LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Sommalife, a social enterprise using cutting-edge technology to create transparency and traceability in West Africa’s shea value chain
Mawuse Christina Gyisun is an award-winning social entrepreneur and esteemed co-founder of Sommalife, revolutionizing the Agritech landscape with her unwavering commitment to rural development. She has become a leading force in driving positive change and empowering smallholder women farmers across West Africa. Within three years at the helm of Sommalife, Mawuse has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have reached over 60,000 women farmers in northern Ghana. Through her visionary leadership, these women farmers have gained easy access to financing, conservation tools, and international markets. As a result, more than 7,000 of these farmers experienced a 22.75% increase in their income in 2022, a testament to Mawuse's dedication and commitment to rural development.
Mawuse's impact has garnered global recognition and acclaim. Notably, esteemed organizations such as the German Agency for Business and Economic Development, Deutsche Welle, French Development Agency, and the US Vice President, Kamala Harris, have recognized her remarkable achievements. Her journey has earned her accolades, including being recognized as one of the top 3 youth ecopreneurs by the International Trade Center and securing a place among the top 50 Africa's Business Heroes by the Jack Ma Foundation. In June 2023, Mawuse was honoured by the prestigious Bayer Foundation for her pivotal role in empowering rural women, solidifying her status as a true trailblazer.
Being mission-driven, Mawuse has set her sights on an audacious goal: to create impactful solutions for 1 million women farmers across West Africa by 2030 while simultaneously generating meaningful employment opportunities for youth within their communities. With her unyielding determination to empower rural women, Mawuse Christina Gyisun stands as a true force of inspiration and a catalyst for transformative change in the Agritech landscape.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the inspirational, impact-driven Mawuse Christina Gyisun about her vision to empower rural women farmers and unlock economic opportunities for youth in their local communities.
What does your company do?
Sommalife is a social enterprise that uses cutting-edge software technology to create transparency and traceability in the shea value chain while increasing the income of women shea producers in West Africa through innovative financing, market access, and agroforestry.
What inspired you to start your company?
I grew up in Ghana's poorest region, the Upper West Region, where my family and I experienced poverty. I took on jobs that brought me closer to smallholder women farmers, both during and after school. I questioned why these women continued to live in poverty after the hard work and effort they put into their production and sales. Even more perplexing was my observation that the numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and aid initiatives had no long-term impact on the living conditions of these women. To create a better and more sustainable solution for these women, I founded Sommalife in 2020.
The inspiration behind starting my company, Sommalife, stems from my personal upbringing. I witnessed first-hand the cycle of poverty that affected my family and the smallholder women farmers in the community, which ignited a deep sense of purpose within me. Throughout my primary educational journey, I sold at the WA market, which brought me closer to women farmers and allowed me to understand their challenges and aspirations.
It became increasingly clear to me that despite the tireless efforts these women put into their agricultural production and sales, they remained trapped in a state of persistent poverty. Motivated by the desire to create a lasting and transformative solution for these women, I founded Sommalife in 2020.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Sommalife is made up of a group of young individuals from the various local communities we operate in, with deep local engagement. We actively involve local communities in decision-making processes, equipping them to become agents of change within their own contexts. This participatory approach allows us to create sustainable solutions that resonate with the communities we serve.
Tell us a little about your team
We have a talented team of 52 brilliant young people who bring diverse expertise from the agricultural and technology sectors. Generally, the team is driven by a shared passion for empowering rural communities and creating sustainable impact.
We have a network of 33 agents and managers who deliver all our last-mile operations. We also have specialized teams such as finance, procurement and logistics, business development, human resources, conservation, and administrative staff, all working in unison towards our collective goals.
We take great pride in our commitment to fostering diversity and gender equality within our team. Currently, 33% of our team members are female, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting inclusivity. We believe in maintaining a blend of local and international talent by harnessing the motivation and passion of individuals who are deeply connected to our mission. We embody the spirit of innovation and dedication required to make a meaningful difference in the lives of smallholder farmers.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Where I come from, kids usually have to sell something to support their families, and I was no exception. Growing up in the Upper West of Ghana, I saw the challenges faced by women smallholder farmers who, despite their tireless efforts, remained trapped in poverty. My own family struggled, and I had to contribute by selling water and clothes in the regional market. It was during this time that I learned sales and some negotiation skills in my own small way.
While at university, I took on jobs in radio and the hospitality space, which built up my confidence and experience in relating to people. After school, I took on an internship at an impact organization and was offered a full time role. I was faced with a crucial decision: to choose the safety of a steady job and a secure salary, or to embark on a journey to tackle a greater problem, hoping to make a meaningful impact for many. In the end, I chose to follow my heart and dare to solve the pressing issue at hand. My passion to uplift these women out of poverty became the driving force behind founding Sommalife. It is a personal mission that fuels my determination to create lasting change, not only for myself but for the countless lives we touch along the way.
Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and resource these remarkable women to build prosperous and sustainable futures. Join us on this journey of transformation and impact.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our vision for the future of Sommalife is rooted in scaling our impact. Over the next few years, we are determined to deepen our impact in Ghana while expanding our operations to other West African countries. We will build upon the success of our market linkage and innovation financing programs, we aim to replicate and amplify our achievements.
So far, we have successfully connected over 7,000 women to global clients, paying them an impressive 22.7% above the local market average. In the coming years, our goal is to reach even greater heights by connecting over 100,000 women to global markets and ensuring they are paid significantly above local market prices.
In our commitment to sustainability, conservation has become an integral part of our business model. We actively support local communities in planting and managing early maturing shea trees and empower them to become agents of conservation. Simultaneously, we incentivize tree planting efforts, inspire partners to invest in conservation projects, and provide them with accurate and timely reports through our software, TreeSyt.
For organizations or individuals interested in partnering with us to make a lasting impact, I encourage you to reach out to us. Together, we can build a more sustainable future, create opportunities for rural communities, and drive positive change throughout the agricultural sector.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur, my greatest satisfaction stems from the tangible impact we create in the lives of the women farmers we work with. Seeing their income grow and their journey towards economic empowerment fuels my drive to make a meaningful difference. The joy and excitement with which the women we work with meet us whenever we go on community visits is a clear sign we are doing something right. I am constantly encouraged by their reactions and feedback. It is immensely rewarding to witness their progress, knowing that our efforts contribute to their success and the overall development of their communities. We will continue to strive for excellence and innovative solutions that bring about lasting positive change in the lives of these remarkable women entrepreneurs.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Well, one piece of advice to other young women and still to myself is to always remember that we are capable of making a significant impact, and the world needs our unique talents and contributions.
To find out more about the impact work being done at Sommalife, contact Mawuse Christina Gyisun via email: mawuse@sommalife.com and visit the company’s website and social media platforms:
https://web.facebook.com/Sommalife
