In Grand-Lahou, 40 beneficiaries of Income-Generating Activities (IGAs) supported by the WACA project are strengthening their capacities to better access markets and expand their economic activities. A training workshop on market access brought together members of the Community Forest Platform and IGA beneficiaries to enhance their skills in marketing and product value addition.

The objective of this initiative is to support the sustainability of the economic activities established through the project by enabling beneficiaries to better understand market opportunities and structure their sales strategies.

A key challenge for the sustainability of activities

While IGAs help local communities diversify their sources of income, access to markets remains a major challenge for their development. The workshop enabled participants to better understand how local markets operate, identify commercial opportunities, and strengthen their skills in product valorization and negotiation with business partners. The discussions also provided an opportunity for beneficiaries to share their experiences and identify practical solutions to improve the marketing of their products.

Strengthening capacities to consolidate project results

Organized by the social safeguards unit of the WACA Côte d’Ivoire project, this workshop is part of a broader effort to support beneficiaries beyond the initial financing of their activities.

“We considered that after financing and supporting the creation of IGAs, it is essential to continue supporting beneficiaries so they can access markets and sustain their activities after the project ends,” explains Dr. Allo Guy, Social Safeguards Specialist for the project.

Enhanced economic prospects for beneficiaries

For participants, the knowledge gained from this training represents an opportunity to better structure their activities and expand their market outlets.

“I sincerely thank the WACA project. Thanks to these trainings, we are learning how to better add value to our products and find market opportunities. Soon, I will be counted among the successful ones,” says Ms. Diplo Angeline, a project beneficiary.

By strengthening beneficiaries’ capacities in market access, the WACA project contributes to supporting the economic development of local communities and consolidating the results of income-generating activities in the Grand-Lahou area.
 

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