Sustainability report 2019

35 Engaging with women in Kolo Nafaso Via our Kolo Nafaso direct sourcing program, we have taken the responsibility to engage directly with the women who collect and process shea kernels. Our Kolo Nafaso shea dashboard guides our compli- ance and sustainability work in West Africa. The biggest DFKLHYHPHQW LQ ZDV WKH VLJQL¿FDQW H[SDQVLRQ RI our program to include more than 230,000 women in three countries – an increase of 72 percent since 2018. Direct engagement with the women who participate in the Kolo Nafaso program provides fantastic opportu- nities to provide training on topics related to business, ODERU DQG DJULFXOWXUDO EHVW SUDFWLFHV )RU H[DPSOH WR reduce water consumption, participants are encouraged to steam the shea kernels instead of boiling them. The women are also encouraged not to cut shea trees for ¿UHZRRG Some women are being trained to build rocket stoves, ZKLFK DUH WLPHV PRUH HI¿FLHQW WKDW WUDGLWLRQDO VWRYHV Through this effort, we aim to reduce CO 2 e emissions within the shea supply chain as well as improve health and safety conditions during the processing of shea kernels and everyday the quality of life in our partner communities. We are following up on our performance with an extensive survey with the women every two years. The next survey will be conducted in 2020. In 2019, we decided to conduct an external impact assessment of Kolo Nafaso to get an expert view of our program and its performance. The results can be seen in our latest post-harvest progress report available on our website. Contributes to: AAK’s Kolo Nafaso women’s groups supply chain Women organized in groups $$. ([WHQVLRQ RI¿FHUV training and educating the women AAK