Empowering Women Brewers: A Case Study of Burkina Faso

Project Synopsis:

The “Promoting Energy Efficiency Technologies in the Beer Brewery Sector in Burkina Faso” project, spearheaded by UNIDO with support from FMC and the Government of Burkina Faso, aimed to empower women brewers (dolotieres) by enhancing their economic viability and promoting sustainability. Key strategies included installing Improved Cook Stoves (ICS), establishing associations, and providing capacity-building programs.

Objective:

The project sought to:

To review and assess the progress of project implementation: evaluate the effectiveness of the project activities in achieving their intended goals and identify any areas that required adjustments or improvements.

To conduct comprehensive training programs for capacity building of dolotiere associations: equipping dolotiere association members with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage their organizations effectively. The training programs covered topics such as leadership, financial management, conflict resolution, advocacy, and sustainable business practices.

To finalize financial arrangements for installing Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) and implementing other business development activities: This objective involved working with microfinance institutions to develop and implement loan schemes that would enable dolotiere associations to access funding for ICS and other necessary investments.

To strengthen the dolotiere associations for better management and collective action: enhance the organizational capacity of dolotiere associations, improve their governance structures, and foster a culture of collaboration and collective action among members. This included providing guidance on developing bylaws, electing effective leaders, and implementing transparent decision-making processes.

Pre-Intervention Challenges:

The majority of women brewers were operating individually, without the benefits of formal associations or cooperatives. This lack of organization made it difficult for them to access resources, share knowledge, and collectively address challenges.
Women brewers often struggled to obtain loans or other forms of financial support due to various factors, including lack of collateral, limited credit history, and gender-based discrimination. This limited their ability to invest in improved equipment, technology, or business expansion.

Many women brewers were using outdated and inefficient equipment, which hindered their productivity and increased production costs. They lacked access to modern technologies and innovations that could improve their brewing processes.
There were no formalized groups to represent the interests of women brewers and advocate for their needs. This made it difficult to address common challenges, negotiate with suppliers, and influence policy decisions.
The inefficient traditional stoves used in brewing consumed large amounts of fuelwood, contributing to deforestation, air pollution, and climate change. This also increased production costs for women brewers.

Approach of FMC

Establishment of associations: FMC played a pivotal role in facilitating the formation of 24 dolotiere associations across 4 clusters. These associations provided a platform for women brewers to come together, share experiences, and collectively address their challenges.
Capacity building: The project focused on providing comprehensive training programs for association office bearers. These training programs covered topics such as association management, leadership, financial management, conflict resolution, and advocacy. The aim was to equip association members with the necessary skills to effectively manage their organizations and represent the interests of their members.
Financial linkages: FMC worked closely with microfinance institutions, FAARF and FCPB, to establish financial linkages for dolotiere associations. These institutions provided loans and credit facilities to women brewers, enabling them to invest in improved cook stoves, equipment, and other business development activities.
Stakeholder engagement: The project actively involved government officials in the process. Training programs were conducted to educate government officials about the concept of cluster development and its potential benefits for MSMEs. This encouraged government support and policy alignment with cluster development initiatives.
Technical assistance: FMC provided technical assistance to dolotiere associations, including guidance on improving brewing processes, reducing waste, and adopting sustainable practices. This support helped women brewers enhance their efficiency and reduce their environmental impact.

Impact

The associations enabled collective action and advocacy, enhancing economic viability. Microfinance support allowed for investment in ICS and business improvements. ICS reduced fuelwood consumption, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. Trained office bearers improved association management. The project promoted cluster development as a policy framework for MSME growth.

Overall, the project significantly improved the socio-economic conditions of women brewers and contributed to environmental conservation and policy development in Burkina Faso.

Empowering Women Brewers: A Case Study of Burkina Faso