(For-profit organisation)

CDS is an organization supporting women producer groups in producing and marketing dried fruit and vegetables in Burkina Faso.

The organization was founded in 1992 and was officially registered in 1995 as a Groupement d’Interet Economique (GIE), and subsequently acquired its own export license. It is now composed of 19 women’s producer groups – since 1996, only democratically organized women’s groups whose primary activity is the production of dried fruit and dried vegetables have been admitted as members.

CDS is responsible for procuring of raw materials, marketing of products and training of its members. All other aspects (especially use of the Fair Trade sales premiums) are decided by the individual groups.

CDS produces and markets dried fruit and dried vegetables for both export and domestic market, e.g. mangos and papayas, tomatoes and onions.

Website

http://www.cds-burkina.com/spip.php?page=rubrique-2

Year established

1992

Organisation annual cash turnover (in US$ equivalent)

Less than 500,000

Participant in relevant networks

CDS is a member of: FIAB (National Federation of Food Industry, Fédération nationale des industries de l’agroalimentaire); FIG (International Fund for Guarantee, Fonds international de garantie); MEBF (Business House of Burkina Faso, Maison de l’entreprise du Burkina Faso); EFTA (European Fair Trade Association); PTRAMAB (Mango processing Stakeholders of Burkina, Professionnels de la transformation de la mangue du Burkina); CDS Partners: CLARO, CEAS Association Burkina, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), CDE (Centre for Business Development PAFASP : Programme to support agro-sylvo-pastoral value chains), Sodia qualité Gasser and GmbH partner