AAK, a global producer of plant-based oils and fats, has begun the disbursement of its annual pre-financing support to women shea collectors under the Kolo Nafaso programme ahead of the 2026 shea harvesting season.
The initiative, valued at more than €13 million equivalent to over GH¢170 million is expected to benefit thousands of women across participating communities in Northern Ghana, helping to strengthen household income stability, economic resilience, and community livelihoods.
The Kolo Nafaso programme, regarded as one of the world’s largest direct-sourcing initiatives for an agricultural commodity, has expanded significantly in recent months.
Membership has risen to approximately 275,000 women as of April 2026, up from 230,000 in January.
According to programme organisers, the pre-financing package is both interest-free and obligation-free, meaning beneficiaries are not required to sell their shea kernels exclusively to AAK and retain the freedom to choose their preferred buyers.
The rollout of this year’s disbursement began in the Bimbilla area, where more than 15,000 women are expected to receive financial support.
Officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Trade Agribusiness and Industry visited AAK’s operations in Tamale to observe the implementation process and engage directly with beneficiaries and programme partners.
The delegation included Director of Agribusiness Kwame Oppong-Ntim and Deputy Director Abdul Muhsin Abubakari.
The visit offered officials a first-hand assessment of how the financing model translates into practical support for women during a critical period before the harvesting season begins.
Programme managers explained that the financing is specifically designed to support women at a time when many households face limited income opportunities.
The funds are intended to help beneficiaries prepare farms, purchase seeds and essential agricultural inputs, and meet urgent household expenses while awaiting income from shea collection and sales later in the season.
Importantly, recipients are given full discretion over how the funds are used, allowing them to prioritise their most pressing household and livelihood needs.
Beyond the annual financing support, Kolo Nafaso has evolved into a broader long-term development model since its establishment in 2009.
The programme incorporates transparent pricing systems, digital traceability, access to savings and mobile money services, and continuous training aimed at improving product quality, safety, and operational efficiency.
Women’s groups are also rewarded through performance-based incentives tied to quality standards and production volumes.
Speaking on the broader vision of the initiative, Bernard Awopone said the programme is focused on building sustainable support systems that empower women across multiple seasons rather than offering short-term interventions.
He described the pre-financing model as one of the clearest demonstrations of AAK’s long-term commitment to improving livelihoods within Ghana’s shea sector while strengthening the wider supply chain ecosystem.
AAK says the rollout will continue across additional communities in Northern Ghana in the coming months to ensure that hundreds of thousands of women receive support ahead of peak harvesting activities.
The company maintains that the initiative reflects a broader strategy of combining business growth with social impact by promoting inclusive economic development across Ghana’s shea-producing regions.
