Empowering women in acacia gum production

With the support of SOS Sahel, Nexira is committed to the Acacia Program, which aims to preserve natural resources, support local communities, and promote sustainable development.

For over a decade, Nexira has been working in Chad in collaboration with SOS Sahel and its partners to protect the acacia resource, improve the lives of local populations, and promote sustainability. The Acacia Program is aligned with four of the UN’s SDGs.

In 2023, the third phase of the Acacia Program was launched. This initiative complements Phases 1 and 2 of the Acacia Program and supports rural communities involved in the production of acacia gum, with a particular focus on strengthening women’s leadership.

“When we talk about acacia gum in Chad, it’s important to remember that the majority of those involved in this activity are women. When we started the program, we quickly realized that women were not integrated into producer organizations. There was a real need to raise awareness within the community,” explained Ange Mboneye, Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at the NGO SOS SAHEL International France, discussing women’s involvement in the Acacia Program at the Change NOW congress.

Strengthening women’s participation

In September 2023, SOS SAHEL launched the start-up activities for Phase 3 of the Acacia Program in the Guéra province. These activities focus on restoring and increasing the density of acacia groves using assisted natural regeneration (ANR) and to strengthen the capacities of producer organizations in the intervention area to support the organization of gum production. This program is also committed to enhancing women’s leadership in local communities in the Guéra province, Chad.

The project highlights the promotion of women in leadership roles and income-generating activities, allowing for long-term empowerment. To date, eight producer organizations, comprising at least 30% women, have been established and trained, surpassing the initial goal of five.

Support for Income-Generating Activities

The Acacia Program has identified and trained eight women’s groups in techniques for developing income-generating activities (IGAs). These initiatives include activities such as market gardening and processing local products, providing appropriate equipment (dryers, protective tools, etc.) to ease the burden of daily tasks. This support allows women to play a key role in the local economy while improving their quality of life and that of their families.

©Tchad Gomme d’acacia_Inza Dagnogo-SOS SAHEL

Leadership and Inclusion

The program also aims to increase women’s participation in local governance structures. Thanks to these efforts, women representation in producer organizations has significantly improved, rising from 6% at the start to 15% since the program’s launch in 2023, with the goal of reaching 30%. This increase represents a significant step towards greater inclusion of women in local decision-making processes.

Impact of Rehabilitated Wells

The rehabilitation of three wells in local villages has had a direct impact on the lives of women. These water points reduce the long and arduous water-fetching tasks, allowing women to dedicate more time to other activities, such as collecting gum.

©SOS SAHEL

In addition to its ecological goals, the Acacia Program plays a crucial role in the economic empowerment of women. By strengthening their skills and leadership, it offers real opportunities for social transformation.

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