Author(s): Mohamed Buheji
This study explores the impact of shea butter production on community development and women's empowerment in northern Ghana, a region where the shea tree is indigenous and its nuts have been traditionally processed into shea butter. The author presents the personal experience of recognising the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of shea-butter production that led to a social-for-profit start-up focused on women's development and how to create similar models in Africa. The project reveals that shea butter production significantly contributes to women's economic empowerment, providing them with a vital source of income, enhancing their financial independence, and elevating their social status within the community. Additionally, the study highlights the role of shea butter production in eliminating poverty. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions supporting poverty elimination that leads to overcoming the multidimensional poverty complexity that is measured through MPI. The study calls for a concerted effort among stakeholders to leverage these indigenous resources for the betterment of communities so that more models can be created for the development of both women and Africa