects of the programme is its pre-financing mechanism.

Women receive interest-free, commitment-free funds ahead of the harvest season, easing the financial pressures they often face.

This provides working capital for both household needs and farming activities, while preserving their independence.

The programme also brings the supply chain closer to the women.

By establishing collection points within their communities, it reduces the time and cost required to access markets, allowing women to focus on productive work and family responsibilities.

In addition, AAK provides a reliable commercial outlet by committing to purchase the kernels collected through the programme.

This assurance gives women greater confidence, enabling them to plan ahead and avoid exploitative market arrangements.

Training remains a key pillar of the initiative.

Through ongoing engagement with agriculture extension officers, women receive support in quality management, processing techniques, health and safety practices and environmental stewardship, strengthening both productivity and sustainability.

Transparency

Transparency is also central to the programme. Kolo Nafaso has achieved 100 per cent traceability, with all transactions digitally recorded.

This does not only ensures accountability within the supply chain, but also provides women with a formal economic record, supporting their financial inclusion.

The programme’s FairWild certification, the first of its kind for a shea sourcing initiative, further reinforces its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

The results are significant. Pre-finance repayment rates exceed 99 per cent and women report improved bargaining power and more stable income streams.

These outcomes allow them to plan beyond immediate household needs.

Yet, the true impact is most visible in everyday life.

Predictable income means children are more likely to stay in school, households are better able to manage seasonal financial pressures and women gain greater recognition for their economic contributions within their families and communities.

As the shea industry continues to evolve, AAK remains committed to the mission it began over a decade ago, ensuring that women collectors are not left behind, but supported with stable incomes and opportunities for growth.

At its core, Kolo Nafaso is more than a supply chain initiative; it is a long-term partnership built on trust, resilience and shared progress.

The writer is the Deputy News Editor of the Daily Graphic
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