How a cosmetics company and a fertiliser producer adopted socially and environmentally responsible practices
The right diagnosis and assessment at two very different companies in Mali enabled the adoption of socially responsible and environmentally sustainable practices, improvements in working conditions, the upgrade of internal processes, and led to cost cuts.
SSNUP supported Zira Capital, a private impact fund manager financing and supporting SMEs in Mali, through two calls for projects to accompany Karit’Or - specialised in the production and marketing of cosmetics made from shea butter - and Mali Engrais – producer and distributor of high-quality organic fertilisers. The projects also provided their smallholder farmer base with training on optimal use of organic fertilisers and on organic certification standards in the case of shea butter products.
Mali Engrais developed a formal Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy and completed a comprehensive assessment of production processes, resulting in a 13% cost reduction. Karit'Or conducted an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) diagnostic and developed an action plan across its cooperative network, with improvements in working conditions, governance, and transparency reported across three partner cooperatives.
The project also provided lessons on the importance of engaging with cooperatives rather than using them as delivery channels only, as this can have a crucial role in the projects’ success.