African organic ethical honey Guiding hope Business Cases 4 biodiversity 2012 (1)
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Transcript of African organic ethical honey Guiding hope Business Cases 4 biodiversity 2012 (1)
Guiding Hope Verina Ingram, Director
Business Cases for Biodiversity: the Smallholder Perspective Utrecht University & HIVOS Ministry Economic Affairs, Den Haag, 1 March 2012
I. WHO WE ARE Guiding Hope (Guide d’Espoir)
Cameroonian enterprise
Founded in 2005, incorporated in 2007
Our mission is to develop environmentally and socially responsible, fair yet profitable trade of apiculture products
Hive products: Organic honey, beeswax & propolis
By-products: Soaps, candles, creams etc.
Business Model
Strategy to guide producers with information and training,
ensuring fair prices, and
access new, near and distant market opportunities
we ultimately aim to assure the relay between disadvantaged producers of high-value apiculture products and equitable markets.
Our philosophy
PEOPLE
PLANET PROFIT
Commitment to sustainability
Economic: take a value chain approach to ensure fair prices & salaries
Social: work closely with our supplier communities to empower & equip them and ensure their needs are addressed in our activities; setting up GH foundation
Environmental: production processes strictly organic & environmentally sustainable; engage in reforestation and conservation activities
Collecting bamboo for hive production
II. WHAT WE DO
Technical training in honey, wax & propolis production techniques
Stimulate production of value-added products such as soap and candles, esp. among women
Promote knowledge & production of medicinal by-products (propolis, pollen and medicinal plants e.g. Kofia)
Research & development of cosmetic & household products (e.g. body cream, lip balm, shoe polish)
Organisational training in quality control, administration and accounting & needs-based community development
Capacity building & product development
Female-led soap production
Needs-based development training
Market development & outreach
Conduct market research & outreach Manage export of wax, honey & propolis Work with government and sector representatives
gain access for Cameroon to export markets create national standards for honey production & quality establish govt. accountability for apiculture sector
Obtain Organic, Ethical Trade* certification and Community Trade (Body Shop) for our products
Lobby for Cameroon honey rights: formed Cameroon Union of Exporters of Apiculture Products and Apiculture Interprofession
Certified organic production
Best beekeeping practices with minimal impact
Raising awareness of forage sources
Forest protection
Planting & regeneration - hive materials
Footprint & Environmental Impact Assessment
Reducing fuel inputs and waste streams
Collaborate with others – learn & share
BENEFITS TO BIODIVERSITY
Community reforestation
BENEFITS TO BIODIVERSITY
“Pa” Paul Nzegha Mzeka,
Director, Apiculture and Nature Conservation Organization
UN Forest Hero 2011
Improve living standards chain-wide approach
Improve selling prices up to 25%
Empowerment - esp. marginalized (women & youths)
Secure & diversify incomes and products
Explore collective possibilities, legalise & support groups
Help create local savings cooperatives
Needs assessments
GH Foundation
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Collection center inauguration with village suppliers, March 2009
Who benefits (locally)? Direct beneficiaries
1,000 apiculturers & their households = 10,000 individuals
Indirect beneficiaries
Other beekeepers (through GH expansion, mkt. development; est. 2-3,000
individuals in medium term)
Other exporters from reduced customs, bureaucracy & tax problems
Villagers from services, e.g. drinking water, savings and credit schemes (over 1,000)
Service providers e.g. transporters, labourers, expediters (approx. 100).
Diverse support - largely on our terms
Great partners (PPPs)
Strategic but opportunistic
Knowing our sector
Business (not an NGO)
Entrepreneurial & risk taking
Enthusiasm - in face of adversity
Varied financial sources
Able to bear initial losses
Action learning - from mistakes
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
Cam Iron SA
Doing business & finding the “right” clients
Sustaining team enthusiasm with growth
Preserving quality with up-scaling
Cash flow
Our professionalization
Conserving forests (formal or customary?)
New product development
Financing environmental & social aspects
Maintaining community & supplier expectations
Reliable investors, credit suppliers and donors
Sticking your head out syndrome…..
CHALLENGES
Monitoring impacts Baselines are important!
Economic impact Market study Cameroon 2006 (SNV)
National & international Market survey 2008 & 2009
Social baseline 2007, 2009
5 yearly strategic development plans
Environmental & Social impact monitoring Monthly village meetings
Health & social baseline 2007, 2009
Climate changes & environment 2010, 2011
Annual Organic Audits (Soil Association)
Annual EU residue monitoring scheme tests
Pollen and wax tests 2010
Issues: costs, time and analysis
Thank you!
www.guidinghope.com
www.ethicalcommunity.com