Your business can do well by making a contribution to poverty reduction in Africa

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Sourcing Quality

Value Added In Africa researches what products are being produced in Africa that are high quality, competitively priced and export ready. In particular we seek out companies who have already proven themselves by achieving a presence in other European markets and who have reached international standards of quality control.

 

In each sector we can introduce Irish and European businesses to new supply routes in Africa. Our research presents you with opportunities to do business in Africa in a manner which helps your business exercise corporate social responsibility in its supply chain.

 

If you’re looking for a product that doesn’t feature on our website, do contact us as we might just know of a company to meet your needs.

VAA 3 Programmes

1.    Marketing Programme

VAA has visited and assessed the products of some 170 companies in a range of African countries. Our assessment was based on the quality of the products, their commercial viability and their social benefit. From these we have selected 20 to take part in the VAA Marketing Programme. This involves stands at trade shows and other relationship building activities to engage wholesale buyers in Ireland and other EU countries. Where a buyer is intersted in products from other producers, then VAA draws on its wider portfolio of 170 producers.

 

2.    Packaging Design Programme

Each year VAA supports four African producer cooperatives to redesign their packaging so as to better position their product to achieve markets in Europe and elsewhere. Top level Irish design companies provide design services to the African cooperatives on a pro-bono basis.

 

3. Public Awareness and Education Programme

VAA raises awareness in Ireland of the challenges of value-addition in developing countries, and the emergence in Africa of many champions who despite the challenges are producing top quality commercial products in a way which benefits their community and builds a bright future for their countries.  Included in this programme is research which VAA is carrying out examining Ireland’s trade relationship with six of its priority aid countries in Africa.

Evidence & Opportunity report published

6 May 2012

VAA recently published Evidence & Opportunity (summary here) launched by Minister for Trade and Development Ms. Jan O’Sullivan TD. The study examines patterns in Ireland’s trade with its six longstanding African programme countries in the sixteen-year period 1995-2010. Evidence and Opportunity finds that Ireland’s trade with its programme countries operates at a low level, is imbalanced in Ireland’s favour and vulnerable. The event was

Read more…

Visit our Window Display at Trócaire

18 April 2012

Fairtrade fortnight in association with VAA and Trócaire Visit our window display highlighting consumer goods made in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Trócaire Centre, Cathedral St, Dublin 1 (just off O’Connell St). These consumer goods can rival a wide range of products that we find today in our large retailers here in Ireland and throughout Europe.