How do you scale support for smallholder farmers, in hard to reach locations, harvesting a slow maturing crop?
Social Impact Pioneer Christina Mawuse Gyisun, Co-Founder of Sommalife, joins us to talk about the shea industry in West Africa and how she and her team are increasing market access, and securing the future of an industry, by better supporting female smallholder farmers.
Though women shea nut farmers provide a crucial raw ingredient to the $430 billion beauty industry, many live in extreme poverty, struggle with limited access to markets, and face the devastating impacts of climate change. Sommalifeis changing the game with a bespoke tech platform that digitizes operations, connects farmers to buyers, and empowers them as environmental stewards.
The Problem: Systemic Exclusion & Environmental Threats
In West Africa, 60 million women smallholder farmers depend on raw commodities like shea nuts for survival. Yet, these farmers are often left out of formal markets, limited to selling their crop for low prices. Meanwhile, the shea tree—a lifeline for many communities—is at risk due to deforestation and vulnerable to climate change. In Ghana alone, 90% of charcoal production comes from shea trees, threatening both economic livelihoods and biodiversity.
The Solution: Technology, Traceability & Market Access
Sommalife has developed a bespoke digital platform to connect farmers directly to international buyers, ensuring fair prices and financial stability. Since 2020, the enterprise has:
✅ Digitised operations for 110,000 farmers
✅ Increased income by 23% for 40,000 women
✅ Protected 1,500+ acres of shea trees
By leveraging AI and traceability technology, Sommalife enables ethical sourcing, ensuring that farmers benefit from global sustainability initiatives. This innovation aligns with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which mandates supply chain transparency.
Call to Action: Investing in Social Impact
To scale this success, funding, collaboration, and corporate partnerships are crucial. Companies and investors looking to create real change can support ethical sourcing initiatives that protect the environment while improving livelihoods.
As a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of 2025, Mawuse is proving that sustainable business can be profitable and impactful. Will your organisation be part of this movement?
Links
FAO: West African agriculture and climate change (includes Percentage of West Africans who depend on agriculture): https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/413652/#:~:text=Agriculture%20is%20vital%20to%20livelihoods,gross%20domestic%20product%20(GDP).
USAID: Sustainable Shea Butter Initiative, Fact Sheet (16 million shea producer network): https://www.usaid.gov/west-africa-regional/fact-sheet/sustainable-shea-initiative#:~:text=Demand%20for%20shea%20produced%20in,collecting%20and%20processing%20shea%20kernels.
Karibon: Shea butter as cocoa butter equivalent: https://delivery.bunge.com/-/media/Files/00-Confectionery-Brochures/11-Coberine-Shea/Folder_Karibon.ashx Sommalife: https://sommalife.com/ Sommalife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sommalife/
Sommalife Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sommalife/?viewAsMember=true
Sommalike Medium: https://sommalife.medium.com/
Mawuse's Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mawuse-christina-gyisun-772758123/
Mawuse's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mawusegyisun/
Schwab Foundation Awards 2025: https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/schwab-foundation-awards-2025-new-social-entrepreneurs-and-innovators-of-the-year-announced/
&
https://www.schwabfound.org/2025-awardees