The global shea market, valued at approximately $2.75 billion, supports the livelihoods of 16 million women. Beyond its economic value, the shea industry contributes to the diversification of local and global economies, fostering resilience and sustainability. In 2020, the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) launched the Action for Shea Parklands (ASP) initiative to restore and protect shea parklands.
The ASP is harmonizing industry efforts in promoting parkland restoration through awareness campaigns and policy engagement, growing parkland trees to 10 million, and improving tree management to safeguard 4 million hectares of shea parklands, with an ambitious goal of enhancing biodiversity.
Shea Month is celebrated annually in July. As such, GSA provides educational webinars and dialogues and shares best practices to deepen understanding of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported the shea
sector through initiatives like the Sustainable Shea Initiative (SSI), which offers technical assistance, market linkages, and co-funding to conduct projects to improve the sustainability of shea value chains. SSI, which ended in June this year, was an eight-year public–private partnership, designed to promote the sustainable expansion of the shea industry through sustainability and promotional activities. SSI leveraged $8.5 million USAID funds against $18.1 million private and donor funds across seven shea-producing
countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo.
The shea industry is vital for livelihoods, local economies, food security, and climate resilience. Shea trees, which cover 275 million hectares, provide income, agroforestry systems, soil quality improvement, and environmental protection. They sequester over 1.5 million tons of carbon annually, contributing to global climate efforts.
Shea Month serves as a platform to highlight the challenges the shea industry faces and advocate for sustainable restoration initiatives.
Source: USAID