Benin dried pineapple and gender equality

Dutch and European demand for dried tropical fruit is growing steadily. European Union (EU) buyers are more and more aware of the social and gender performance of their supply chains. In this context, Benin's dried pineapple sector has real potential for a gender-transformative project.

Women play a vital role in Benin’s dried pineapple sector. Despite this, they often do not have decent working conditions and have few ways to advocate for their needs.

In Benin, 9 SMEs partner with CBI to successfully enter the Dutch and European market. Together, we are building inclusive workplaces where women can improve their working conditions and represent their interests. We then share these decent work practices to inspire the rest of the sector.

We are looking for partners to join the Dried Pineapple & Gender Equality programme (2022 – 2027). Together, we can partner with women to strengthen their position in Benin's pineapple sector while helping the sector grow sustainably.

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Project purpose 

Agriculture is essential in Benin's economy, contributing 33% of the GDP and providing around 70% of all jobs. Dried pineapple is one of the most important value chains. Women are active in every part of this chain, from production and processing to trading. Still, to fully strengthen their position, they must navigate several systemic barriers:

• Unequal support from government policies and strategies.
• Limited access to essential resources, such as land, credit, inputs, equipment, and agricultural advice.
• Unequal opportunities for education and training programmes.
• Inconsistent enforcement of gender equality regulations.

At the same time, the dried pineapple sector has a genuine market opportunity. Dutch and European demand for dried tropical fruit is expected to grow in volume by 5–6% annually in the coming years, yet there is a real shortage of dried pineapple on the Dutch and EU market. More European buyers question the social conditions behind the products they source. Companies that can show decent working practices have an advantage. Benin's SMEs seek support to scale production, meet EU quality and certification requirements, and show fair treatment of workers.

Elevating the status of women in the sector means promoting:  

• Decent work and formal contracts;
• The role of working mothers and facilities to support them;
• Upwards mobility;
• Participation in associations, where women can advocate for their needs;
• The ownership or management of processing facilities.

In this project, CBI focuses on 3 pathways: 

1. Supporting SMEs to access the EU market; 
2. Improving working conditions for female employees; and 
3. Spreading good practices across the broader sector.

By helping to connect export growth to improved livelihoods, we aim to create lasting, gender-transformative change.

To make this step, companies need support to scale production, improve management systems, and meet EU buyer expectations. Through training programmes and guidance, SMEs strengthen their marketing, HR, financial management, and supply chain practices. CBI partners with them to gain access to finance and connect with importers and equipment providers.

Become a partner 

CBI seeks ambitious partners who share our commitment to inclusive, sustainable trade and are willing to invest in local, lasting solutions.

We are particularly interested in connecting with organisations that:

●    are active in Benin's pineapple sector;
●    are invested in gender equality and decent work;
●    are based in Benin or willing to engage closely with local stakeholders;
●    and can help scale lessons learnt to a wider audience beyond the 9 companies currently in the programme.

We are also open to hearing from Dutch and European importers who are looking for sustainable dried pineapple suppliers and who value strong social and environmental standards in their supply chains.

Our partnerships work best when you and your team can write and communicate in English and are committed to an active role in project activities.

What does a partnership with CBI look like? 

CBI does not provide funding, but invests in local solutions

What we offer is hands-on support to develop and test solutions that work. For SMEs, this includes education on production quality and efficiency, certification guidance, market entry support, and direct connections to EU buyers. We also support companies in developing HR manuals, understanding worker rights, and creating the kind of worker representation mechanisms that make a real difference on the ground.

For sector partners and institutions, we offer the opportunity to co-develop good practices and share them across the agricultural sector in Benin.

Joining the programme is free. But we do ask partner SMEs to cover their own costs for travelling to European market access activities and domestic travel for training sessions outside their city.

Partners

We are currently in the implementation phase of this programme. Currently, 9 SMEs participate, and we work with a range of national and international partners.

Current partners include:

• Agence Territorial de Développement Agricole 7 (ATDA7), under the Ministry of Agriculture
• APIEX – Benin's Investment and Export Promotion Agency
• CETRAB – the Cooperative of Pineapple Processing Companies of Benin
• CNV International – the development organisation of Dutch trade union CNV
• Direction Générale du Travail (DGT), under the Ministry of Labour

Current SME partners include:

• Afrikadelices Plus Sarl
• Centre de Séchage des Fruits Tropicaux (CSFT)
• Eva Fruits (Benin Discount)
• Eyram Services
• General Agro-business Bâtiment Service (GABS)
• Les Fruits Tillou Sarl
• Rad Plus Benin
• Societe Ferme Agro Ecologique Semevo (FAES)
• Zoe Rohi

We are still actively seeking partners, particularly organisations that can support the scaling of decent work practices across the agricultural sector in Benin, and institutions working on women's rights and empowerment.

If you would like to become a partner, please get in touch, we would love to explore how we can work together.

Collaborate with us

Would you like to help Benin's dried pineapple sector grow sustainably with decent work for women at its heart? We would appreciate to hear from you.

Express your interest by clicking the button down below.

For questions or more information, please contact Melanie van der Baaren-Haga.

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About CBI

CBI promotes sustainable production and trade between low-and middle-income countries and the Netherlands and Europe. We partner with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their ecosystem to strengthen their social and environmental sustainability.

CBI is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.