About COPABO COOP-CA
Founded in 1999, the COPABO (Cooperative Agricultural Producers Bondoukou) brings together small producers of raw cashew nuts. Since 2004, women have been included as members in the cooperative to initiate the transformation of cashew kernels.

COPABO- cooperative is in the Gontougo region of Ivory Coast and it is engaged in the collect and marketing of products such as primarily cashew nuts, and also yam, coffee and cocoa.
Although women in this rural area, as in most rural areas of the Ivory Coast, have no access to many services such as education, local socio-political structures, they are traditionally very active in the food processing of raw materials.
Therefore to meet their needs and to empower them and fight against marginalization and poverty, women in the Zanzan region joined COPABO in 2014. The female members of the cooperative were involved in the shelling of cashews, activity which was not previously represented because most cooperatives exported raw cashew nuts to India, where they were shelled. In addition to the shelling activity of cashew nuts, which now makes COPABO and constitutes an added value, managers have registered the cooperative fair trade for the benefit of shellers.
In addition to the stability that Fairtrade members COPABO, this activity has many potential such as guaranteed prices and
markets through fair opportunity, marketing a semi-processed products with high added value less sensitive to market fluctuations, the valuation of women’s work, and the marketing and export capabilities. Fair trade allows women members of the cooperative to be paid from 40 to 70% more than local intermediaries do not pay, which is an extraordinary added value for producers.
Women’s groups are sub-sections of the cooperative. These groups have organized to make shelling a sustainable economic activity. As full members of the cooperative, the women’s groups participate in various decision making. COPABO a longtime exporter of raw cashew nuts, is now exporting almonds and helps make men and women players in the local economy.
COPABO (The Cooperative Agricultural Producers Bondoukou achieved a financial surplus of 10 million CFA francs in fiscal year 2015