Management of natural resource-based IGA microprojects

The 'femmes entreprenantes' group in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest has initiated an income-generating activity (IGA) to process shea nuts into butter, and has obtained funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the RECONNECT project.The management of this microproject reveals that the technical capacities of group members have been strengthened through ongoing training for 50 people; the activity generates income for group members; the group’s operating account is positive; the group pays 11 women and 3 young people, and the schooling costs of 15 children are borne by the group.However, there are a number of management and organizational problems. These include a lack of documents summarizing activities, financial accounting, consideration of depreciation of durable assets in calculating profits, valuation of family labor in monetary terms, and profit-sharing procedures. As well as contributions to cover any operating losses, management control and activity reporting.