Cassava Processing Center: Building Stronger Futures

Location(s): Burkina Faso

Key(s): Economic Empowerment, Access to Food and Water

The Association Burkinabé des Femmes Battantes (ABFB) works to provide agency and uplift internally displaced women, domestic violence survivors, and women facing extreme poverty. Women in Burkina Faso have not been included in geo-political conversations and ABFB aims to improve the lives of women and create a seat at the table for their voices to be heard. 

ABFB regularly holds meetings to work toward solutions for internally displaced women. Through these meetings it has become apparent that the biggest need of the women is a source of income. The group has unanimously agreed that processing cassava into attiéké could accomplish this goal. 

For this project, ABFB will build a processing plant to turn cassava into attiéké, a cassava based side dish similar to couscous. Agriculture is integral to life in Burkina Faso. 86% of the population relies heavily on subsistence farming, and the agricultural sector makes up 40% of Burkina Faso’s GDP. Cassava is an extremely important crop for the country as it generally provides high yields, is drought resistant and offers high nutritional value. Attiéké is a common side dish that has grown in popularity in recent years and currently there isn’t enough production to satisfy the demands of wholesale purchasers like restaurants, schools, and hospitals.

The processing plant will serve two purposes. First, it will provide a consistent source of income with potential for large-scale growth and second, the facility will serve as an educational center for other women who are interested in learning about processing and selling their own cassava products.

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