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.