FIT Insights Limited was contracted by IUCN to provide consultancy for Value Chain Development Support Services in Otuke and Alebtong Districts, focusing on Shea Vegetable Oil and Shea Nature Butter. This study, grounded in IUCN’s Objective 3 of the Building Drought Resilience through Land and Water Management (BDR) project, aimed to assess the commercial potential of these products, following the April 2016 Agro-pastoral, Bio-enterprise, and Livelihood Options Assessment.

FIT Insights’ role encompassed several key functions to enhance the shea value chain:

1. Re-design and Layout: FIT Insights re-designed the shea processing units to meet production standards, ensuring efficiency and quality in processing.

2. Marketing Channels: The consultancy developed feasible marketing strategies for shea products, targeting community, regional, national, and international markets.

3. Capacity Building: FIT Insights conducted training for community groups and stakeholders, empowering them in shea value chain development.

4. Product Stabilisation and Certification: The consultancy supported the stabilization, differentiation, and certification of shea products to align with national and international standards.

5. Financial Systems: FIT Insights established a robust financial management system to support profit sharing and financial oversight for primary society members.

The initiative, focusing on shea vegetable oil, cooking fat, and body oils, aimed to shift from traditional charcoal burning to the sustainable harvest and processing of shea nuts. Despite reduced tree cover, the project’s emphasis on replanting and protecting wild shea trees creates a new economic opportunity, particularly during less productive agricultural periods. This value chain approach not only supports climate protection efforts but also provides a viable income source for future generations, leveraging the potential of non-timber forest products.